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Local poet and new author Ressurrection Graves released her first book, “Identity Crisis, Identity Christ is: A Journey to Love.” The book is a memoir, chronicling Graves’ life challenges with abuse and how she overcame those challenges with God’s love. We talked with Graves just after her pre-release event to find out more about her “Identity Crisis.”
The Vine: “Identity Crisis, Identity Christ is: A Journey to Love.” That’s an interesting title. Tell us about the book and yourself, and how this all came about.
Ressurrection Graves: The title of the book is a reflection of what I believe we personally experience at different stages of our personal growth. Christ "the Anointed One" relates to ourselves in that, scripture communicates that we would do greater works than He. It is a way to convey that we must identify who we are in Christ and then choose to do greater exploits which expose God's anointed plan for us individually. A Journey to Love was just added at the end of writing the book. I felt that the title was missing a part of my personal message. I had to learn to define love and discover it; the books journeys with me on the path to awakening.
TV: Who, exactly, is this book targeted to?
RG: The book is targeted to men and women who have been emotionally, mentally, physically and sexually abused, have generational curses, family turmoil and desire to overcome their struggle with unloving relationships. It is specifically for young women who have a life mirrored experience as I.
TV: The book’s launch was April 24. Is there any significance to this?
RG: The book launch is April 24th which is Resurrection Sunday or Easter. There is significance to the month of April as it is National Poetry Month, and National Child Abuse Awareness Month. My name is Ressurrection and I consider this weekend to be a special spiritually set aside birthday for me. There seemed to be no better date.
TV: What has been the most significant event to impact your life?
RG: The truth is, I wrote the book and realized that there is no one event that impacted me, it was the consistency of emotional and sexual abuse from individuals that I expected to have a genuine care/concern and love for me. As a result, I knew what love was because of encounters that I had with God, but I did not understand why I was so despised and unloved. So, like any other child, I went looking for it.
TV: If there were one lesson or message that you wanted people to get from your book, what would it be?
RG: WOW! One message? I have no idea! Well, that parenting is as great a reward for breathing as cashing a million dollar check for your first entrepreneurial adventure that worked. And that we must seek to become our best selves so that our children do not suffer from our impoverished thinking. We must teach our children to say no with confidence, and we must be their greatest cheerleader. We are mothers, we are fathers, we are teachers! We are, as parents, their first example and experience with love.
TV: Are there future dates/events where people can see or visit you and buy your book?
RG: There was a pre-release book signing April 23rd at Arlington Central Library 1015 North Quincy Street, Arlington, Virginia 22201 @ 11am. On May 14th at the same place, I am teaching how to write a self-published book and how to market it! For more information, visit www.ressurrectiongraves.com.
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