My guest today is Sherrel McLafferty. Sherrel is a multi-genre writer from Ohio. Her fiction has been nominated for prestigious Pushcart and Best Small Fictions awards. Her poetry and nonfiction have appeared in a variety of literature journals. In addition to writing, Sherrel is also a reader with Split Lip Magazine and a poetry editor at Sundress Publication. She is currently working toward her PHD in Rhetoric and Writing with a focus on invention strategies when imagining black futures. If you want to connect with her, or discover more of her writing, positions, and commitments please feel free to visit her website at sherrelmclafferty.com. In addition to her impressive accomplishments, Sherrel has been a cherished friend of mine for many years.

Sherrel’s favorite movie is the 2006 quasi-romantic comedy Last Holiday. In Last Holiday, we meet open hearted retail saleswoman Georgia Byrd portrayed by a luminous Queen Latifah. Georgia always puts everyone else in her life first while embracing a personal asceticism. She is even too reserved to pursue a romantic relationship with her hunky co-worker, LL Cool J’s Sean. Things change for Georgia when a tragic medical diagnosis leaves her with just weeks left to live. She resolves to finally start enjoying her life and splurges on a luxurious vacation to an exclusive French ski resort. Her carefree presence is a breath of fresh air for the crusty elites who frequent the resort, teaching them the importance of value alignment, self-care, and appreciating the beauty around us.