Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm
“It’s difficult to classify myself solely as a writer of romance, when in fact writing about women’s lives, and the complexities that has gone into making her that woman, entails a great deal more than romance.”
Runner up in the Saga Literary Prize
Swimming with Fishes
I’m in rewriting after getting the edits of my second novel back. Writing to exhale. Lockdown has surly given me time to write & try out new writing processes. Instead of my regular place in the middle of my bed, I’ve written from my dining table and a favourite of my has become my back garden, especially given the good weather. Being a #twentyin2020 author, & with Covid-19 affecting everything, from our book launches to our author events, being able to connect via Zoom has been great for me, feeling less isolated. #timetowrite #editing #twentyin2020authors #twentyin2020 #writingtoexhale #stilliwrite #writingprocess #jacarandabooks #wordsofcolour #wordsmith #sunshine
Trying to distract myself from an aching tooth abscess, (see my swollen right cheek) I’m going to take a drive in the sunshine & blast my favourite music - walking didn’t work. I’m dressed in as much red as possible, my colleague tells me red absorbs pain. When I called my dentist, a voice message told me to cal 111 - I call them & they said they couldn’t help, Covid-19 means I can’t be seen. I pleaded & pleaded & was eventually able to get a prescription for antibiotics & painkillers, & from my Herbalist, the real hemp oil that made all the difference. #toothache #pain #painrelief #hemp #ganja #lockdown #freeme #painfree #red #ladyinred
Am still decorating (as U can c from my stocking cap, lol) in between writing in my garden on this glorious sun-filled day - and in between writing I’m sipping red wine - and in between sipping red wine, I’m trying to figure out one of life’s great mysteries - as you can see from the current book I’m reading. #sunnyday #redwine #writing #lifesmysteries #authors #forevergrateful
Driving in the sunshine 🌞 what a wonderful feeling, life is so precious, fragile, let’s live it, let’s learn from it and let’s give back. Music is the food of love, you know that saying, dance as though no-one is watching - I do it all the time, I sing too, you know, like in the shower, 😆 music inspires my writing, so does a drive or a walk in the sun. #driving #drivinginthesun #music #musicislife #writing #lifeisgood #lifeisbeautiful #lifeisfortheliving #lifeisfragile #forevergrateful
I’ve always been convinced that my creative space for writing is in the centre of my bed . . . Since lockdown, my dining table has become another of that place, especially when the sun lets off its golden glow and pours in. At this table I’ve been inspired to put another writing course together, ‘Still I Write,’ encouraging the writer in you to always write, no matter the emotions. #stilliwrite #placetowrite #writing #kitchentable #justwrite #iwrite
Love me a sunny 😎 day, vitamin D top up, sitting in my garden, different flavours added to my creativity & the feel of wall-wall sunshine, in my view, comes second to few things. My life has changed forever, a void has been left, a beautiful soul disappeared & we are left to embrace the changes, to create a new normal & live. I get in and out of journaling but for the past 52 days, I’ve journaled every day, pouring tears, grief & happiness, possibilities & new beginnings. It’s very healing & you’ll notice, like most of you, I crave therapeutic & healing activities during this time. Hope you love my African stool, it’s part of my feel-good tools, I bought it from a second hand shop, £15, a bargain 🙌🏽 I sit on it for 7 minutes before I start my daily writing ✍️ #embracingchange #vitamind #embracingthejourney #journaling #writing #lovelife #forevergrateful
Reading diversely is a big part of writing. As a writer of women’s fiction, I look forward to reading a good selection of women’s stories & romance novels. Lockdown has given me time to read new books & re-read older ones. Someone recommended the author Jojo Moyes for me to read & gave me her book, Me Before You. Loved it, so when my publisher, #jacarandabooks asked me to recommend a book - I thought Me Before You makes a good, easy Sunday afternoon read. #jojomoyes #mebeforeyou #romance #romancebooks #jacarandabooks #romanceauthor #womensfiction #goodreads #recommended #sundayafternoon
There are reasons for my new beginnings - decorating my home is a start. My sons had the bright idea & kick started it, but it takes a woman to complete it. This lockdown, and the big change in my life has me trying new things to keep mindful . . . DIY. 😂 I was surprised how therapeutic painting a wall, door, skirting board is - it really gave me time to think, dream & remember. #embracethejourney #mindfulness #mindful #embracingchange #diy #diywriter
