Introducing My New YA Novel: The Shade Between Us (Coming 2026)

A Story About Friendship, Colorism, and Finding Your Own Light

Every so often, a story rises up those refuses to wait.

It taps your shoulder, interrupts your plans, and whispers, “Tell me next.”

That’s exactly how The Shade Between Us found me.

This upcoming young adult novel — releasing in 2026 — is one of the most personal projects I’ve written, because it explores a topic that shaped so many of our lives yet rarely gets the space, care, and nuance it deserves:

the struggles and stereotyping light-skinned Black girls often face inside friendships, family dynamics, and creative spaces.

This is not a story about colorism in the traditional, academic sense. This is a story about the lived moments that shape a young woman’s identity: the assumptions, the expectations, the jealousy, and the pressure to stay “strong” even when you feel invisible.

At the heart of this novel are two girls — Maliya and Ari — best friends whose bond is tested by ambition, loyalty, and the complicated politics of girlhood. One shines without trying. The other shines without permission. And when opportunity shows up, the shade between them gets real.

Why I’m Writing This Story

Representation matters — but so does representation that tells the truth.

As Black women, we carry so many stories that deserve light.

But as light-skinned Black women, we also carry experiences that people often:

• dismiss,

• misunderstand, or

• oversimplify.

This book is my way of saying:

Your story has layers. Your feelings are valid. Your voice deserves the page.

A Companion Workbook Is Coming Too

Alongside the novel, I’ll be releasing a companion workbook designed for:

• teen readers

• youth groups

• school programs

• book clubs

• mothers & daughters

• personal growth

The workbook will help readers explore deeper questions about identity, friendships, colorism, self-worth, boundaries, and creativity.

It will be reflective, empowering, and written in the same mentor-coach voice you’ve come to expect from Starving Artists BHM.

Think of it as your space to process, unpack, and grow.

Where This Fits in the Starving Artists BHM World

The Shade Between Us is not just a book.

It’s a conversation starter.

A mirror.

A bridge.

A resource for young Black women navigating a world that tries to tell them who they’re supposed to be.

And like everything we build here at Starving Artists BHM, this project is rooted in:

• personal power

• storytelling

• community growth

• identity and purpose

• the courage to reinvent yourself

Release Timeline

You’ll see updates throughout 2025 and early 2026 as the manuscript grows. Expect behind-the-scenes previews, character introductions, sample chapters, and early workbook pages.

Join the Journey

If you want to follow this project from draft to release, make sure you’re part of the Starving Artists BHM community. I’ll be sharing exclusive previews, early-bird discounts, and first-access opportunities.

This one means a lot to me — and I can’t wait to put it in your hands.

Stay tuned.

The story is coming

And it carries truth, healing, and light.