Are We Free Yet? The Black Queer Guide To Divorcing America

Introducing this visual audiobook where I will select sections of my book to read with a visual story going on in the background of life over these past 4 and a half years since I divorced America.

So I wrote this book…

And the book is great, I’m very proud of it and I love it and I highly suggest you grab a copy from your favorite local or online bookseller (or you can order it here).

But to be honest with you, it’s very long…there are 100 chapters and the audiobook (available on Spotify, Audible, and anywhere you listen to your favorite audiobooks) is over 9 hours long, which is cool if you’re into that sort of thing (which I happen to be a HUGE fan of audiobooks).

And almost 2 years since it was published, I find that its relevance is growing.

This Substack that I have created, these AWFY Files, is meant to be an extension of my book as an author who writes about topics that I center in my book:

• Grieving & Healing

• Peace & Pleasure

• Joy & Celebration

• Activism & Liberation

As an author, I’ve always wanted an interactive way to share and talk about my book with my readers…and this idea just hit me yesterday.

Think of an audiobook, but add a visual component and in smaller selections of the text…

Think of a book club, but without the pressure to read every chapter or finish the whole thing by a certain date…

Think of social media, but in a safer, controlled and curated space and with more of an exclusive and in depth angle where the author and readers engage about the book…

Think of those chill vibes YouTube videos where its a DJ spinning house music to some background of randomness…

Think of OnlyFans, cuz yeah I’m going to share some sexy videos to go along with me reading those sexy chapters…

And whatever else you and I can think of to interact with my book in a unique way…

That is what this visual audiobook will be/become.

While I read through parts of my book and give you a peak into my daily life as a queer Black American expat, I’ll also invite you to share your thoughts, feedback, reflection, and your own answers to the question ‘are we free yet?’ so that we can start a dialogue and be in conversation about what getting free means and looks like for you.

So follow along as I’m reading and also watch some random videos I’ve captured over these past four and a half years since I divorced America. From Jamaica (where I lived for a year), to my current home ‘Casita Colibri’ here in the central valley of Costa Rica (where I’ve lived for the past 3 years), and some of the places I’ve traveled to in between (like Mexico and Guatemala and some of my visits back to the states).

I’ll share short snipets for all my subscribers and longer sections for my paid subscribrers.

I’m currently working on the content calendar and plan to get this started in December.

This video was taken in February 2022 by a friend while we were hanging out at another friend’s house, just chillin by her pool which happened to have one of my favorite 360 degree views here in the central valley of Costa Rica. As you can see, I was blowed out and in my own little world (a very common state of being for me lol) singing to and with the world, Redemption Song by Bob Marley & The Wailers.

So let’s get into it and let me know in the comments if you have any requests of chapters you would like for me to read and share here :)