Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Magwood.
Hi Raven, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was 11 years old, I had a teacher suggest that I write about some of my various accomplishments. I ended up writing about my journey, and in the process, I realized that I could help other people by also detailing my setbacks and failures. That writing adventure turned into my first published book, On to Victory! The Winning Edge. At 13, I published my second book, Double Sided, a fictional account of two girls growing up on opposite sides of a small, segregated town. At 15, I graduated from high school as my school’s valedictorian, with a 5.1 GPA. At 19, I graduated from Clemson University’s Honors College summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. I also published my third book The 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes. Upon graduation, I traveled the country giving motivational speeches to youth and adults at schools, businesses, churches, and other organizations.
At 23, I became co-owner of a gymnastics facility along with mom. Within two years, we grew the business 200%. During this time, I wrote another book entitled The 7 Practices of Prosperous Women. Most recently, I published a new children’s book entitled My Pace. This book teaches young kids the importance of embracing their differences. For my latest project, I am producing a feature film entitled Haunted Trail, directed by Robin Givens. Cast members include Desi Banks, Reggie Couz, Marquise C. Brown, Brook Sill, Hope Forever, and Matt Williams Knowles. It is slated to be released later this year (2021).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
On the journey to accomplishing any type of success, there is always adversity. My story is no different. In my first book, On to Victory! The Winning Edge, I write about becoming a national gymnastics champion at age 11, as well as skipping two grades; however, I also detail the surgeries I had that sidelined me from the sport. I also write about the knee disease that caused me chronic pain and disrupted my practice/competition schedule. When I was 17, my doctor found a suspicious lump in my right breast, which I had to have surgically removed. Then at 19, my doctor discovered that the tumor had grown back bigger and faster than before. I was scared and unsure if I would see my 20th birthday. My breast cancer surgeon scheduled a lumpectomy, and by the grace of God the biopsy came back as benign. Although everything ended up being okay, the experience gave me a different perspective on life. I am now extremely grateful each morning that I wake up, and I do my best to do the absolute most with what I have every day. Throughout my life, I have also been subject to people who didn’t necessarily believe in the beauty of my dreams. Although I’ve heard the word “no” more times than I can count, I’ve never let someone tell me “no” who couldn’t tell me “yes.” I just continue to work until the right opportunity presents itself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love my work as an author. motivational speaker, and filmmaker. I have so much fun doing what I do that it hardly ever feels like work. Yes, some aspects of what I do can be extremely challenging. And yes, deadlines will always have to be met. But I love being able to use speaking and writing to change people’s lives. My goal in whatever I do is to give people the tools to unlock their full potential. It makes me happy to see other people become the best versions of themselves. I gave my first speech at 12 years old, so I’ve been doing this for 15 years. It feels as though I’m a “veteran” even though I realize that I’m still very young. I honestly can’t wait to see what God has in store for my life. I am known by many as an “achievement expert.” I know how to execute and get things done. I love setting a goal and seeing it come to pass. But what a lot of people don’t know is how silly and goofy I can be. I have a crazy imagination, which is where all of the story ideas come from! I can’t wait for the release of my film Haunted Trail. It’s a horror comedy that I wrote while in quarantine for Covid-19 at the beginning of 2020. We are almost done with production.
This is the first film I’ve ever produced, so it’s been a new and exciting experience for me. I’ve been able to work with some AMAZING people during this process. Robin Givens is directing the film, and she has been an amazing mentor to me! Although I do have many various accomplishments, I am most proud of the fact that my mom says I’m “an even better daughter.” I love that my parents, my brother, and my friends say that no matter how busy I am, they can always count on me to be there for them.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My books are all available through both my website and Amazon. Please visit www.RavenMagwood.com for more information about me and my current projects. I am on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @RavenMagwood. Send me a message on my website or through my social media if you ever want to work with me!
Contact Info:
- Email: ravenmagwood@gmail.com
- Website: www.RavenMagwood.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/RavenMagwood
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/RavenMagwood
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/RavenMagwood
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