I’m from Bear Creek, a small, working class, African American community in Dallas County, Texas. As an only child I was often alone and books were my constant companions, biographies and novels. I wrote my own first short story when I was in the 5th Grade, a typical fairytale that even included some pretty terrible illustrations. By high school I was writing tragic novellas which entertained classmates, bringing some of them to tears. For years afterwards I wrote for myself mainly but shared the typed manuscripts with friends.

Eventually I moved to the Atlanta area, and now I can’t imagine living anywhere else; though my roots remain deeply grounded in East Texas history and culture. Finally, I got my own PC and I began my first novel Solomon’s Blues. About 10 years later I published it, my dream come true. And so it goes. I live by the words of the Langston Hughes’ poem: “Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”

Josephine Garner is my pen name, and I chose it as a tribute to my father, Joseph Garner, who was my stepfather. I never got to have his name but I had his love. Now each time I get to introduce myself as Josephine Garner, in a real way I am saying I love you, Daddy. You can check out my blog post, “What’s In a Name” at josephinegarner.net to learn more about my dad and me.

Joseph Garner with Josephine Spring 1976