User talk:Olavay

Born August 26, 1970 – Long Beach, CA, Deborah Young AKA “Ola Vay” began her career as a writer in 1998 working as a freelance journalist for local newspapers including one Tulsa’s oldest Urban newspaper, The Oklahoma Eagle, The Tulsa Tribune, and a feature writer for The Tulsa World. It was a fairly simple life growing as the fifth child in a house of six in a middle-upper class neighborhood. “I always felt it was a much bigger world”. Writing came natural, but working as an accountant paid the bills.

Volunteering for local church, youth, and public community services gave Ms. Young the value of knowing how to share and give back.

She published her first and second novel, Georgia Peaches by the year 2001, and initiated her first media frenzy with book signings, and speak outs at local political rallies.

Finishing her education, she became involved in the Oklahoma Center of Poets and Writers. Here she met and worked with Dr. Maya Angelou, assisted Ms. Cicely Tyson, Alice Walker, and several other well known authors who came to inspire and motivate others via the annual writer’s conference.

Ms. Young is also developing multiple feature film projects for the big screen through her production company Olàdé Productions and in association with independent/studio Producers/Directors in film/television and music.

Literary History

2000-article, "Tulsa Author Deals With Taboo In First Book", Oklahoma Eagle

1999-e-shortstory, www.brothaman.com, "Greens" 1998-NTNA Newsletter 1998-article, "Year in Review", Oklahoma Eagle, author 1998-article, "Verdi's Aida opens for Tulsa Opera's 50th Anniversary, author 1998-article, "Professor addresses past, present, and future of Greenwood", Oklahoma Eagle, author 1998-article, "North Tulsa Must Learn From Past, Author Says", Tulsa World 1998-article, "Minority/Female Business Gets Competitive Edge Through City Dept.", Oklahoma Eagle author 1997-NTNA Newsletter 1997-article, “Year In Review”, Oklahoma Eagle, author 1997-article, "Upbuilding North Tulsa Through Local Help", Tulsa World, author 1997-article, "A cry for help may cost you one dollar", Oklahoma Eagle, author

1992- Published, National Poetry Society, Coffeebook selection

1988- 1st place, Essay, Tulsa University

Novels

Beauty of A Black Woman				2001 Georgia Peaches					2002 Konfessions of A Black Lesbian			2004