Today we’d like to introduce you to DiShan Washington.
Hi DiShan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a little girl, I dreamed of one day being a famous writer and actress because I had a love for storytelling and performing. I knew at the age of 14 I wanted to move to Los Angeles to pursue those dreams. But, sometimes things don’t go as planned, and such was the case with me. I ended up getting married in 1997, at the age of 16, to a local preacher. Instead of going to my senior prom, I was standing next to my husband, who was 20, as he was being installed as the Pastor of his first church. At that time, I felt I was doing what God called me to do, and didn’t realize the extent of how my life would change.
We were married for 17 years and I can’t say that it was all bad. We did a lot of wonderful things together in ministry, and thousands of people’s lives were changed through our ministerial work. However, the more successful we became, the more stressful and strained our marriage became. So to a point, I attempted suicide twice as the marriage began failing.
Post the marriage, something unleashed within me. I went from a life of luxury to homelessness, and I had to learn how to survive. The day my ex-husband left, I only had $80 to my name, and that’s what I used to start my life over. I slept in my car and on the couches of my friends, until I dropped my pride, and told my parents my daughter & I were homeless. It’s crazy how I was conditioned to be prideful because during this time, I filmed a National TV show & a movie and nobody knew. It was insane how I held it together to save face. But, the bulk of my life changed during this period because a fire was started and the beast within was unleashed because if for no other reason, I had to do it for my daughter.
Today, I’m a National, Essence & Award-Winning author, Nationally known playwright, filmmaker, director, ghostwriter to the stars, business coach, and an ordained Pastor. I own multiple businesses, in multiple states (GA, LA, CA) I know what trouble looks like when it’s over. I spend a lot of time empowering women who are single moms, divorced moms, or women who are searching for their purpose post a traumatic event(s).
I’m the very PROUD mother of two beautiful daughters: Alahna Rose & Ariahna Rose. We reside in Smyrna, GA.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been many challenges. I’ve been burned by so many along the way. When you have a big heart people tend to prey on you, so I’ve been involved with individuals who had ulterior motives, and individuals who drained the hell out of me. I’ve made bad investments and lost it all a few times while attempting to come up, and provide for my children. I’ve had my work stolen by celebrities who had the resources to turn my ideas into profit, and I was never given a dime, or credit, for it. It’s a whole other hurt to see people making millions off of your idea while you’re struggling to keep the lights and your cell phone on so you can keep trying to press your way. Not to mention the movie I had stolen that got rave reviews in the media. Whew! That was a depressing time.
I have so many examples of bumps in the road but the key thing is, I never gave up.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I wear several hats but for the past several years, I’ve been a celebrity ghostwriter and publisher. I own a multimedia company and we focus on being a one-stop for those who’re looking to share their story with the world. We handle all aspects of books/film/TV to include: publishing, publicity, marketing, branding, production, and we are even expanding to printing.
I am also a streaming network and we are currently in pre-production for a movie, a reality show, crime series, and a couple of other things. Having extensive experience as a writer, director, and casting agent, not just for my own projects but others I’ve worked with, creating content is almost expected of me.
Honestly, I’m known for two things. Transparency and controversy. If you Google me, you’ll see that a few years ago, I went viral for creating a symposium about being holy and horny. I was on almost every blog…people even did YouTube videos about me! Prior to that, I went viral for creating a genre called “Christian Erotica.” It got so much attention, I landed on a National reality show that aired on TLC. (The Sisterhood) With Christian Erotica, I champion for marriages who struggle in their sex life all in an effort to reduce the staggering statistic that over 50% of Christian marriages end in divorce. Mine did. The 3rd leading cause for this is sexual problems. The church loves to hide behind this topic and approach it conservatively, but I approach it head-on. I started the holy & horny conversation because didn’t not one person in the church tell me what to do with my hormones post my divorce. I went from having “legal” sex to trying not to become the female version of the Pastors we label as whores. Whew, chile, it was a struggle! But that’s the thing that separate me from all others, I have a Grace on my life to tackle taboo subjects with enough class and realness that even if you want to drag me for being bold, you’ll listen to what I have to say.
Outside of that, I just became partners with a guy in New Orleans, Charlie English, who owns a successful construction and real estate development company. He and I are partnering to rebuild, restore, and revitalize portions of NOLA & Baton Rouge. My ex was a general contractor and I learned quite a bit during our near 20-year marriage. So, this opportunity with English is the pivot I was searching for in order to build generational wealth.
I’m known to many as the female version of Tyler Perry, but I have a spiritual side of me that’s similar to Bishop TD Jakes, and the business tenacity of Oprah Winfrey. If they all combined to have a child—I’m that child.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Personally, I don’t believe in luck. I believe in FAITH. I dare not credit luck for manifesting what my faith has accomplished. To the flip side, even the bad things have happened for my good. I’m a firm believer that ALL things, the good and the bad, are employed to work for my benefit. (Romans 8:28) I’ve had a LOT of negative things happen to me, some things have seemed unfair, but I can unequivocally say that if what happened wasn’t a blessing, it was a lesson.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dishanpatrice.com
- Instagram: @dishanpatrice
- Facebook: DiShan Patrice
- Twitter: @dishanpatrice
