Friend Feature: Q & A with Tylia L. Flores

The only goal I've ever possessed in launching Molly's Zone and in being a disability advocate is to inspire and empower others, whether they were able-bodied or not. I want anyone who has a dream to pursue it to the fullest extent; keep the Lord in everything you do and never compromise your spirit. My blog has served as part of my testimony. My fervent love and faith in Jesus Christ and my many adventures as a disability advocate continue to be chronicled on Molly's Zone.

I have never wished for Molly's Zone to be all about Molly. I have had the pleasure to meet so many fellow writers who are truly talented and empowering individuals. I want to give others a chance to share their stories as well.

I am honored to introduce one of my friends from the writing world that I have loved knowing. She is so young, and so very cool. In today's blog post, I am featuring Tylia L. Flores. She is a published fiction author, and a fellow advocate for those with disabilities. We have something else in common as she was also born with cerebral palsy; she inspires me daily. Hope you all enjoy this quick Q& A. I had such fun writing this!

And thank you Tylia for wanting to be a part of my life & journey! You are amazing and I love you!

Molly's Zone (MZ): Tell me a little about yourself.

Tylia Flores. (TF): I am a 23 year old from  Bronx, New York. I was born on July 7, 1995 at Union Hospital, only weighing 1 lb. and 2 oz. Doctors had little hope and did not expect me to live, but by the grace of God I survived and I'm still going strong! I was formally diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of two; doctors told my mother not to expect much from me, but I proved them wrong and I fiercely continue to do so today.

MZ: What was your childhood like?

TF: I lived an ordinary childhood. I went to school;  I had friends and an extremely supportive family who treated me as if there were nothing different about me. I got to travel and was involved in both basketball and softball; I had the opportunity to be a part of an organization called Challenge Air, where I had the chance to co-pilot a private airplane. Overall, my childhood was amazing and for that, I have to thank my Mom, Dad, and my little brother Brandon.

MZ: How did you get into writing? 

TF: I first got introduced to writing in 2010 when I lost my good friend Daniel to a brain tumor; in becoming a writer, I found a healthy way to cope with my grief and an outlet to express myself with.

MZ: When did you first become published?

TF: I first became published after I released the book, James Ticking Time Bomb. 

MZ: What drove you into writing fiction? 

TF: I wanted to be a voice for those with cerebral palsy who didn't have a way to express themselves.

MZ: Who inspires you most? 

TF: My mom is my biggest inspiration because she is powerful. She is the toughest person I know; she was just a teenager when she had me and was a single mom to a child with special needs. If that's not inspirational, I don't know what is!

MZ: Do you have any favorite writers?: 

TF: Yes! Authors such as: J.K Rowling, Nicholas Sparks, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Lauren Brandtholdt, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Marc Brown, John Steinbeck, Robert Kiyosaki, Else Holmelund Minarik, Paul Langan, Anne Schraff, John Langan, Peggy Kern, Karyn Langhorne Folan, Tanya Savory, and Ben Alirez

MZ: Favorite music? (a lot of writers can be inspired by music):

TF: I love country music and Christian music. My favorite artists are Jeremy Camp & Hillsong Worship. 

MZ: What is your favorite part about being a writer & advocate?

TF: My favorite part about being a writer and advocate is getting comments from parents that tell me how much an article helped their child cope with something.

MZ: What are some eventual life goals you have?:

TF: My life goals are to see the White House, go green for cerebral palsy, as well as finishing my studies and moving out on my own. I would also love to get married one day and have children.

MZ: How about future career goals?

TF: One of my biggest career goals is to publish a second book and to start writing an idea for a television show on a big network like ABC.

MZ: One last question: What advice do you have for writers who may just be starting out?

TF: My advice to new writers is to not be afraid to let your creative mind go free; don't pay attention to what others think.

It was so fun to interview Tylia, and to have her as a feature on Molly's Zone. If you would like to check out her book, I have included the link below!


https://www.amazon.com/James-Ticking-Time-Tylia-Flores-ebook/dp/B00AIX9BUO

June: The Adventure Kickoff

Summers are often seen as times of adventure and the month of June for me was just that; I feel as though it truly ended as quickly as it had arrived. "Molly's Zone" went through a bit of a hiatus as I went through a dry period. I wasn't feeling inspired. June was a great month full of new opportunity for Miss Molly. I am just now getting around to sharing my month with you all, and I apologize. I mulled over a post to help kick off the summer just right in these past several weeks & my adventure into the new realm of writing that is grant writing seemed to fit the mold of exciting experiences to share.

The training happened during the first week of June, and I truly learned so much valuable information. I am a woman of many goals, and grant writing has forever made my bucket list of writing career goals. I learned all about the different forms of grants, where to look for them, and how to sharpen my ability to play with words in order to write a successful grant proposal. It was a great two days! I have so many opportunities and possibilities in life right now & I am truly blessed.

The training was sponsored by Volunteer West Virginia and given by The Grant Advantage. The instructor was wonderful and I had the privilege of making even more awesome connections. I want to be someone who attempts all she can in life despite enduring the slightest of cerebral palsy. I have a blog, I'd love to work as an editor, and one of my ultimate dreams is to be a disability rights activist. My mother has always taught me to go after absolutely every dream in life.

I have relaunched "Molly's Zone" this summer & I am trying to release some new material before I go on another adventure in the next week or so; I leave on the 14th for a two week work trip. One week will be spent in Phoenix, Arizona doing youth leadership training and then I get to experience a week in Washington, DC advocating for the rights of those with disabilities. I am so excited! I am living my best life & I am so happy to see it all unfold. I am looking forward to practice grant writing once I return from my travels.

Weekly posts will be a thing again, I promise. As a writer, I have learned that inspiration isn't always there. You have to step away when necessary. However, I am happy to be back & I'm feeling more inspired than ever. If you haven't already, please feel free to hit the subscribe button on the blog! Thank you for reading! I truly love what I do.