We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Albert Alford Jr.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Albert below.

Hi Albert, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the biggest risk in my life has been actually writing my book. I started on my book in 2015 with just a concept of writing knowing I wanted to write a book. I didn’t know the avenues of actually pursuing it. I kept writing waiting for the right time to try and publish it. I went about creating a blog and posting on different sites and that didn’t fulfill my need of completing my book. So one day I saw and invitation on Instagram seeking poets who wanted to write a book for a program called Community Literature Initiative (CLI). I thought this was a scam but my curiosity got the best of me and I applied. I was granted an interview with the admission panel and presented some of my work. I was then accepted in class with other stellar poets. During this time I was able to work on my craft and understand the different genres of poetry. I incorporated this while working on my book. The constant workshopping and feedback showed different ways of letting my words speak. I worked on the performance aspect as well translating into expanding on my words. I completed my book through CLI and realized my dream was in my hands. This risk finishing my book showed not only inspiration for myself but for my family, friends, coworker, and other poets. I’m thankful that I took a step that only I could’ve done.

Albert, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Albert Alford Jr., I’m a USMC Veteran and Poet. I started writing poetry in the 9th grade through the encouragement of my English teacher and haven’t stopped writing since. My poetry is a feeling of love, purpose, and life which is in my book Matters on My Mind. In performing my work, I poet about love and how it means the world to those who understand that there’s not one way to receive it. How it still resonates in a world that sometimes doesn’t receive it well. But I also poet for those who would hope to write a beautiful poem that they would like to bring to the world.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis in 2017, this autoimmune disease took over my body and I wasn’t able to walk for over month. I worked with the VA staff and under went a procedure to help me get back on my feet. This procedure was called plasmapheresis where I went 5 rounds to remove antibodies from my body. I was able to start walking within a week with the help of a walker and within a month I was able to walk alone with physical therapy. During this process I had to understand how this disease affected my mind and body and how I had to live with it. I’m now able to workout and live my life knowing how to better take care of myself.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Social media is something that I wished I would’ve used earlier to network and better work on my craft. Along with going to the library and actually reading the authors that perfected style in poetry. Learning a craft helps sharpen your sword and I think with this knowledge it would’ve opened my eyes earlier to seeing the insights of poetry. Performing was also another resource in making myself better, I wish I could’ve went to more open mics and watched more of my favorite poets perform, this to me is the epitome of becoming a great poet.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Libraappetite
• Other: Tiktok: librappetite