A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Life is a memoir that moves through your childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood, sharing your reflections on resilience, gratitude, and the strange ways life can twist, betray, and yet still surprise with meaning. Why was this an important book for you to write?

For years, I knew I wanted to write a book, but I argued with myself over releasing parts of my story into the world. I also wasn’t sure if my experiences mattered to anyone else. Working with my publisher, Karen Weaver, was the turning point. Her encouragement gave me the courage to finally share A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Life with the world. It became important because I realized that sharing our stories creates connection, and my hope is that someone reading mine will feel less alone and more inspired to see their own journey in a new light.

How did you balance the need to be honest and authentic with the need to protect your privacy and that of others in your memoir?

That was something I considered carefully from the start. Being authentic didn’t mean I had to share every single detail, it meant sharing what was true in a way that served the story. I gave myself permission to set boundaries, to hold back pieces that were too raw or that belonged more to someone else than to me. That balance allowed me to be real while still protecting both my own heart and the privacy of others.

What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir and what was the most rewarding?

The hardest part was revisiting times in my life I hadn’t thought about in years and realizing how much they shaped me. I also hesitated at times, wondering how my stories would be received by people who know me, but may not know the whole story. The most rewarding part has been the freedom that came from finally putting those experiences on the page, and even more than that, hearing from readers who found comfort, laughter, or hope in my words … that has meant more to me than anything.

How has writing your memoir impacted or changed your life?

Writing my memoir gave me a kind of freedom I didn’t expect. For so long, I carried my story inside me, partly as a dream, partly as a weight. Finally putting it into the world allowed me to let go of the fear and step fully into sharing my voice. It has opened doors I never imagined: connecting with readers around the world, seeing my book up on a Times Square billboard, speaking on stages, and bringing it into my Queen Code work. But even more than that, it has changed the way I see myself. I no longer question whether my story matters, I know it does, and I know telling it can help others believe the same about their own.

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