Meet Willow Ford | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Willow Ford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Willow, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
I only pursue things that I am passionate about, so giving up is never an option. I’m in for the long haul on my projects so I take things one task at a time. Perseverance is a bunch of small victories that lead to your goals.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an independent author and CEO of Dark Flame Productions, LLC. I’ve been a writer my entire life but leveling up to professional has taken twenty years. I focus on YA and NA(new adult) urban and epic fantasy and some supernatural horror with main characters that look like me and my friends. It took a while for me to understand that I had to create my own niche and evolve to meet the terms of the market. The evolution of technology in the last ten years has done much to enhance the ability of independent artists to find their target audience while maintaining authenticity and integrity. The biggest challenge is keeping up with the new and innovative ways to network and interact with my readers.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As an author, I’d recommend starting the day at Uncle Bobbies in Germantown. There you can get a nice breakfast and coffee while checking out the latest in African American literature. Spend the rest of the day kicking around Clark Park and checking out the vendors and entertainers. Drinks at Writer’s Block Rehab before heading out to South Street for dinner. On day two, grab a coffee at Bold Coffee Bar then head to Lemon Hill for awesome views of the river and the city. Next, spend the afternoon refreshing the mind at the Awbuy Arboretum.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Keisha, CEO of Simply Nache Catering who reminded me to pour as much encouragement into myself as I do with others. Erinn, CEO of Nubian Stylez who taught me to go big PERIOD. Don’t go home until you get it done. The Kick-Ass Authors Club who encourage my ambition and educate me on the marketing side of things. The Ladies of the Rainy Day Collective who bolster my confidence and help me dig deep for the emotions that make a good story. Indie It Press who recognize and affirm my expertise.

Website: www.farbackroom.com

Instagram: @thefarbackroom

Image Credits
Covers by Nefarious Art Creations