Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Forlanda Anderson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Forlanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
I hope to leave a legacy that reminds everyone to always be kind. Kindness is a trait that I find myself promoting often. It is something that can change someones day completely and make a huge impact in the lives of others. You never know what the next person may be going through. You don’t know if they just had the worst day of their lives, if they are on the brink of giving up, or what battles they may be fighting. That is why I always deem it important that we as people develop a heart that is willing to be kind and show compassion to others. When I am visiting schools and speaking to students as it relates to bullying, I always discuss the importance of being kind. I tell them that each day we wake up, we are faced with a number of choices. One of those choices includes how we show up and how we treat others. I hope that at the end of my life, I am remembered for always smiling, always putting a smile on someone else’s face, and for being a person who truly cares.
Forlanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am an author, speaker, and spoken word artist. I began writing at a young age, but didn’t begin taking it serious until I graduated from college. Post college I wrote my very first book, Empowering Women through the Storm, then went on and began to write poetry, and later, children’s books.
After writing my very first book, I saw how much of an impact it made on others. I was grateful to hear the many stories about how my book helped readers get through tough times and how it encouraged them.
I went on and began writing poetry. I starting writing poetry as a way of expression and it has since turned into a form of encouragement and a way to edify and evangelize to those reading or listening. I began performing spoken word poetry in 2018 and have performed on large stages, small stages, as well as within the church. For me, spoken word poetry is liberating. It’s a form of expression and creativity that others can relate to. It is an art that can be both heard and felt.
In the same year, 2018, I started a children’s book series called Bully Me Not™. Bully Me Not™ is a series that promotes kindness, and focuses on self-esteem and confidence. I began writing this series because I saw the magnitude and effects that bullying had on children and how many were taking their lives as a result of being bullied, and I wanted to do something about it. I decided to use the one thing I knew I was good at — writing. I wrote my first children’s book in the series and began visiting schools. I can recall having a student come up to me saying, “I wanted to take my life because I was bullied.” At that moment, I knew that this was bigger than me and that I needed to get to work because I had an impact to make. There were lives that needed to be saved and changed. That encounter was a reminder of why I started the Bully Me Not™ series to begin with. I then wrote my second book in the series and just recently released my third. This series has made a great impact on children all across the world. I must say that it is a joy seeing the smiles on children’s faces when they get my books in their hands. It reminds me of my why and motivates me to keep going. The one thing I am most proud of, is having turned my children’s book series into a cartoon. Now children not only get the opportunity to read Bully Me Not™, but they can also watch it on tv. I remember when I was just a kid. I’d wake up early mornings, wait until my parents prepared pancakes for me, and I’d sit in front of the television and watch my favorite cartoons. Now, I get to be apart of the morning routines of children of this generation. Currently Bully Me Not™ can be viewed on television via Comcast channels 9, 10, and 19 in Davidson County, via AT&T U-Verse channel 99 in 19 middle TN counties, and even on YouTube. This is a great form of education, entertainment, and empowerment for children and I am excited to see where this cartoon series goes.
You may ask, if I began writing at a young age, but didn’t begin taking it serious until after college, what was the turning point? Well, for me, the turning point was discovering my purpose. It was recognizing writing as a natural gift that I was born with and finally accepting the call to serve others by using my gift of writing. Since then, I have written books, poems, coached others to produce books, helped students with their essays, started a blog, wrote and produced a television show, and so much more. I’ve once heard evangelist and motivational speaker, Dr. Myles Monroe, say, “your gift is the thing you do the absolute best with the least amount of effort.” I am happy to say that I discovered one of my gifts and am able to impact lives all around the world with it.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing the impact that’s being made. It hits different when you can use your creativity and others are positively affected by it or can relate to what you write or create. It’s a very rewarding feeling when you know you were the reason someone decided to not give up, to keep going, and to push through adversity.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think connections have helped the most when it comes to building my reputation within my market. At every event that I’ve ever attended, I always met people and made genuine connections with amazing individuals that in turn lead to my next event or opportunity. This would then lead to connections through word of mouth where someone would mention my name as an author who would be a great fit for a community partner, a podcast guest, or a speaker at a school.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.forlandaanderson.com
- Instagram: @forlanda_anderson_
- Facebook: Forlanda D Anderson
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forlanda-anderson-msw-bba081a6/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFXaKzIPimgsllaaol004g