My writing is result of my surroundings and my upbringing. I’ve always been deeply rooted in literature and writing, but it wasn’t until I found more writers that looked like me that my writing soared. Octavia Butler is the most influential black writer I came across. She allowed me to dream and create by my standards and from a point of view of a black lead. As someone from an underrepresented community, I know what it means to have representation feed your creativity.