By: Sloan Mitchell, Maynard Jackson High School Senior
A young black girl who daydreams about her own love story finds herself captivated by the pull of other people’s stories. Whether through books, TV shows, or movies. This girl finds herself disappointed once again when she walks into the popular bookstores to find mainly romance novels catering to a white audience filling the shelves. However, pushing for more stories where she is represented inspires her to keep writing her book.
This young black girl is me, Sloan Mitchell. I’ve been crafting my debut novel, “Just For A While,” since November 2022 and finished my first draft in April 2023. The essence of the story struck me during a visit to see my Grandmother in St. Croix. I was deliriously sick, and I began to think about what my life would be if I lived on the island with Grammy. It was then that the narrative of my novel began to unfold.
The story follows Anaya Hayes, a seventeen-year-old girl forced to move away from Washington, D.C., during her senior year as her parents undergo a complicated divorce. With her new life comes new surroundings, and Anaya struggles to find her place. At Gran’s welcoming dinner party, Anaya is introduced to Cameron Moore, who offers to help her settle into their small private school, Countryside Academy. From that day, a beautiful friendship begins to bloom. But in the wake of a passionate moment with Cameron, complications arise between the pair, and they must confront their growing feelings. With graduation looming over their heads, they’re running out of time to become something more.
“Just For A While” is not just a story to me; it’s a reflection of my passion for the need for diverse representation in romantic literature. I’ve put my soul into this book, and it’s become something I’m not afraid to share with the world anymore. This is why I dedicated my book to “The black girl romantics waiting to be seen.’ I want my novel to be on the bookshelves and picked up by readers who are looking for a soft love story with enchanting characters, a hard-to-put-down plot, and a teary-eyed ending—a story that speaks to them directly.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to anticipate the arrival of “Just For A While” on shelves in the summer of 2025.
Author: C. Alexandria
Designer, developer, and digital content creator.