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Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley

Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley

By: Vanessa Riley
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 Join bestselling author Vanessa Riley as she delves into untold histories, reflects on current events through a historical lens, shares behind-the-scenes writing insights, and offers exclusive updates on her groundbreaking novels.

vanessariley.substack.comVanessa Riley Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Abused, Black, and Beautiful

    Abused, Black, and Beautiful
    Apr 21 2026
    As a nerd, I love patterns. I’m trained to find patterns. But today there is one I don’t want to see. There’s a pattern—and it is costing Black women their lives. Not just in the streets, but in their homes… in their relationships… even in childbirth.This is a pattern we can no longer pretend we don’t see.There is a pattern emerging—no, not emerging, persisting—and it is costing Black women their lives.We cannot keep calling these stories “isolated incidents.” We cannot keep lowering our voices when the truth demands a roar. What we are witnessing is a crisis: intimate partner violence against Black women, compounded by a maternal health system that too often fails them at their most vulnerable. Love should not be lethal. Pregnancy should not be a death sentence. And yet, for far too many Black women, both are becoming dangerous terrain.In April 2026 alone, we’ve lost:• Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, a 49-year-old dentist and mother, killed on April 16 by her estranged husband in an apparent murder-suicide.• Nancy Metayer Bowen, Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, found dead on April 1; her husband was charged with premeditated murder.• Pastor Tammy McCollum, 58, killed on April 6 in her North Carolina home by her husband.• Ashly “Ashlee Jenae” Robinson, 31, a content creator who died under suspicious circumstances on April 9 while traveling with her fiancé after documented domestic conflict.• Qualeshia “Saditty” Barnes, 36, a pregnant Detroit rapper, shot and killed in Atlanta on April 8, reportedly by her boyfriend.• Davonta Curtis, 31, a Black trans woman beaten to death on April 8 by her boyfriend.• Barbara Deer, 51, an educator killed on April 15 in a murder-suicide.• Ashanti Allen, 23, eight months pregnant, murdered before she could bring life into the world.Say their names. Hold them in your mouth. Refuse to let their stories be reduced to footnotes beneath the names of the men who killed them.Because that is what often happens—we learn more about the killers than the women whose lives were stolen.This is not a coincidence. This is not rare. This is systemic, cultural, and deeply rooted.According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, more than 40% of Black women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, compared to 31.5% of women overall. The National Center for Victims of Crime reports that 53.8% of Black women experience psychological abuse, and 41.2% experience physical abuse. These are not small numbers. These are not anomalies. These are patterns.Let me repeat: 32% of all women experience domestic violence. 40% of all Black women experience this violence. This should not be.Violence against women begins early.Teen dating violence already lays the groundwork. Data from Basile et al. (2020) shows that about 8% of high school students experience physical dating violence, with girls disproportionately affected—9% of girls versus 7% of boys. Sexual violence is even more skewed: 13% of girls compared to 4% of boys. These are children learning, too soon, that love can hurt.Then comes adulthood. Then comes partnership. Then, for many, comes pregnancy.And pregnancy—what should be a sacred, supported, protected time—becomes one of the most dangerous periods in a Black woman’s life.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2023, Black women experienced 50.3 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 14.5 for White women. That is more than three times higher. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) confirms this disparity persists across income and education levels. This is not about individual choices. This is about systemic failure.Even more devastating: over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.Preventable.Let that word sit with you.Black women are dying not because we don’t know how to save them—but because we are not saving them.Structural racism, provider bias, unequal access to care, and the chronic stress of navigating a world that devalues Black womanhood all contribute. Black women are more likely to be ignored when they report symptoms, more likely to have their pain dismissed, and more likely to receive delayed or inadequate care.When you layer that on top of intimate partner violence, the risk multiplies.What is this pattern telling Black women?Work. Survive. Endure. But do not expect to be protected. Do not expect to be safe in love. Do not expect to be heard in pain.Is that the message?Because if it is, then we must reject it—loudly, collectively, and without apology.I am one of the lucky ones.I have a loving husband. I was supported. When complications arose during my pregnancy—when my daughter Ellen’s heart rate dropped in half with every push—my doctors and nurses listened. They acted. They ordered an emergency C-section. They saved her life. They saved mine.My daughter is alive and thriving today because I was heard.But I should not be the exception.My story ...
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    18 mins
  • You, Me, and Pausing the Routine

