The authors next door: Meet 4 of your neighbors | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
January 29, 2021
Here are some Milwaukee residents who are making gains in book publishing:
(Photo provided by Cetonia Weston-Roy)
Name: Cetonia Weston-Roy
Age: 27
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Neighborhood: Jacobus Park
Book: “The Misadventures of Toni Macaroni”
Quote: “I wrote it as an ode to my childhood. Toni is based on me. I also wanted to make a Black book for kids that doesn’t show struggle, just her interacting with the world through her overactive imagination.”
(Photo provided by Olivia Shaw-Reel)
Name: Olivia Shaw-Reel
Age: 29
Neighborhood: Thurston Woods
Book: “Stuck Wit’chu”
Quote: “I thought it would be encouraging for my family of characters to also navigate through unrequited love, drama, and experience triumph and healing. Readers can expect to laugh, cry, and fall in love this holiday season.
Links: “Stuck Wit’chu” can be purchased on osrbooks.com or amazon.com.
(Photo provieded by Dionna Hayden)
Name: Dionna L. Hayden
Age: 38
Neighborhood: Timmerman West
Books: “Moving Day” (The Cookie-Flower Rock Kids Book 1) and “Big Bad Bully” (The Cookie-Flower Rock Kids Book 2)
Quote: “I began the book series to not only spark a love of reading and life learning for children, but to present diversity in literature with Black characters.”
Link: https://cfrkids.com/
(Photo provided by Laneice McGee)
Name: Laneice McGee
Age: 44
Neighborhood:  Sherman Park
Book: “Laneice McGee- 7 Day Journey to Discovering Your Purpose: God’s Vision, My Hands. Partnership With the Divine.”
Quote: “I wrote this book to connect people to their God-given purpose so that they remember they are here for a reason. I am familiar with the uncertainty of
not knowing your purpose, and I wrote this book for that person who also identifies with looking for their why or their what now. My purpose is for my perfect reader to open their heart to hear God in a way they never have before and open their eyes to seeing life in a way they’ve never considered.”
Link: https://payhip.com/b/XpJG