Ishmael Reed encouraged me to write a play when I was a student in his class and then he later helped produce it. Dave Eggers kept telling people I should write a book just because he believed in me. Emma Thompson gave me a review for my play and money and a handwritten letter. https://twitter.com/ErikaSwyler/status/1274823529813377025

Toni Morrison gave me an AMAZING review when I shamelessly asked her to give me her thoughts on the play from the stage. (She attended the last showing in NYC.) She knew everyone was watching and taking note. She was careful & deliberate. Gave me a generous quote & then left.

. @jelani9 volunteered to do all my speaking engagements for me last year and give me the entire honorarium to help my family while we were taking care of my daughter who was enduring Stage 4 Cancer. (I didn't take him up on it but the fact he offered and was sincere about it...)

. @rezaaslan always takes time to give writers advice about the media business & I've always been able to rely on him to keep it real. He vouched for me with my speaking agency years ago, which inspired them to at least reach out to me. A few years later, I signed up with them.

. @GWillowWilson sent me her comic book script, connected me with her agent, who fed me octopus (delicious!), and connected me with some folks in the comic industry because she knew I always wanted to write comics. She still encourages me once a year.