Meet Bria Felicien in Kirkwood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bria Felicien.

Bria, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m an author and a journalist based in Kirkwood. I’ve always been an avid reader and writer, whether it was in Word, Evernote, notebooks or discarded scraps of paper.

I grew up reading The Times-Picayune, watching WWL-TV. I knew since I was in high school I wanted to work in journalism (I wanted to be the next Pam Oliver). Of course, a lot has changed since I realized I didn’t want to be on TV, but as early as high school, I worked on my high school newspaper and yearbook and created my own TV show.

After I graduated from college, the first job I had was covering high school and college sports in Louisiana. Since then, I’ve worked in sports, news, features and now politics, I believe all of that experience – writing, video, social media, audio – is important to the type of journalism I want to do in the future.

As far as my author life, I never knew much about the book publishing industry but in 2016, I started listening to the Girl, Have You Read? Podcast and not only did I find so many more books to read, I learned a lot about independent and self-publishing. I published my first short story collection on Amazon in January 2017.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A few of the things I’ve struggled with are learning the business of both media and book publishing, managing multiple projects along with my day job and battling “imposter syndrome,” which I’ve learned, for me, comes when I don’t feel like I’m writing enough to be a “writer.” I’ve also learned in the past year that despite what it seems, taking my time on projects is okay.

None of my struggles are uncommon, but what helps me push through the stress of trying to learn on the fly or battle self-doubt is remembering that stories help people, whether they are fiction or nonfiction. And I have so many stories I want to tell, through independent, traditional and mainstream media that will entertain, inform and help people. So, I have to keep working.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m an author and a journalist. My goal is to create my own media company, with just me to start, but eventually, I want to bring other people on board and elevate other voices that the world needs to hear, see or read.

As far as my day job, I get paid to produce a political podcast and manage social media and a newsletter. I have three other long-form, in-depth journalism podcasts I currently want to produce – and I’ll get there. I also write fiction – new adult romance and women’s fiction.

The book I’m currently writing, a follow-up to a previously published novella, is the most honest I’ve been on the page, and honesty and authenticity make each writer unique. Accuracy, facts and truth are what makes journalism what it is, but being honest, not holding back on the page as I write a book or short story is what sets me apart from everyone else. My perspective is unique, it’s how I get to the stories that will touch people, make them laugh, think, feel. That’s special and important and needed.

Also, honesty in regards to speaking up for myself to keep from getting trapped in a segment of journalism that’ll burn me out or not staying true to myself by chasing a trend simply because it’s lucrative. Being true to who I am will help the people that need to read my stories.

What were you like growing up?
I’m shy in front of big groups, but I’ve always been friendly. I’ve always been curious – and that got me in trouble a few times. I always asked questions, to the annoyance of whoever I was badgering at the time. I was always a sporty kid, playing outside and grew up playing basketball and eventually volleyball and track in high school. And I’ve always been a reader, I’d tag along with my mom when she took trips to the library and stay up all night reading books.

Contact Info:

• Website: briafelicien.com
• Email: writerbfel@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briafelicien/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerbfel/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/briafelicien
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Bria-Felicien/e/B001I7EK5U/

Image Credit:
Photos provided by Bria Felicien

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