Advocate Samantha Denae’s Non-Profit Organization Assists Foster Care and Homeless High School Seniors

“There are no wasted words or wasted time. Only the transparencies of telling your story.”

-Samantha Denae

Authoress, Blog, and Ghostwriter Samantha Denae also created a non-profit organization for foster care and homeless high-school seniors by helping them with college essentials and scholarships. I got the honor to catch up with Samantha as we discussed The Yellow Corner, highlights in her writing career, being an Endometriosis advocate, and how she defines success.

Screen Shot 2019-01-31 at 9.40.00 AM — SAMANTHA DENAE, Author | Blogger | Founder of The Yellow Corner

Tell us more about your nonprofit organization, The Yellow Corner.

SD: “TYC is a nonprofit organization aiming to assist high school seniors in the foster care community as well as homeless seniors with college essentials, book scholarships, and more. We want to provide some type of assistance to these families as well as mentor students to have someone in their life to depend on. I had this idea in college but had no direction. Last February, after undergoing my second laparoscopic procedure for Endometriosis, I was told I will never be able to conceive. It was then that the idea and the direction circled back. “

What are some books you read that changed your life?

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

The Women of Brewster Place, by Gloria Naylor

PUSH, by Sapphire

Holler If You Hear Me, by Michael Eric Dyson

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz

What’s the first thing you do every morning to start your day on the right foot?

SD: “Pray. I meditate/pray and thank Spirit for a great day and for the chance to live life and prepare my mind for the tasks of the day. I spend a lot of time with Spirit. It helps with boosting my creativity.”

Name some of your biggest highlights as an author and ghostwriter?

SD: “My biggest highlight is all of the fans I’ve gained from my first book. I had so many people try to tell me that I can’t do it and after doing it ALL OF THOSE people ate their words and was begging for the next book. I think that satisfactory feeling will always be my biggest highlight. I’m currently in production for ghostwriting my first book. It’s a new service I’m providing after being asked by so many people. “

What is the best advice you have for an aspiring author?

SD: “START THE BOOK! Starting is always the hardest part. Don’t worry if you don’t know how the story will end or any of the small details. It’ll come as you write, JUST WRITE!”

In moments of adversity, how do you build yourself back up?

SD: “I live with a reproductive disease (Endometriosis) and its very debilitating. It causes me to have debilitating cramps and prolonged cycles (3-4 months at a time). Most days I wake up in pain and I have faint spells at least once a week, so I’m in a lot of adverse situations between continuous surgery, constant pain, and the luring question of quality of life versus a baby; it’s hard to deal with, I go through a lot of emotions, but I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that God gave this disease in conjunction with the gift of writing, so in those moments after I take a step back and regroup and rest, I focus myself on the goal and tell myself, “We won’t let this disease stop us from living”, because in all honesty, I wouldn’t consider myself really living if I can’t write. It’s the love of my life. “

What is your personal or professional motto?

There are no wasted words or wasted time. Just the transparencies of telling your story.” – Samantha Danae

What can we expect from you in 2019?

SD: “A LOT! I’m excited for 2019 and all of the projects I’m working on. I’m planning a couple of book releases as well as producing my first stage play. I’m also expanding my reach as an Endometriosis advocate and public speaker so for 2019 I’m looking forward to speaking engagements and teaching more classrooms about Endometriosis so that we can get a jumpstart on early diagnosis. Additionally, I’m working on ghostwriting and scriptwriting projects. “

Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you first started your business?

SD: “Everything! Haha. No, seriously. I knew nothing but whatever logically made sense, so honestly I would at least have taken business classes so that I would be more aware of how it all works but I’ve learned and made mistakes and the one thing I know for sure is that investing in myself will always work in my favor. I’m loving the entrepreneurial experience and I can’t wait until I’m a full-fledged entrepreneur. “

In your life and line of work, how do you define success?

SD: “Every accomplishment – no matter how small – is success in my eyes. I never thought I’d be here playing in this arena that I’m in. When I graduated college seven years ago I wouldn’t have guessed that I would be writing books and going around speaking and educating people about my period and Endometriosis, so whatever sights I set my mind to and I’m able to manifest it and see it come into fruition is success, but best believe I’m not slowing down or stopping until I reach the level of success that I’ve always dreamt of: GLOBAL SUCCESS! Everyone WILL know MY name!”

Bio

Atlanta native and rising author Samantha Denäe is a former writer and entertainment blogger who has worked with Upscale Magazine, Kontrol Magazine, Kontrol Girl Magazine, and The Jasmine Brand. Known for pushing the envelope to discover how far words can go to spark conversation, Samantha Denäe entices her readers with real-life story telling through novels, short stories, and poetry with a twist.

Beginning as a blog idea, Samantha Denäe decided to push the pen and write her first novel, The Defense. It was released and published in 2015 and sold on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. She has since released a poetry book, Traces of Her Mind: A Reflection of Life and Love, and the sequel to The Defense, The Defense Too.

Samantha Denäe did not stop there! At the age of 24, she was diagnosed with Endometriosis and has since began her mission to educate young ladies and women around the world as she has partnered with the Endo Foundation of America & The Enpowr Project’s Edukit, in addition to starting her non-profit, The Yellow Corner, Corp.