Daily writing is my super power & being locked down has given me the time I’ve always prayed for. But I had to break free to soak up some sunshine🌞 today, driving mask free & topping up the Vitamin D through the windscreen. I wish you could’ve heard the banter coming from my 6- year-old granddaughter in the back seat - she has the answers to all the problems in the world & so much good advice to give PM Boris. She has also told me that doctors & NHS staff should get more pay than politicians because all politicians do is talk but doctors & NHS work hard to save people’s lives. This little girl inspires me. #proudglammy #proudgrandma #nhs #nurses #doctors #futureprimeminister #childwisdom #vitamind #sunshine #timetowrite #author
Having my son, daughter-in-law & grandchildren living with me in lock down is a blessing. My sons are actually painting my entire house to enhance new beginnings for me. I’m grateful, this time has increased my gratitude for the simple things in life. I actually had the idea of writing in my garden, but a rum punch later I decided to enjoy the sun and appreciate the conversation and the company around me. #family #familytime #timeforlove #sunshine #forevergrateful🙏 #gratitude #gratitudeisamust
#surrealtimes #challengingtimes #challenging #alonetogether #alone #grateful #gratefulheart #gratefulthankfulblessed #blessed #missingyou #missingfromme #exceptgod
Masked up - LOL . . . It was a glorious spring day yesterday, on a day like this we would have jumped in the car and head out of London to find a space to explore & write. Instead, we stayed home and enjoyed the sun in our back garden. #sunshine #springbreak2020 #lockdown #keepingitreal #thankful #thankfulforlife #forevergrateful #writerslifestyle
Under this lockdown, it cheered us up to have Miss Dana’s Fish Fry delivered right to our kitchen - I want to tell you it was finished in an hour 😂😂😂it was that delicious 😋 #fishfry #fishfryfriday #lockdown #lifeisgood #healthyfood #healthylifestyle #lovefood #livelifetothefullest #forevergrateful🙏
A Legend. Keithy Anderson, AKA, Bob Andy, RIP🙏🏾 when Keithy came to London Summer 2019, he came to see me and we talked books and writers and he said he wanted me to write his biography. He started telling me about his traumatic childhood, his early wild days in the music industry, the producers who robbed him, the artists who betrayed him, the women he loved, left and lost, he was very honest and open, and gave me much laughter. So sorry we didn’t finish that book, it would have blown the reggae music industry to dust. Keithy, you’ll always be remembered in our world, and now you’re with your Maker, you will get all your answers to the questions you asked. Will miss your intelligence, your banter & your laughter. #reggae #reggae music #bobandy #reggaelegend #reggaeartist #musicislife #keithanderson #jamaica #writers
Calling Women Who Write Often in life, women feel as if they’ve been silenced, or they stop themselves from speaking their minds. Writing to Exhale will give women the space to connect and exhale onto a page. We know that when you tell your story of how you overcame your challenges, one day it will become someone else’s survival guide. #writingtoexhale #womenwriters #authors #womenwhowrite #femaleauthors #novels
Every day is a day to celebrate the greatness of women’s achievements. My own Mummy, I salute you, wherever you are in God’s universe. To all the great women who have touched my world, I remain forever grateful, make the most of you. #internationalwomensday #greatwomen #womensachievements #womenoftheworld #female #femaleboss
Happy 2020, may the best of your 2019 be the worst of your 2020
#TwentyinTwenty #authors #writersofinstagram #writeinanewyear #happynewyear #2020
Just been invited to an event at Ealing Library by #AkubaQuansah to share a song that has impacted on me - as a writer of romance I chose Whitney Houston & Deborah Cox, Same Script Different Cast . . . I know of very few women who have never had their heart torn by infidelity - this song also influenced my characters meet up in my debut novel, Swimming With Fishes. If you’re In Ealing, do drop in. #songs #songsthatinfluencedmylife #samescriptdifferentcast #authors #swimmingwithfishes #novel #love #ealinglibrary #lastminute #lastminutedotcom
#girljustwannahavefun #justgirls #nightout #metimenow #metime #timeofmylife #forevergrateful
That time of year has arrived - colleagues getting together after work on a Friday to play - drink, eat, all the things that says festivities. #festiveseason #festivities #colleagues #colleaguestofriends #funtimes #eating #drinking #playing #iamawriter