We had the good fortune of connecting with Lashay Perkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lashay, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand is determination. Determination is what kept me going when I wasn’t a best-selling author. I remember when I was just starting my writing career, I never saw my books hitting the best selling list. Becoming a writer changed my life and I just try to always remember that where I am at today in my career. I take that determination and I instill that into my author’s signed under Unique Creations Publications. I let them know that I also once started from the bottom. I had to work my way to the top just like everyone else in this world who just like I, could never imagine they would also one day become greatness.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Lashay Perkins, pen name; Uniquely Lashay is a 32-year-old, plus size activist, Georgia author, and mother of three. She is the CEO of Unique Creations Publications, has a degree in Health care Administration, works full time in the medical field and she is a part-time writer. She loves to write in her free time and be the voice for plus size women around the world. Lashay, love for literature and being the voice of the plus-size community prompted her to pen her first two-book series in 2017, entitled, “The Dilemma of a Savage Love” Books 1 and 2 charted within the top ten of Amazon’s Best Sellers list in African American Fiction. Her passion and talent led to her creating over twenty books and counting, the brand Unique Creation Publications, Unique & Beyond Podcast, UCP promotions which provide many upcoming authors with guidance and help with getting their books out to the world. Lashay enjoys telling stories of curvy women around the world. It has always been her pleasure to share her view on the world with others. Writing has always helped her to escape her reality by leaving her blood, sweat, and tears on each page you read. Her hobbies include reading, promoting books for other upcoming authors, shopping, spending time with family, writing, listening to music, and traveling. Being a bestselling author, a mother, and having a ten year status in the Healthcare industry is just many of her accomplishments in this world. Lashay is originally from Bainbridge Ga but has resided in Jacksonville Fl in her past for over ten years. She can be reached at her contact information for book events, promoting, getting an interview on Unique & Beyond Podcast, and speaking engagements. She hopes her work is enjoyable and entertaining. Lashay has overcome many challenges especially changing the viewpoint on writing about plus-size women in the Urban Fiction book industry. The lesson I have learned along the way has a plus-size activist and author is that most people that say ugly things about plus-size women are people who actually have insecurities of their own. I have dealt with this in the book industry and outside of the book industry. That’s why all her main characters in her novels are always plus-size BBWs. As a plus-size woman herself, she just wants them to be accepted in this world.
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.
If I had to take a trip for a week I would love to go to Orlando, Florida, and stay at one of their many resorts. Universal’s Aventura Hotel would be the place I would pick for us to stay at. Where we would eat? At Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food, the food is great plus it’s out at the Universal CityWalk. They have roomy Mexican eateries with colorful decor, street-style eating & multiple bars. The ginger Mojito is one of the best I ever tasted, plus they have a live band which made the visit live. The next day I would like to take my best friends to Aquatica water park in Orlando. This place is wonderful, they have water slides, a flowing river that goes around the whole water park, and up-close encounters with dolphins which I know they would enjoy. You can even take your phone on the inside of the water park to take pictures because they give out waterproof pouches. Everyone in Orlando was nice, friendly, and unique people to encounter. Discovery Cove would be our next stop because it is so beautiful. It’s like something out of a dream. It’s very relaxing to go to. Plus all your food and drinks are included even beer and wine. We would get to interact with a range of marine animals including viewing the sharks through the glass and seeing Marmosets. The water is colder than the other rivers and all ages can enter the Cove. They do also have swim vests if my friends would need one. Orlando is one of my many favorite places to go visit plus it not that expensive and it’s right here in the United States of America. Orlando have many neat and wonderful places to visit if we did have a week-long trip it would always be something to do while down there.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout my soon to be husband, Xazavius Davis, and my three wonderful kids: Chastanna Green, Marianna Christian, and Qmoni Perkins. These are the people who put up with me on a daily bases. They listen to my ideas, they’ve seen me at my lowest, and they have always loved me through my pain. My kids have always encouraged me to go harder because I want them to have things in their life that I didn’t. I would also like to shout to everyone on the Unique Creations Publications team that has helped me to make all things possible. From UCP editors, UCP book promoters, and the dope authors who write their stories for the world to read.
Website: https://uniquecreationspub.wixsite.com/mysite
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancyshay1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fancyshay1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unique.lashay.581
Youtube: vGzH0RFCViAlohFWvGXzyw
Other: InstaBio Link: https://instabio.cc/UniquelyLashay
Image Credits
Courtney Degonzague foreverinkpublishing@aol.com for the book covers SammieBrownPhotography https://sammiebrownphotography.setmore.com/ For personal photo’s Chy Illustrations chyillustrations@gmail.com for author logo