Meet Christina “Yatta Rose” Deer | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina “Yatta Rose” Deer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina “Yatta Rose”, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m a Chicago Native. Growing up I didn’t have the perfect life, but I made the best of it. From being adopted to more traumatic experience as a child, I had to find ways to escape. I would sit and journal until my fingers cramped. In my journal I would create stories, songs, and even a little poetry writing to escape the world I lived in. As a kid my voice was stolen so, I had to find my voice again. I found my voice through creative writing. Instead of the trauma story I lived, I turned my story into an adventure and made it to what I wanted it to be. Now, I’m a published author, advocate, mentor, and Evangelist. The one thing people know me for most is the books I write and the stories I create. Every story I’ve created from the little girl with a journal to the woman at her desk, has all been an experience. My stories are unique because it gives real life but with a twist. I’ve saved lives through my writing and helped changed them as well. In 2019 “Yatta Rose Presents” became a baby I birthed out where I could publish more stories and continue to transform lives one sentence at a time. Not only that, I have opened up doors to help others who have a story to tell.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m currently an author. When I started writing I was about seven years of age. Writing for me was my escape from the real world. My imagination as a child was so big and innocent. So, back in high school I started writing for Wattpad and other major writing platforms just for fun. All of this was just something to do as a hobby. I’ve read book from authors like Sister Souljah, Toni Morrison, and Alice walker to name a few. I always admire them and said I wanted to be where they are.

One day I decided to join in on a social media challenge in 2015 called #ShortStoryChallenge. I posted a story up and it got a few likes. I went to bed around 11pm that day because I posted the story around 5pm that evening. Woke up the next day I was at over nine hundred likes. Then hours went by I was over ten thousand shares, over fifteen thousand likes, and almost half a million reads. It shocked me because I thought it was a dream. Many publishers and companies began to reach out about me writing for them.

I was super scared to do it because this was all new to me. I was young and I didn’t know about the author community. That moment made me proud. I signed to a company which was one of the best days of my life. I wrote two books under them and then my third and fourth book which were (Devlin In the Pulpit 1 & 2) sat on Amazon Bestsellers list for the whole year. I couldn’t believe that I had wrote two bestselling books.

I left the company back in 2018 to venture to do more with self-publishing. Before leaving the company, they helped me start my own company. My company “Yatta Rose Presents” was birthday officially in 2019. Having a company wasn’t easy because being new to the scene people still had to warm up to me. On top of that I would do all my own marketing on my personal page. I didn’t have all the answers, nor did I have all the help. It was hard getting my company off the ground.

I overcame that by sitting under mentors and other authors with book companies. For a season, I had to shut down and revamp. For some that would be embarrassing but for me that was needed. While I shut down, I revamped book covers, better logos, and even built a solid team. I kept my 9-5 job to help me with expenses. If you want something you have to go all the way in. Many people jump in headfirst, but you must have a plan and the right people around you. It was hard the first two years and now I’m helping others write their books and publish.

I learned it’s okay to ask for help and to start over. Starting over is not a bad thing. It’s a better thing.

One thing about me as a writer, I try to connect with readers from every background. I love to connect with my readers. I learned to write for me, but I still try to incorporate relation so that me and the readers can vibe. When we have book discussions, I love hearing how readers tell me they can imagine themselves in my book. Or they lived that experience and I helped them look at in from a different aspect. It feels good being able to connect to my readers on that type of level. That is what sets me apart from other authors or writers. I’m able to grasp each reader no matter the tone or setting of the story.

I’m excited about my new book coming out this spring. That book is called “The First Ladies Club”. Not only that, but I’m also excited about having new authors on my team and that my recent book is doing well. That book is called “Phaedra Denise: Living her Truth”. My company is getting better and growing. I’m starting to get the exposure I had when I went viral for a writing challenge.

Not only am I’m excited, but I’m also proud of myself for accomplishing on thing and that is having my books in Barnes and Nobles. Not only that but I’m proud that I can say in 2022 my brand as a writing is growing and people are recognizing me and my works. People know my name and my work. That warms my heart and sparks me to continue creating.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from Chicago so there is always something to do. I would first take them to get food from Low Country because who doesn’t love seafood? We would probably then head to Navy pier to ride a few rides and have a nice drink. Navy pier also have a good view of the water so we will definitely see that. I would take them to the beaches here in the city and then to sight see. I love museums so I would most likely take them to Dusable, Sciene and Industry and the art museum. I’m huge on fun facts so we will go see some Chicago hidden gems around the city. Hyde Park Chicago is really a vibe, so we will stay that way mostly to do shopping, enjoy the culture, and eat.

One place in Hyde Park I like is the Silveroom it’s a nice blacked owned business. Then we will most likely go to eat and drink at Ja’Grill. Hyde Park is really for “The Culture” and it’s beautiful. Its Downtown on the Southside full of Black owned businesses.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I first want to thank God because he made of this possible in my life. God was my biggest supporter and push in all of this. I thank him for being the head of my life. Next, I would like to thank my family to my parents down to my siblings. Most importantly, my babies Ayden and Aydree because I do this for them. I want to be the best they can be in life. I would like to thank my Powerhouse Global Network family for always being my support. To Bishop Keith-Howell-McQueen and First G Derrick Howell-McQueen I thank you so much. I would like to thank my best friend Barber Jovan Curry for being super supportive on this journey. She’s been my manager, my mentor, my confidant, my stylist, and so much more on this journey. I can’t forget my sisters in writing the amazing Ashley Te’Arra, Kierra Walker, Cyn Santana, and Olivia Shaw- Reel. To my graphic designer Iesha Bree. I thank you all for helping me bring the vision to life. Lastly, my supporters and readers who go out there way to buy my books and read everything I create. I love you so much.

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Image Credits
Booked With Yatta Team