Her Reflection.
The Biography of Brook Blander.

 

At the point at which bruised knees, colorful, rubber balls and crayons are expected, a five year old girl penned her first story instead.  It is not that it was some sort of miracle to cause a stir in the early 80’s but certainly extraordinary.  This little, brown skin girl kept a hold of her pencil the way an arm is attached to the body. It is said we are not given more than we are able to bear, yet, it seems malicious and insufferable for a little girl to scoop with tiny hands her vomit from the floor and be forced to eat it as a childhood discipline. For years, unbearable cruelty and the absence of her mother, she had to borne. Perhaps, it was despair which flung her into the world of fiction and fueled her eternal hatred of honey. Often the works of the Almighty can be mysterious, doubtful, yet always undoubtedly glorious. Soon accolades and recognition followed and continued in abundance.

 

When her birthplace, Savannah, GA, could no longer feed her desires, she boldly moved to Atlanta.  There, she matured her talent through courses, books and the application of her self; and just as spring is inevitable, the way no one questions its coming, her first book arrived titled From This Day Forward (2003). Its purposeful design is to motivate dedication to writing and daily journaling, one of her favorite engagements with her self.  Shortly thereafter, she was asked to lecture and facilitate writers groups in local bookstores including Charis Books and at the same time she could no longer ignore the call of poetry for its humming which she shoved to the back of her head had risen to the sound of a trumpet. 

 

SoulSpoken (2005), her second book and debut poetic collection of fully grown pieces tells of her violent entry into this world, a tribute to her favorite artist, a call to fathers, the strength bound in her locs and love. In 2006, she relocated to Florida where the ocean soothed her, then Michigan where she fell in love with fall.  There she continued to teach and lead writers groups at Ferndale’s Affirmation LGBT Center. During the fall of 2007, her third book, Lyrics of An Awakening, emerged.  It is the rhythmic telling of her resistance and surrender to the art of poetry, chapters of her life, politics, pain, and love.  Always love. During its making, she discovered poetry sought her intently to be the medication which pulled from her soul darkness emotional diseases and with the help of her beloved was finally able to put to rest the misfortune of her childhood.

 

Believing every artist’s vision is the truth of their work led to her founding ebonyLotus Creatives in 2009, a publishing company which allows her full creative control of her works and offers the same to poets, and authors. In conjunction, it is the revitalization of the art of journaling through her exquisite handmade journal line.  Later that year, the perfect storm, quiet and mighty, arrived in her fourth book, Personal. Intimate Comforts of Reflection (2009).  With her own, true and personal journal entries included, the book portrays love and exposes the horrors of physical abuse passed on by women generations before her, and in beauty with grace tells of their strength to endure.  Left without choice, Detroit split wide open to make way for her and she has not refused them. She has performed at various venues to including Artist Endeavor; Collaborative Art and Poetry (feature poet), Echoverse Poetry Series DPL Words After Dark at the Detroit Public Library, I Am Woman Expo (feature poet)  in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month at Wayne State University.  In addition, she has been a featured guest on Sol Searching BlogTalk Radio as well as Motown Literary Writers Radio Show. Blander was also a feature poet for the opening ceremony night for the 2009 Essence of Motown Literary Jam Conference. These opportunities extended her reach to the world and today the benefits continue to astound.

 

In the present, she is recording her poems for her debut CD entitled “Move Me”, writing a novel titled Barbed Wire Cocoon, publishing other poets and authors, preparing for booked performances around the country, designing her new line of handmade journals, constructing her online literary magazine for launch in 2010, and working on the production of the second Spoke N’ Heard Session; poetry readings for a mature crowd. It is in her vision to move poetry sessions from dingy, dark places to upscale spaces and restore the respect to the art by reintroducing it to a mature and appreciative audience. Also, she can be found giving her time, talent and monetary donations to assist in the prevention of, and recovery from domestic violence.

 

While in Atlanta, in a moment of wonderment, she bowed and held a delightful conversation with Alice Walker whom she has admired for almost her entire life, whom has provided light for a lengthy portion of the way. Although brief in time, her spiritual being will never forget the calm and the hug which seemed to last for years. A week later, she had the pleasure of meeting another admired pioneer, Nikki Giovanni. The meetings confirmed the path she has sought is the path she is traveling and while she continues to take strides in her commitment to the art has been renewed and refueled.

 

Loyal obedience to the calling has increased her talent and furnished her pages. To never dishonor the sacrifices and progress of her ancestors, she continues to toil through the night, refusing to idle.