Sweeter than the Honey is a well written story that follows Kamilah Wright on her journey through self discovery. LaShanda Michelle wrote a gritty tale of love, faith and acceptance. Her novel takes you right into the lives of her characters.
Kamilah Wright is a seventeen year old high school senior who spends most of her free time taking care of her seven brothers and sisters, cleaning the house, cooking and making sure all homework is completed while her mother works two jobs and her father is never home. Kamilah never goes out or have fun like most teens. Kamilah had one boyfriend who violated her and contributed to her wavering faith. Her only true friend is Eric a friend she has known for almost all of her life. Eric is the love of Kamilah’s life but he only sees her as a friend, when Summer enters the picture everything changes.
Summer Freeman is a free spirit who takes Kamilah on a wild ride. With Summer’s help, Kamilah learns to relax, have fun and love herself. Kamilah also finds the love that she desperately seeks. This newfound love takes Kamilah away from her family, best friend and her faith. She has to learn how to stand on her own and discover what is important to her.
In the end Kamilah must decide what she wants most from her life, a relationship that goes against her beliefs or her faith.
There were many moments in this book that made me question if this was truly a Christian Fiction novel. As I continued to read I stopped many times and checked my own attitudes and prejudices. I had to realize that just because I hate the sin, I still like the person. This book, though parts may be difficult to read, places a mirror in front of society and asks; where do you stand? What truths do you choose to believe?
Which book is your current favorite?
Oh no! I can’t pick a favorite! That’s like asking a mother to pick a favorite child! Each story is special to me, so I can’t pick a favorite book. But, I will say that I do have a favorite character, and that is Anaya Patterson in my first book, Casting Down Imaginations. She is so special. I hope God allows me to bring her character back in a new novel. She is truly unforgettable.
How would you describe your writing style?
I would describe my writing style as honest. I strive to make my characters as real as possible. I expose their flaws in order to make them relatable to the reader. It may be somewhat gritty, but that’s what I like.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind?
For the most part I try not to listen to music while I write. I love music too much and will become distracted and start to sing or dance instead of write. There have only been two instances when I have listened to music while I was writing, and that was because I was trying to put the emotions that a specific song made me feel into words so that I could portray the emotion in the character.
Tell us anything about you as a writer that you think might be interesting or unusual.
Humh… Well, one thing that most people find interesting is that I don’t write my books in order. I might start off writing chapters one through five, then jump to twenty seven, then back to fifteen, then rewrite chapters one through three again. I don’t know why, but both books have gone that way, and the one that I am writing now is going that way as well. I would love to be able to start off writing chapter one and write the entire book in order until the very end, but it doesn’t seem to be for me. Another thing that may be interesting is that my books come to me in my sleep. They’re my dreams. I’ll have a dream, wake up, and then write down as much of it that I can remember. I have learned to fall asleep with a pen and notebook close by.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Never give up on your dream! It can happen, and it will happen if you never give up! With God all things are possible.
Writers are often encouraged to write what they know. Have you found that to be the case with your writing? No, not really. I just write what comes to me. Some of it I know, some of it I have to research.
About the Book
Kamilah Wright has a lot on her shoulders for someone entering their senior year of high school. Not only does her mom expect her to raise the other seven children in their home, but she’s also required to turn a blind eye to her father’s infidelity, as well as maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA in order to get the academic scholarship she desperately needs to attend college. To complicate matters even more, she’s also a rape victim. The only person she’s told is her best friend, Eric, whom she’s secretly in love with. Through all of this Kamilah convinces herself that she has everything under control.
That is until she meets Summer Freeman. The beautiful new girl at school, Summer introduces Kamilah to a lifestyle that she’s never known, including fashion, luxury, and alternative viewpoints that conflict with her Christian upbringing. Pretty soon the love she has for her new friend evolves into something more, and Kamilah has to prove which love she will devote herself to. Will she stay in the same sex relationship that feels so right, or will she embrace the faith she didn’t know meant so much to her.
