Meet April Richie | Writer / Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with April Richie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi April, where are you from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today.
I am from the Infamous Compton, California. One of the most well known cities in the country. I know it sounds like a bit much, but its true, I was raised on the east side of Compton and the neighborhood I was raised in, is as infamous as the city itself, because it was the home of Death Row Records.

But long before the glitz and glamour. It was just a middle class neighborhood filled with small and large families that mostly all knew one another. It was full of friendships, love, loyalty, joy and laughter and like all other hoods, just as there were happy times there was also sad times, but like one big happy family we got through them all.

I grew up different then these days and times. Back in the day you respected the authority of your friends parents as you would your own, so if you were doing something wrong and another parent in the neighborhood verbally chastised you, you showed them respect and listened.

As I reminisce about my younger days, I can’t help but to think back to the day my parents announced we were moving to Compton.

They were so happy because they were also accomplishing their goal to become homeowners. Something my parents had been working hard to achieve and that day had come.

I remember my first day at my new school , Stephen C. Foster Elementary. A staff member welcomed me and my mother at the front office, then grabbed my hand and said come with me, I’m going to introduce you to your new class. We walked all the way to the back of the school where four to five bungalows stood.

We walked into a very quiet class where kids seemed to be under control and in good behavior, quietly working, a few looked up and smiled but for the most part, they were attentively doing their schoolwork. The teacher looked up with an expression of concern written across her face, As the staff member introduced me to her.

The teacher responded and said, although we would love to have you in our class “April” I believe there has been a mistake because we do not have any extra seats available. The staff member looked down at her notes and realized we went into the wrong room.

We entered into another room that to this day reminds me of the movie “Lean on Me ” The class was absolutely out of control, when we walked in the door, the students were hollering across the room , the teacher was screaming. Then everyone stop talking and looked up at me and the office lady standing there trying to get their attention.

Kids had began to raise their hands while begging the teacher to let me sit by them, as the teacher probed the room for an available seat, a boisterous student hollered “do not sit her by me” and what’s so funny is she became one of my most closest and dearest friends, who I am still friends with to this day, yes 42 years later.

I will never forget that day, it was the beginning of bonds being formed that will never be broken, because all though we may not see or talk to each other often, we will forever share our bond of “Growing up Compton.” Our neighborhood was full of excitement growing up, I have so many wonderful memories.

I learned a lot about loyalty and friendship. Holidays in our hood were the best, many of us shared the holiday with one another. We went from house to house , block to block, introducing our family and friends to one another.

Although Christmas was always my favorite holiday out of many, The Fourth of July was also one as well , On this day, you woke up to the smell of barbecue in the air, every house in the hood had a pit smoking. Everybody had their fresh new outfits on. Music playing at most all the houses, lot’s of laughter and joy and when nightfall came, it was like one gigantic firework show.

I can honestly say, that long before the glitz and glamour, our hood was known for the real people that lived in it. When I went outside, I often never came back home until dinner and if there was daylight left outside afterwards, I would hurry back out to get that last bit of fun in before it was time to go inside.

Growing up Compton was great, I learned a lot about the importance of friendship, family, loyalty and love.. The impact it had on my life was a very positive one, It enhanced my creativity in so many ways and added to my creativity as a writer as well because in every hood there are many different stories , sad stories, great stories not to mention love stories.

Then there’s the wisdom gained and the lessons learned. I was then and still am proud to be a native of “Compton” . A city that many often visited and often wished they belonged. It taught me to believe in myself and be proud of who I was, it made me strong and resilient. It taught me to accept people for who they were and not for what they had.

I gained a sense of pride that will forever be untouched and so much more, As time went on this small city called Compton was put on the map by the likes of the Great Eazy E, Dr. Dre and NWA. We were on a row, Then came the very talented and one of my all time favorites DJ Quik with his electrifying beats and Compton anthems that will forever resonate in the hearts of many.

Compton was on the map in a big way. Shortly afterwards came the glitz and glamour “Death Row Records.” and with it came the popularity that made Compton one of the most infamous and well known cities in our country. Our neighborhood had gone Hollywood right before our eyes and we were very proud of it.

