Meet Adiba Nelson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adiba Nelson.

Adiba, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS!! No, just kidding. I don’t like to bleed my own blood, nor am I a big fan of sweating. Tears? Maybe…on a good day. Okay, let me be serious. I began writing professionally in 2011, when I wrote my first children’s book, Meet ClaraBelle Blue. The publishing world wasn’t ready to take on a book about a little black girl with a disability, so I taught my self how to self-publish, and then hustled my butt off to get out into the world.

That hustle led to writing “for exposure”, a personal invite from Ariana Huffington to contribute my words to Huffington Post, and then a staff writer position with Ravishly. At some point in there, I wrote a cheeky little love letter to my local library and read it on the air for the NPR/AZPM show, Arizona Illustrated, which led to the Emmy award winning documentary, The Full Nelson, about my life, and my life as my daughter’s mother. THAT led to me writing my memoir, countless speaking engagements, and writing for Washington Post (and others), which has led me to today – just a few months away from the pub date of my first traditionally published book! Arizona Spotlight

(Shameless plug: Ain’t That A Mother, on sale everywhere books are sold, May 3, 2022!) is currently available for pre-order on Amazon or anywhere you purchase books, and will be available everywhere books are sold on May 3, 2022!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh God no! In order to get to the level I’m trying to get to, you have to be laser focused. On a personal note, a lot of things have to fall to the wayside, and a lot of people have to either be VERY understanding and supportive OR they have to get comfortable with hearing the words “No, I can’t do/go xyz”. Not everyone can do that. I definitely have lost some people on this journey. And this might sound cruel, but…..I wouldn’t change anything about how I’ve done it. Not a single thing. Prioritizing your goals and making tough sacrifices is sometimes what it takes.

Professionally, it took almost 2 years to sell my memoir to a publisher. THAT’S A LONG TIME. Rejection is hard. You change this, rearrange that, add this chapter and take out that one. And then finally you say “Okay, I’ve literally given you the best I have to offer – Universe, it’s up to you at this point”, and you let it go. For someone like me, that letting go was very difficult. I like to (some say *need* to) have my hands in all the pots, at all times, making sure things go the way I need/want them to go. I’ve had to learn to just chill and let be whatever is going to be. It took almost two years to learn that. But when I finally did, the universe was like “FINALLY!”…and then I got the book deal. But trust and believe, that struggle was real.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a freelance writer, author, and public speaker. I am known for my authenticity, the truth telling in my writing, and maybe my sense of humor? My friends think I’m funny. I’m most proud of my upcoming memoir – I wrote the entire thing during the height of the pandemic and I’m just really proud of the work I put together, and the level of transparency I offer the reader. It’s not easy to go there – tell the ugly truth…hold the mirror up and then invite the public in to judge you….but I did it.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Oh my lord…. awkward then, awkward now! No, really… my aunt actually just told me that when I was really little, like between ages 1 and 3, I was very quiet. I would come into her house (or anyone’s house, really) and just look around, taking it all in. I wouldn’t talk to anyone, or even really play with my cousins. I would just observe everything and everybody. Around five I remember being very talkative – my nickname was even motormouth! But once I got near a stage or music came on I lit up. I loved performing – dancing, lip syncing, playing my trumpet…I loved it. I danced from sixth grade on into college. I’m still pretty quiet upon entering a new space – but let some put on Beyonce’…I’m like Michigan J. Frog from Warner Bros. I’ll turn it out – then go right back to my corner. LOL someone

Contact Info:

• Email: adiba@thefullnelson.net
• Website: www.thefullnelson.net
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/adibanelson
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdibaNelsonWriter
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/adibanelson

Image Credits
Caroline King
Kathleen Dreier