Reaching Back, Rising Forward: Why My First Book Still Speaks 20 Years Later
By Nea Simone
Twenty years ago, I sat down with a story that had been whispering to me for years. It didn’t come to me as a neatly packaged plot or a commercial pitch—it arrived the way real stories do: through lived experience, unanswered questions, and a deep longing to make sense of the world I came from.
That story became Reaching Back, my debut novel. And now, two decades later, it continues to echo—not just in the hands of new readers who discover it for the first time, but in my own spirit as a writer, a speaker, and a woman who has lived through love, loss, and a whole lot of transformation.
When I wrote Reaching Back, I didn’t know it would be reprinted more than sixteen times. I didn’t know it would spark conversations in book clubs from Atlanta to Amsterdam. I didn’t know it would become the seed for a trilogy that would track a woman’s journey through grief, rebirth, and truth. All I knew then was that I needed to tell the truth—and I needed to tell my truth in a voice that sounded like home.
The Power of Rooted Storytelling
The stories we carry from our communities, our families, our grandmothers’ kitchens—those stories don’t expire. They ferment. They deepen with time. And if we’re brave enough to put them on the page, they become medicine—for ourselves and for others.
Reaching Back was never just about one woman’s love story. It was about forgiveness. It was about returning to your roots not for nostalgia, but for healing. And that’s why it still resonates. Because in a world spinning fast on trends and TikToks, truth remains timeless.
The Evolution of the Voice
I’ve changed since then. My pen has matured. My platforms have grown. But I still write—and speak—from that same wellspring: Black womanhood, legacy, and the unapologetic belief that our stories deserve to be told our way.
When people ask me, “How did you know it would work?” I tell them the truth: I didn’t. But I believed in the story. I believed that if I was vulnerable enough to reach back, someone else might feel empowered to rise forward.
Why Legacy Still Matters
Today, I don’t just write books—I speak to rooms full of future authors, entrepreneurs, and cultural changemakers. I mentor storytellers. I help brands find the heart of their message. But no matter how the stage evolves, I come back to this: our stories outlive us.
So yes, Reaching Back still speaks. And as long as I have a voice, I will continue to tell stories that honor our roots and stretch toward our future.
Until next time, stay rooted. Stay rising.
— Nea
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