Mama’s Writing is Raising Mothers’ monthly interview series, curated by Deesha Philyaw.

Are there days when you feel like a mother who writes, and others when you feel like a writer who is a mother?

Not really – my new normal often feels like one huge blurred line. I’ve been a mother longer than I have considered myself a writer so it is hard for me to distinguish between the two. My shifting role as a mother has afforded me more space to write, my shifting role as a writer has afforded me more courage to mother

How has parenting influenced your writing?

2020 marks my 20th mothering anniversary. While I have always considered myself a poet, I didn’t truly consider myself a writer until my first collection of poetry was published in November 2016, and I wrote a children’s book as follow up. When my teenage daughter read the draft for my first children’s book, she said, “It’s good, like a real writer wrote it.” I have been considering myself a real writer ever since.

How has writing influenced your parenting?

Writing makes me think more about the legacy that I am leaving behind – what will my words mean in the future to my children and others. Will my children think my mothering lives up to my legacy as a writer?

Who are your writer-mama heroes?

Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, Faith Ringgold

What three words describe you as a mother?

Supportive, serious, funny

What three words describe you as a writer?

Bold, unflinching, compassionate

Julia Mallory is a poet, children’s book author and founder of the creative literary arts brand, Black Mermaids. Her latest book, Survivor’s Guilt, takes an unflinching look at grief. She is the mother of three children: Julian (deceased), Jaya, and Kareem. She lives in Central Pennsylvania. Her work can be found at www.blackmermaids.com.

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