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Read Across America happened yesterday. Me and my Dad were invited to be guest speakers and readers at Casa (Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School). Casa is a 501c(3) charter school that offers a dual language curriculum and Montessori philosophy. Their approach to learning provides social, emotional, cognitive, and academic benefits to build a foundation for lifelong success. They build their students to be global citizens by strengthening their leadership and critical th

While Dear Daughter is a gift of love for my daughter, The Rules of a Big Boss LLC, I wrote it for daughters across the world. I’ve been afraid to release it out of fear. I got over myself and however and submitted for literary reviews. The first one came back this morning. It made me cry reading it. Please see her review provided here and below, enjoy the preview, and be on the lookout for the launch on Valentines Day. There is a special, unique bond that exists between a fa

I originally planned to release my latest book, Dear Daughter on December 16, 2021. It would’ve/will say many of the things that I forgot to say to my daughter, Haelee over the years. I failed to do so however because acts of service is my principal love language. I’ve realized in hindsight that hers is more words of affirmation. In releasing it before Christmas my sentiments were that it would be one of the best gifts that I’d ever placed under the tree. It would be my way o

Tara Hill-Starks is a native of Asheboro, NC. She earned an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Catawba College. Mrs. Hill-Starks is an educator at heart hence she formerly taught business education at Guilford County and Randolph County Schools prior to relocating to South Carolina. She now serves as the Director of Testing at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. Mrs. Hill Starks is also th

My dad, Terry Westry isn’t my dad biologically. He's my dad because he chooses to be. He’s also not my daughters biological grandpa. He’s her grandpa because he chooses to be. But perhaps most importantly, we chose him. My dad always remembers my daughters birthday, Christmas, and makes an effort to show up. I should talk about and recognize him more often but I don’t and I can’t pinpoint exactly why. I surmise the reason being is that it’s due to hurt within me due to the fa

My daughter is having her first sales event of the Christmas Season today. The magic of it is that it’s in the place that I was born and raised. Everything is 10% off in person through Build Black Movement at George K’s Catering and 20% off online on her website using code: BigBoss20. Moving along, I want her to know more than anything that it’s not about the sales for me. It’s about being present and further forging our bonds together during this Christmas season and all adv

Sheryl Smiley-Oliphant is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina Charlotte wherein she majored in Theater Arts. She resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband, their two adorable young divas, and their dog. She’s a drama and theater arts teacher in the Charlotte Mecklenburg County School System. Sheryl has a double identity in that she’s also a vlogger who goes by the name The Activity Author but more on that later. Her artistic

Welcome to another behind the scenes look at one of the illustrations in my soon to be released children’s book, Dear Daughter: A Love Story. As shared previously it’s an expressive story that reveals my heart through a series of short love letters to my daughter Haelee, The Rules of a Big Boss LLC. While I’m the author it’s very much a joint project in that she’s the editor and her company is the publisher. ••• As previously shared, I wrote this story not only for her but fo

This picture is a perfect depiction of Haelee and I as told in my memoir, our memoir, The Unexpected Journey: Fire and Gold. She may not realize my sacrifices now but she will one day and I’m okay with that. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t change a thing. • • • #theunexpectedjourney #blackauthors #ncauthors #mentalhealth #therulesofabigboss #bookstore #selfcare #family #blackwriters #booksbyblackauthors #fathersanddaughters #singlefatherstory #writeyourownstories #mentalheal

Libraries are important because they help promote literacy, provide books and resources to the public, etc. We were supposed to high five a librarian yes but I don’t play by the rules 😆. I want to high five Mr. Richard Ashby of, For Sto-Rox Library because he catalogued me and my dads books in Worldcat. His doing that made our books available to every library in the world. He also sponsored me and my dad to be members of The Black Caucus American Librarians Association (BCAL

Welcome to a behind the scenes look at one of the illustrations in my soon to be released children’s book, Dear Daughter: A Love Story. It’s an expressive story that reveals my heart through a series of short love letters to my daughter Haelee. What’s fascinating is that it’s a joint project that we’re working on together wherein she’s both the editor and publisher for this project. ••• As previously shared, I wrote this story not only for her but for daughters around the 🌎

Next Chapter Book Store and Giftshop opened up in Ben’s Boyz on September 18, 2021. The curator, Sherricka Carpenter Stanley decided to start hosting book signings and author readings through her partnership with Ben’s Boyz. She was supposed to be the first one to do an author read but she’s all about community so she let me and my dad be the first ones to ever speak and sign autographs at Next Chapter on November 13, 2021 🎙 🌄📚✍🏾. He and I read from our books and shared t

Me and my dad are doing an authors visit at Next Chapter Bookstore and Giftshop on Saturday, November, 13. It’s located inside of Ben’s Boyz in Greensboro, NC. Ben’s Boyz is the only black owned store and restaurant in Friendly Shopping Center 🥳 Me and my Dad will be reading to kids, signing autographs, leading activities, supporting other authors, eating, and having fun. We all know he’s gonna embarrass me though 🤨. Come visit us and bring your kids and grandkids if you’re

Dear Daughter: A Love Story is an expressive story that reveals the author Dedrick Moone’s heart through a love letter to his daughter Haelee. The author wrote this story not only for Haelee but for daughters across the world. He writes it to let you know that he loves each one of you through an extension of his daughter in being a dad. He hopes that it helps to shift the paradigm of black men not taking care of their children especially their daughters. And as an added bonus

Inspirational Indie Authors Podcast is hosted by Howard Lovy, ALLi’s Multimedia Manager. It gives ALLi member authors an opportunity to discuss the motivations and inspiration behind their books. His guest this week was my 14 year old daughter, Haelee. Haelee survived an early childhood that was filled with bullying and abuse. Part of the way she healed herself was to write her book about how to love yourself. Now, she wants to give back by helping other children and women wh

I asked several weeks ago if I should create merchandise to go along with The Rules of a Little Boss: A book of self-love. Most everyone said, "Yes, do it for the kids." I finally decided to do it so I sat down with my Dad after church yesterday so that we could start working on designs and adding them to my website. I created a video that shows some of my designs. Press play on the video below. I hope that you enjoy my designs as much as I do. Remember it's for the kids and

Set your calendars for Wednesday, October 6th at 8PM especially if you’re a fellow Aggie. I will be having a conversation about mental health, parenting as a single dad, and the award winning book that I co-wrote with my daughter. That book is entitled The Unexpected Journey: Fire and Gold. ••• For those of you that weren’t already aware you can purchase copies of it from Ben's Boyz, Speak Up Sis, and several other places. ••• Those of you that have a library card but that ar

I experienced assaults on my character, job loss, health challenges, and a whole host of other things in 2020. I thought that I was going to lose everything that I worked so very hard for but God had another plan. ••• He sent me rams in the bush in the form of Dr Vanessa Raynor, Shanique Davis, Genesis Kemp, Karen Brown-Tyson, and Kiescha Cherry. They reminded me that God was shoving me down in the dirt so that I could be planted and that He would do a new thing in me through