The name “Athalia” means “one who’s not afraid to step outside the box.” In Athalia Monae’s case, it couldn’t be more accurate. This American entrepreneur, author, and mother from Chicago wrote the book Why the Secrets? created the ALAHTA Hairbrush Pouch, and hosts the Relevant Talk with Athalia Monae podcast. In everything she does, she seeks to share inspiration and encouragement.
FWM: How has journaling shaped who you are today?
My journaling has evolved over the years, when I was younger, I would use journaling for my thoughts only. Nowadays, it has helped me compartmentalize things. It’s been cathartic. I’ve used it to document my positive self-talk, to keep track of my goals and aspirations, in which I monitored my progress and felt motivated to continue to focus on my goals. I use it to self-reflect. All of these many uses of journaling have aided in my creativity, and through my creativity, I have a voice. I’m able to express myself with clarity.
FWM: What led you to your book, “Why the Secrets?”
Years ago, I entered a magazine contest in which participants were asked to write about an African American woman facing a struggle. I never expected that my fiction piece would lead to my first book: Why the Secrets? My starting point for this short story was the lack of communication and its negative effects on relationships. In my book, I delved into this idea, thinking back to my own past experiences. The journey that the main character was going through —finding the whereabouts of her father— was not far from what I was experiencing myself.
FWM: Although a work of fiction, the story took you back through your journey. Tell us about the book and the significance of the title.
Yes, the book is about Queen Jones, a seven-year-old girl who comes from a close-knit loving family. Her mom and dad are two of her favorite people. She’s also close to her extended family. One day her father, who’s always been a part of her life is no longer there. She immediately asks her mom about her father’s whereabouts, and her mom never answered. Questioning her mom and receiving no response took place for years. Fast forward to Queen now being a college student and still has no idea as to why her father was no longer a part of the family. As a result of an unfortunate accident, the truth comes out, in front of Queen’s extended family, which was shocking and hurtful for everyone. The significance of the title is asking, why not communicate about whatever happened that led to my father no longer being a part of my life? Why allow this to linger for so long?
FWM: What is your hope for readers?
Through the adventure of a fictional yet relatable family, I hope for readers to learn and grow. My message is that effective communication is worth experiencing, no matter the fear or hardship it may cause, no matter how uncomfortable conversations might be. My book can be purchased on Amazon, as well as Barnes and Noble.
FWM: You are also an entrepreneur and creator of the ALAHTA Hairbrush Pouch. Tell us more.
I found myself in need of a specific type of hairbrush pouch but found no options in the market. This led me to design and patent the ALAHTA Hairbrush Pouch, a pouch I developed for women who, like myself, didn’t like leaving hair behind in their purses or on the contents of their travel luggage. With multiple prints available for online purchase, I strive to provide high-quality products and excellent customer service. Naturally, I encountered many adversities in this project but overall expanded my knowledge and journey in life through this new experience.
FWM: Tell us about the Relevant Talk with Athalia Monae podcast. What exciting topics are coming up?
Recently, I launched the podcast Relevant Talk with Athalia Monae, aimed at helping listeners achieve their personal and professional goals. I invite diverse guests that seek to either inspire, encourage, uplift, or inform my audience for each episode. I’m currently on hiatus until after the holiday season ends, but a few of the great topics to be discussed will be, building a purposeful career and women’s business networking. You can find Relevant Talk with Athalia Monae, on iHeart, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
FWM: Are you looking for guests?
Yes, I’m always looking for guests. Anyone wanting to be a guest can contact me at relevanttalkwithathaliamonae@gmail.com.
FWM: You enjoy giving back. Tell us about your work with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC).
For the past ten years, on and off, I have been volunteering for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), an international non-profit that distributes food donations for children around the world. Between 2019 and 2020 only, FMSC has provided over 368 million meals through 79 partners across 66 countries, all possible due to individual donations and volunteers such as myself.
FWM: Share what is next for you.
I’ve already started writing my second book; this time, a non-fiction story. I’m working on making ALAHTA more visible to my target audience, and I’m extremely excited about a couple of collaborations that I have coming up.
Twitter: @athaliamonae
Instagram: @athaliamonae_author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pouchesbyalahta/
Website: www.athaliamonae.com