Luxury vehicles adorned our streets and to turn a corner and see The Late Great Tupac, it didn’t get much better then that. Everybody was excited. Our city and our neighborhood had gained a wealth of notoriety and with it came a lot of joy, but in joy there is also comes heartache.

No childhood or memory is exempt from those two things. But through it all, many of us prevailed and remained what Growing up Compton taught us to be, proud, resilient and authentic individuals what I like to call “Compton Strong” ~aka~ “The Hub City” and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

My life , my history and my experiences is what has inspired me to write with passion and purpose. There will be a message in every story that I write. Because my goal in life is to inspire and I will achieve it through the gift of writing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Transportation Supervisor as well as a Bestselling Author. I love to write and it is my passion and purpose to tell stories inspirational stories. Although I am still learning, I began writing at an early age at one time I had started four different stories. never finishing any of them.

Many of my close friends and family members would often encourage me to complete my stories, My son would often tell me how great they were as well. I’ll never forget how one of my best friends ( Teresa) purchased  and gifted me with a writing program because she believed in me and wanted to see me succeed.

I have always had so much support that I had to achieve my goal to write a book(s). When I lost my father , my hero, it ignited something in me and I had the strong desire to tell our story first. A story about the relationship between a a phenomenal father and his daughter and the importance of this relationship.

I have overcome the challenges of writing and self-publishing my first book and I have learned a lot. There is so much more to come, books, screenplays, theatrical plays and so much more. What I want the world to know about my brand is to expect to be uplifted and encouraged and If my story touches one person then I have fulfilled my purpose. and that is what will bring me joy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

A nice breakfast at Roscoes Chicken and Waffle which is one of the most well known staples in Los Angeles. Take them on a tour of the City of Compton and all the well know staples like Tams burgers, Louie Burgers, The Eve After Dark etc. and of course the hood I grew up in. It wouldn’t be complete without a quick visit to the city Snoop Dogg put on the map Long Beach, Calif. ( aka “The LBC” which has an infamous history of its own.

Then we’d head to the west side , Inglewood Calif ( Tha Wood) and take a ride down the famous Crenshaw Blvd. Hollywood and Sunset Blvd. is always a must see as well, maybe stop at the famous “Pinks” Hot dogs as we head towards Santa Monica Pier and Malibu Beach to enjoy some more good eating and the beauty and serenity the ocean brings.

Let’s not forget a visit to a few popular amusement parks , shopping and of course enjoying some of my favorite past times with some of my friends and family, i.e. nice restaurants, throwing a nice barbecue in honor of our guest, a day at the racetrack, skating along the boardwalk or one of our popular skating rinks. Do a little bowling and just have lots of fun. All and all, trust me, they would have a ball!!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I would like to give a shout out! to Evie Wilson of Evie’s Pots and Spoons. Evie aspires to own her own restaurant and with her hard work and determination, there’s no doubt that her dream will one day become a reality. Her recipes are delicious and her people skills are a plus, put them together and it smells like Success to me!

Shout out to one of my favorite new Authors  “MJ Jackson” ( The Pleasure and Pain of Love)  for publishing her first of many books, which is also a book series. Keep banging out those bestsellers. MJ is definitely an up and rising Author.

I would also like to give a big shout out to my son, a creative artist (Rockit) producer and entrepreneur with a gift for marketing. He has also adorned the pages of Voyage LA ( Say What!!!) , a humble spirit, my blessing from God. The one who will forever be the Catalyst that makes me chase my dreams. I love you son, keep chasing your dreams!!

Last but not least, I’d like to give a gigantic shout out! to Compton, the city that I’m from.

Website: www.therealaprilrichie.com

Instagram: @therealaprilrichie

Linkedin: April Richie

Facebook: April Richie

Other: Clubhouse -April Richie ( The April Richie Show)

Image Credits
April L. Richie = Newport Beach April L. Richie= City Of Compton ( Welcomes You) April L. Richie – Newport Beach April L. Richie = ( Kentucky Derby Day at Santa Anita Racetrack) April L. Richie ( Newport Beach)