Greetings readers I hope everyone is traveling in safe mode it is chilly out here in Cali, temperatures have reached 45 degrees and Covid has reared its ugly head again people, please be mindful of your surroundings also be safe when traveling, shopping and walking back to your cars. I have been interviewing phenomenal thought leaders and todays podcast interview with author Eileen Saint Lauren and her journey who met the legendary Ray Charles some 23 years ago — never expecting that she would one day go blind herself. Now, the iconic singer’s presence is felt in Saint Lauren’s new book, Goodlife, Mississippi, an immersive story that plunges readers into the sights, sounds and social constructs of the 1950s and ’60s segregated Deep South. Eileen spoke about the racism and the mistreatment she had witnessed with her parents growing up! and how it is absolutely extraordinary to know how people can be so blind to the Black American culture who helped built this world in music, inventors such as George Crum “potato chips’, John Purdy “folding chairs, Thomas Elkins ‘Modern toilet, Garrett Morgan Traffic light’, Alice H. parker who invented the Gas heating furnace’ I can go on and on also let’s not forget about Pamela L Henderson who invented her e-learning program LOL that is Copywritten material.

Author Eileen Saint Lauren is a phenomenal woman who at an early age was raised in a once two red-light town, Petal, Mississippi. She is an award-winning photojournalist and news and feature writer who worked early in her career as a commentator for Nebraska Public Radio and at Smith College Museum. After graduating from Jones College in Ellisville Mississippi, with an Associate of Arts degree in journalism, she continued her education at he University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She then continued on with her education in creative writing at The Washington Center, Duke University, Kansas Newman College’s, The Milton Center, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Our conversation was absolutely inspiring keep a watch out for the link to our conversation to be posted here on the Sapphire journey news article readers. We spoke about how she had taken her experience of having no confidence or self-esteem growing up 🙁 and not realizing her worth until she was introduced to the legendary blues singer ‘Ray Charles” who was her father’s friend that inspired her to write her book ‘ Goodlife Mississippi’ Eileen hope is to inspire all of us to read her book and yes she has been given 5 stars and you can purchase her book at Amazon, Goodreads, and kindle fire just to name a few 🙂

So, the moral to any story no matter who it is Eileen, me or you there is a gift that is wrapped inside of each of us, and it is our duty to let it out and share our experiences with the world right? because there is always someone who needs some encouragement, a hug and a laugh that would change their lives. Be inspired and make 2022 a brand-new ending LOL well readers I have reached my destination and until next time I leave you with this quote and ‘happy holidays’ from a true sapphire herself….

Greetings beautiful Ones 🙂 as we move forward into 2023 be inspired and remember Love will always be the light of darkness have a wonderful day and be inspired “God Bless” One of Gods Jewels…
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