Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Wanda Fields of Conley

We recently had the chance to connect with Wanda Fields and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Wanda, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
One of my proudest moments came on August 2nd, my birthday, when I launched not one but two books under a pseudonym, officially becoming a published author with my work recognized on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The stories capture my personal journey through love, loss, and healing, and while I choose to keep my author identity separate, I couldn’t let the moment pass without acknowledging God’s hand in it all. Launching both books on my birthday wasn’t a coincidence—it was divine timing, and I give Him the glory for turning something so painful into a testimony I could share with others. It wasn’t a moment of laughter, but of deep pride and gratitude.

Another moment of pride is knowing that at the end of 2025, I’ll stand before Real Divas Read & More Social Club not only as the founder, but also as the final author in our lineup for the year. I never imagined I would close out the year as both leader and speaker, but again, that’s God’s intervention.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the proud founder and president of Real Divas Read & More Social Club, now 13 years strong. Based in Atlanta, our community blends reading, service, travel, and celebration. What started as a small book-focused circle has blossomed into an intimate yet impactful group of no more than 15 members, where connection and purpose remain at the center.

Our brand is built on enlightening, uplifting, and empowering people while giving back to the community. Over the years, we have celebrated milestones such as hosting 10 authors during our 10th anniversary, presenting signature five-year jackets to loyal members, and expanding our reach through both service and travel. We have served firefighters, adopted children for the holidays, and journeyed together to the country of Panama, the Dominican Republic, Madrid, Spain, and more, while also enjoying local staycations in Atlanta.

Currently, I am focused on building our presence in the event space. We are preparing for our second Corks & Canvas paint-and-sip and launching our very first Sneaker Ball in Hampton, Georgia, where we will bless 10 children with gifts, host raffles that include televisions, and bring people together for a plated dinner and a night of fellowship. These events reflect our mission to create meaningful connections, celebrate life, and serve with purpose.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In my early life, one of my greatest influences was my father. He was very strict, and because of that I learned discipline and the importance of doing what was expected of me. Those early lessons gave me structure, but they also made me determined to one day live life on my own terms.

That perspective came much sooner than I expected. At 22, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That is very young to face something so serious, and I consider the day of my diagnosis my second birthday. It forced me to grow up quickly and see life differently. I learned to advocate for myself in doctors’ offices, to ask questions, and to never let my voice be ignored. To this day, I push my daughters to get mammograms early, even when they resist, and I make sure my sisters and mother stay on top of their screenings as well.

Cancer gave me a new lens on the world. It made me more compassionate, more urgent about living fully, and more determined not to waste time. It shaped how I see myself and inspired the book I am writing now, The Left One Left Me. For me, that moment was not an ending. It was the beginning of a life I will never take for granted.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Growing up, I didn’t always hear the words I needed most. If I could say one thing to my younger self, it would be the same thing I now speak over my granddaughter: you are smart, you are kind, you are brave, you are beautiful. You have everything you need inside of you to not just move forward in life, but to exceed in life. You know how I know? Because God gave it to you.

I keep a photo of my younger self on my computer, and whenever I look into those big brown eyes, I remind her of those same words. When I first created them for my granddaughter almost two years ago, I realized they were also what my younger self needed to hear. So now, I plant them in her as often as I can. She sits still, she listens, and she remembers. One day she will know in her heart that her Gigi spoke life into her, just as I now speak life into that little girl in the photo.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I am most committed to is becoming a well-known author. Writing has always been close to my heart. From the time I was young, I found myself reading books and “cherry-picking” the words of authors who could transport me right into their world. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those moments planted the seed for my own journey as a writer.

The fact that I published my first two books in the middle part of my life is a testament to that commitment. It may have taken longer than I once imagined, but I believe timing is never wasted when God is involved. My goal is not only to continue writing nonfiction drawn from the life I have lived, but also to eventually expand into other forms of writing. No matter how long it takes, I am committed to building a body of work that reflects truth, resilience, and faith. Work that leaves a mark on readers and allows my voice to carry beyond me.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When people look back on my life, I want them to say, “She had an impact on me. She made me see something in myself I didn’t always see. She pushed me to try things outside of my comfort zone because she was also pushing herself.” This is the legacy I hope to leave. One where people carry forward not only memories of my words, but the courage to keep stretching for more.

For me, legacy is about turning my lessons — the ones that once felt like my floor — into a ceiling others can stand on. That’s why I write. My books are pieces of my heart and my testimony, a way of leaving behind something that continues to speak long after I’m gone. So many of us wonder what will remain when our time here is over. For me, it’s the encouragement I gave, the love I shared, and the words I’ve written. I hope my family, friends, and even strangers can look back, smile, and know that my life was one of service, resilience, and joy.