“One of my agents told me my book wasn’t ‘black’ enough,” Trisha R. Thomas, author of the “Nappily” Series, said. “[So in the first version], I killed someone in the book inadvertently… because I wanted to get published. I believe that’s what the people wanted.”
These are the words of an National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Award and Golden Pen Award finalist, detailing a time when she was first starting out and offering her work to agents.
Presented by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, “An Evening with Award-Winning Author Trisha R. Thomas,” the last event of Black History Month, was held Monday in the University Student Union Ballrooms. Thomas detailed her early struggles of being a black author before striking big with the acclaimed novel “Nappily Ever After,” and signed free copies of her new book “Postcards from Venus.”
The “Nappily” series follows protagonist Venus Johnston, who has a great job and home, a handsome boyfriend and long beautiful hair that she maintains in a weekly salon appointments. Venus dreams of cutting off all her hair, of which her boyfriend doesn’t approve. In an act of independence, Venus shaves her head, and begins her journey in finding inner happiness.
After Thomas’ first story, “Nappily Ever After,” was initially criticized for “‘not being black enough,”’ she immediately thought she needed to kill someone off as mainstream media usually did.
“In black movies, someone had to die. And guess what, it was usually the black guy.
That never ceased to amaze me,” she said.
But when Thomas released the book free of death, the novel was praised and became a bestseller. Thomas said that actress Halle Berry took interest in turning the book into a film adaptation. The Academy Award-winning actress even shaved her head preceding plans of the movie in 2007. The film’s release date has yet to be announced.
“I can’t tell of the joy I felt in my heart because it validated the story I’m trying to tell,” Thomas said.
The California native’s passion for reading and writing started at age six. She quickly moved from children and teen books to reading material from adult romance novelists.
“I came to the idea that we were all supposed to live romantic and adventurous lives,” Thomas said.
Thomas said she loved to write and draw during her childhood. She drew story-like scenes on paper towel rolls to make her own film, and used Billie Holiday’s “Good Morning Heartache” as her theme song.
Before dedicating herself to being an author, Thomas tried out many jobs including being a photographer, a fashion designer, a school teacher and a bookkeeper. Thomas said she got fired many times for giving attitude and believed she was meant for greater things.
Kiki Metellus, External Vice President of the Black Student Union, praised Thomas at the event.
“She genuinely puts all that she can in her work,” Metellus said. “Just to see that dedication motivates me as a black woman. Seeing someone be a representative of that reflection of myself is really cool.”
Later in the event, Thomas said to the writers in the audience that the key to being a good writer is to consistently be jotting down ideas.
“Good ideas can come from walking, reading the news or just experiencing life,” Thomas said.
One of the attendees, Linguistics major Ernesto Ortega, admired the different viewpoint provided from Thomas.
“The event was really interesting,” Ortega said. “African American-based perspectives are very important because of the climate we’re in right now.”