Meet Sibylla Nash | Writer

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

Hi Sibylla, why did you pursue a creative career?
As someone who has had a lot of different jobs just so I could continue to fund my passion, pursuing a creative career was never a question. Just the other day, I wondered, why didn’t I ever consider a career in medicine or law? Certainly would have provided a more stable income. But it’s like asking why I chose to breathe or why I blink. I’m not really good at anything else, and even though some days when the words don’t flow as easily and everything I write is a cliche, I still know there’s no other thing I want to do. It’s not that I chose to pursue a creative career; it’s something in my DNA that pushes me to seek out experiences buoyed by my imagination. As a writer, I get to explore things I’m curious about, live hundreds of lives, have life and death adventures, fall in love, and save the world all in this vast universe that lives in my head… how do you say no to that?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an avid reader and love a good story, no matter the genre. That’s probably why I write in different genres – women’s fiction, middle grade, and sci-fi thriller. I work as a freelance writer and I’m also an independent publisher. My first foray into independent publishing was back in the 90s when it wasn’t quite the “thing” it is now. I published a non-fiction guide for black filmmakers that listed grants, festivals, and other opportunities. That was really exciting because there was a market for it and I sold quite a few books. I’ve since published two novels, another guide, this time about baby modeling, and this year I have a middle-grade book coming out. In between those books, life happened. I became a mom. I went back to school and received my BA and then an MFA. Even though things have not happened as fast as I would have liked, I keep plugging away. I feel like if it’s something you really want to do, then you don’t give up.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmm, that’s a tough question. I’m more of a homebody at times, but I do have extroverted friends. So I would start with my favorite spot, the duck pond at Kenneth Hahn Park in Baldwin Hills. The park has great views of downtown and is an awesome place to go walking. I would take them downtown and eat at Grand Central Market. It reminds me of New York with all the hustle and bustle. While we’re downtown, of course, we’d have to make a stop at the Biddy Mason Park at 333 S. Spring St. She was a former slave who bought property downtown and founded LA’s First African Methodist Episcopal Church. A trip to the California African American Museum (CAAM) would also be in order at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park. No one ever comes to visit me without eating at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles at least once. We like the Hollywood location. While we’re in Hollywood, we’d do the obligatory stroll down the Hollywood Walk of Fame to look at the stars and stop at the Chinese Mann Theater to check out the handprints. Venice Beach or Santa Monica Pier would also be on the agenda.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out my daughter. As I watch her grow into an accomplished young woman, she remains my inspiration and someone I can count on to give me no-holds-barred feedback on my work.

Website: sibyllanash.com

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