FLORENZA LEE- SHARES HER PASSION FOR WRITING WITH THE WORLD

By Marcie Hill

“Books and writing were my heaven in the midst of hell,” says Florenza Denise Lee, reflecting on why she wrote as a child. She grew up in a toxic household, watching her mother get physically abused. “Writing was my safety place… my escape from life.” Books, on the other hand, teleported her anywhere in the world. She read everything she got her hands on including books that were inappropriate for her age group. Essentially, words got her through challenges.

When she wrote as a child, it was not her intent to be an author. However, she did enjoy penning poetry, and won several contests for her work. Today, she is an international best-selling, award-winning author that writes several genres of books. “Under Florenza Denise Lee, I write children’s books and everything nice; Aiken Ponder writes all the naughty stuff.”

Florenza has written over 60 books and has independently published 28 books in print, electronic and audio formats. Children’s books are her favorite. Why was she inspired to start writing children’s books? “I didn’t start writing children’s books; they selected me to write them.”

On January 31, 2014, Florenza wrote what would become her first five children’s books, signed a contract with an illustrator and editor, and felt very accomplished….” Her very first book, The Tail of Max the Mindless Dog, a children’s book on mindfulness, has sold in 31 countries and is being translated into eight languages. Three of her 23 children’s books’ titles have been translated into Spanish, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Mandarin languages. They will soon be available in Farsi, German, French, and Italian. “The goal is to translate all my backlist of children’s books and in time, my adult literature titles.”

Florenza later started Words to Ponder Publishing Company and Words to Ponder Radio Show. In February 2018, Letrise Carter, founder of Sistah’s Place Entertainment, invited Florenza to be a guest speaker on her show. The response was so favorable Florenza received a call asking her to consider hosting a show. Within two weeks, Words to Ponder Radio Show was launched under the umbrella of The Essence of She Online Radio. The show is currently on a short hiatus due to Florenza’s schedule but will return in the near future.

Coaching is an integral part of Florenza’s business because “I believe that I have always been a coach. Even as a young child, I would challenge my friends and family to look at their why…I possess the ability to restory your narrative.” Florenza is a Narrative Coach, Children’s Mindfulness Coach and Mindset Coach with a certification from the Coach Training Alliance.

Narrative Coaching involves the client’s soul, mind, heart, and body and is a method of coaching that invites the client to reflect on their own stories. For Children’s Mindfulness Coaching, she teaches teachers how to apply mindfulness in their classrooms so students can apply it. As a mindset coach, she teaches people to live in the right now, in this moment.

The most unique title and responsibility Florenza holds is Book Doula. “I will help you birth your book.” To date, she has helped over 105 authors in various genres write, publish and become successful in their authorship.

In addition to being an accomplished author, publisher, coach, radio talk show host and book doula, Florenza is also a Master Storyteller and veterans advocate. Here’s how she attributes the keys to her success: “… Obedience…to the prompting of God, tenacity and resilience. I do not give up. Ever.” This is evident in the bodies of works she’s produced and the lives she’s touched. However, she is challenged with “not being so hard on myself to feel like I have to be at the best at it” and constantly reminding herself that if “you’re not having fun don’t do it.”

To learn more about Florenza and all her ventures, including details on how to hire her for speaking and coaching services, “go with the Flo” by visiting her website at Florenza.org. She can also be found on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter at Florenza Lee and on Facebook Florenza Denise Lee.