    You, Me, and Pausing the Routine
    Apr 14 2026
    Listen… when a workaholic like me leaves the house for something that isn’t work—you should probably pay attention.Because this week, I broke my routine… and ended up in Tuscany.For this week’s rite of passage essay, I decided to do something a little different—I actually did something fun.Now, I know I’m a workaholic. I freely admit that. If I’m not writing a book, I’m reading one, or thinking about the next book I’m going to write or read. But sometimes, you have to step outside of that box—and I did just that. I went to see a movie.Yes, me. Outside the house. In a theater. Not waiting for it to stream.That alone is a huge deal.Don’t get me wrong—I love my streaming platforms. I enjoy sitting comfortably at home (or in my office), pausing for snack breaks, rewinding scenes, all of that. But this time, I made the effort to go out.I was in Detroit after a wonderful event at the Detroit Public Library speaking about Fire Sword and Sea. To give myself some downtime, I treated myself to some incredible fried chicken at The Fixin’s Soul Kitchen and then headed over to Emagine Theatres.And that’s where I saw You, me, and Tuscany.It was adorable.If you’re looking for a movie the whole family can enjoy—something that will genuinely make you laugh out loud—this is it. It reminded me of classic romantic comedies like When Harry Met Sally and While You Were Sleeping. Just warm, charming, and full of heart.First, the scenery. Absolutely stunning. It took me right back to Florence and made me want to book another trip immediately.Second, the comedy. This is a true romcom, with impeccable timing. Regé-Jean Page and Halle Bailey were genuinely funny and had real chemistry. I know some people questioned that—but it works. Watching them fall in love was sweet, playful, and engaging.The film hits all the romcom beats: the antics, the meet-cute, the charming side characters, even the tourists wandering through vineyards offering hilarious commentary. And yes, there’s the wisecracking best friend with solid advice. I would’ve loved a bit more of her, but as a writer, I understand the realities of cutting for time.Everything you expect when you hear “Tuscany”—the food, the views, the romance—is there. It’s aspirational. It’s soft-life energy. It’s a vacation on screen.Now, I know some people take issue with seeing two Black leads in a romantic comedy. To that, I say: get a hold of yourself. There are still countless films that don’t center that experience.Others have criticized the screenplay for not being written by a Black writer. But once you understand how difficult it is to get anything financed and produced in Hollywood, you learn to appreciate what does get made—especially when it honors the culture with care. And this film does: silk sleep bonnets, braids, edges, reverence to mama and family, lush wardrobes, cars, and, vineyards.It’s lovely, heartfelt, and absolutely rewatchable. I hope it becomes a classic.As for critics like Variety saying it was “missing spice”—let’s be clear. Regé-Jean Page starring in Bridgerton is one thing. This is not that.And if you were expecting that level of “spice” from someone who also starred in The Little Mermaid… did you get it there? Did you expect it here?Exactly.This is a romantic comedy. Think again about films like You’ve Got Mail—there’s very little “spice.” What you get instead is witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and those unforgettable, adorable meet-cutes.That’s the point.If you want something with more action—go read one of my books.More steam, go read some of my friends’ books.Trust me—we’ve got plenty of spice or action or laugh out loud humor 😉. So step out of your routine—you, me, Tuscany let’s go.This week’s book list includes:One for Artemis: The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton – A down-on-her-luck event planner enters a fake relationship with a charming astronaut for practical reasons, only to discover their chemistry might be worth risking everything for real love.By the Book by Jasmine Guillory – A frustrated young publishing assistant travels to coax a reclusive author into finishing his manuscript, but as they connect, both must confront their personal and professional uncertainties—and the unexpected spark growing between them.For those stuck on hockey here’s: Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh – After a career-ending injury forces a hockey player to rethink his future, an unlikely friendship blooms with his ex’s sister.A Deal at Dawn coming June 31, 2026 - The Duke of Torrance and Lady Hampton have to find new spouses, and definitely not each other, not again.Not a romcom but the 4th book in the Lady Worthing Mystery Series releases Sept 1, 2026 -it has humor, happenstance, some shocks, and murder.Consider purchasing these books plus Fire Sword and Sea from The Book Worm Bookstore or from one of my partners in the fight, bookstores large and ...
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    9 mins
  • Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

    Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
    Apr 7 2026
    “Liar, liar, pants on fire! ” On the playground we used to yell this at someone who did something dishonest. We were in their faces. We demanded better.Somewhere along the way, that simple standard faded. Now, lies don’t get called out—they get likes.Scrolling yesterday on Twitter, and I saw a tweet about A$AP Rocky cheating on Rihanna—that thing was completely false, yet it spread like melting butter on warm toast.Saw bits of a speech claiming to have decimated Iran’s capabilities only to have two of our airplanes shot down. I think someone was lying. Politicians bend the truth, put our troops in harm’s way and get mad when they are fact checked by bombed wreckage.Then there’s the lies we’re all guilty of— picking up pictures that look so polished that they barely resemble reality.It makes me stop and ask: whatever happened to the truth? Does it exist? Has it been trampled on these social streets and stomped on, crushed into the pavement like dust beneath our feet?According to Statistica, internet users around the globe average 6 hours and 38 minutes of being online daily. We, here in the United States, average around 10. Imagine the amount of curated illusions, we’ve soaked up. Edited photos, staged luxury trips, and even fake relationships have become some kind of digital currency.And with AI tools, bots, and filters, it’s never been easier to lie. Anyone can build a perfect life or post an outrageous Am I the A*****e Tweet, something so patently false but meant for catching casually, scrolling eyeballs.And when we see digital attention, those “likes” appear to translate into status, attention, and brand deals, the temptation to lie grows stronger.But what does that do to our souls?At first, it seems harmless. A little extra filter here. A small exaggeration there. But over time, these little distortions pile up. Truth shouldn’t be flexible. Authenticity should never be optional.And yet, we now kinda expect it.When lies are constant, they stop shocking us—and that might be the most dangerous part how easily we now accept this reality.That’s a deep cost. We compare our real lives to someone else’s fabricated one, and feel like we’re falling short. We measure our accomplishments against illusions.Then some of us feel the tug, the draw to keep up. How can we ever compete with lies.It amazes me what we are now willing to accept as normal. Dishonesty has become normalized. We see it in headlines and in speeches.Lies which would’ve gotten me kicked off the playground or grounded at home are now laughed at as everyday conversations.The line between truth and fiction keeps blurring, until it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. And yet, we all know—deep down—that our values are being lost.I want to go back to a time—real or imagined—when integrity mattered. When being a “good man” or a “good woman” meant something solid. When your word carried weight. When truth wasn’t negotiable, even when it was inconvenient.Integrity is more than just telling the truth—it’s about who you are when no one is watching. It’s about choosing honesty even when a lie would be easier, faster, or more rewarding. It’s about building a life that doesn’t need filters to look meaningful.The internet may reward illusion, but real life should still depend on truth. I want to trust in relationships, the credibility of our leaders, and see respect in our communities. None of this exists without honesty. Once trust is broken, it’s very far hard to rebuild any reputation crafted online.So maybe it’s time to bring back not just “Liar, liar, pants on fire,” but the will to challenge ourselves and others back to being real.In a world full of curated lies, the truth should be the one thing that binds us together, the one thing that doesn’t need editing.Speaking of Liars - How about murderous liars, today, is the release of the audiobook for Murder in Berkeley Square. Get cozy, as our intrepid Lady Worthing is snowed in with murderers. You know some bodies.Need More Liars?Let’s not forget the our ladies who have to fib about their identities. Female pirates in disguise. Have you gotten a copy of Fire Sword and Sea—the audio is amazing. And come out to see me April 11th, Come to Conyers Book Festival. April 12th, meet Michigan at the Detroit Public Library. All my friends and General Motors buddies come on out. I am not lying when I say, I want to see you.This week’s book list all lies:The Death of Truth, Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trumpby Michiko Kakutani Examines how political rhetoric, media, and culture have eroded respect for facts.Algorithms of Oppression, How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Safiya Umoja Noble Reveals how search engines and digital platforms perpetuate bias and misinformation.The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon Follows a woman rebuilding her life after a viral cheating scandal.Need more liars?A Deal at Dawn ...
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    10 mins
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