Representationmatters Stories

Tori Anderson's life shattered the night she found her fiancé in bed with her best friend. Broken and betrayed, the 26-year-old interior designer makes a radical choice: accept a full scholarship to a prestigious design program in Kyoto, Japan-and leave everything behind. But healing isn't as simple as running away. As the only Black woman in her cohort, Tori navigates hypervisibility, culture shock, and the weight of past trauma while learning the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi-finding beauty in imperfection. With the help of unexpected friends and the ancient art of kintsugi (golden repair), she begins to rebuild herself piece by fragile piece. Then she meets Ren-brilliant, beautiful, and utterly unavailable. A commitment-phobic architectural designer with his own hidden wounds, Ren has perfected the art of intimacy without connection. But when their late-night workshops and vulnerable conversations crack both their carefully constructed walls, neither can ignore what's growing between them. Can two broken people learn to trust again? Can gold fill the cracks between them? A story about survival, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to love after loss-Kintsugi is an achingly beautiful journey of a woman learning that healing isn't about becoming unbroken. It's about honoring the scars that made you whole. ©️ Relle H

Bitter-Sweet like a Strawberry picked a little to early. That's how I felt about my father's death. I won't miss him. I don't Love, not now. Not anymore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With both of her parents dead Aaliyah has almost no one but her gramma, But just when it seems nothing can get any harder her life takes a turn to hidden world unknown to the rest of Humanity. The question is, is it for the better or worse?

Searyn, born the same day as Korra's fateful death, lives in a house with criminal parents. After making his up his mind to run away from his parents, he finds a village not too far away from his home. Now, him and his Airbending friend, Loris, go on a diplomatic mission to Capital City, Fire Nation. Here, a new story unfolds, and Searyn will become the most spiritual Avatar known to man.

When the sun shines brightest and the drums begin to beat, Melody and her magical cat, Kitty Paws, are swept into a dazzling celebration unlike any other - The Great Melanin Parade! From cocoa to caramel, bronze to ebony, children from all over the world gather to celebrate the beautiful shades of their skin. Dressed in vibrant prints, shimmering beads, and big bold smiles, Melody joins the joyful march through a magical land where every hue is honored and every child shines. With music, laughter, and magical moments at every turn, Melody learns that melanin is more than just skin - it's heritage, power, and pride. And when it's her turn to shine on the float of courage, she discovers that her voice, her hair, her dreams - all are perfect, just as they are. A radiant tale of self-love, cultural pride, and unity, Melody and the Great Melanin Parade is a joyful tribute to every child who deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and magical in their own skin.

A story that focuses on eight high school senior students. A group of eight student who always seem to never fit in with the other kids in school. Join them as the go through external and internal conflicts. This story is a representation matters book. (:

Skylar Reyes is used to blending in-quiet in class, invisible in the halls, and silent about the feelings she keeps buried deep. But everything changes when she's paired with Riley Carter, the bold and unapologetically out theater star, for a school art project that forces them into each other's orbit. What starts as awkward silence turns into secret smiles, midnight messages, and a slow-burning connection neither of them expected. But as feelings bloom between the lines they draw together, Skylar must choose between hiding her heart or painting her truth for the world to see. A heartfelt high school qromance about art, identity, and the courage to be seen.

By Jillian Stella When curious little Melody falls asleep reading a book about architecture, she's swept away on a magical dream journey across the African continent. From painted walls in South Africa to red earth homes in Namibia and floating villages in Ghana, she discovers how women have shaped the land with their hands, hearts, and heritage. This 10-chapter educational story celebrates African culture, traditional building, and the incredible women who pass their skills through generations. Perfect for readers aged 5-10 who love travel, history, and powerful girls changing the world.

The Earthen Series Part Two**Find out what happens, as your favourite characters try to unscramble their troubles and get back to working towards their original motive - save the Earth. As the humans work towards an Earth with humans on it and the aliens work towards an Earth without the humans on it, it's evident that the Avo is an essential key to capture absolute control of the Earth. Who will get their hands on the Avo - the Humans or the Ytai? Regular teens Aija, Zuri, and Ze, had their lives take a dark-turn after their encounter with a new world - aliens. The Ker'zan does not go well - for anyone, either good or bad. Aija chose to return to her enemies but never made it. Ze decided to escape to a new planet, while Zuri gets caught under the crumbling building after losing Kuna to a Gale operative. And the question remains - whatever happened to Thieron? Follow the humans and the ytai as they race towards getting the Avo on new territories - Ytean, and struggle as new feelings threaten to pull apart friends, and as the truth changes the course of the entire quest of who takes over the Earth. **** Frequently updated as and when a new chapter is ready. Follow the official Instagram account: @theafirebook.

Aija managed to get the Àvo. Zuri is with Nala. Ze is ready to take on new responsibilities. And Thieron, Luka, and Nala are on their side. They have saved the human race - for now. But they are caught in a new War - the Leadership's altercation with the Gale. The six of them have been through their own intense journeys, bringing them face to face with their newfound feelings, taking some relationships to the next level and some...not. Their stories continue in the third part of The Earthen Series, as Aija, Zuri, Ze, Thieron, Luka, Nala, Xan, Goldstar, Aa'di Irih'va and Ja'wri Ruyanir grapple with their feelings, new realities, new challenges, and new threats. Just as they consider the peril to the human race done, new ones crop up - from the most unexpected of people, changing all of their lives. Forever.

Love comes when you least expect it !! It can turn into your soul mate if your lucky . Love is Love no matter what gender you are. It shouldn't matter to anyone who you love but yourself .#representationmatters #Loveislove Mariah a business woman and Tessa a musician and song writer fall in love from the first moment they set eyes on one another, and so begins an epic love story/

This is a collection of 1-2 part stories written by yours truly for SKZ fans who are black woman and want to imagine what it would be like to date them. This is just for fun and obviously isn't real, anyone can read. Enjoy!

A possible prologue to a 100% owned-by-me rewrite of my fan fiction as a novel.

🌍 Sixteen countries. Sixteen voices. One mission. In the heart of Seoul, a radical new reality show is born - not to find the most famous teen, but the most authentic one. No auditions. No filters. Just truth. The first stop? Kurdistan. In a mall outside Duhok, surrounded by face masks and K-pop posters, the crew finds her - Mira. Sixteen. Fierce. Invisible to the world, but impossible to ignore. With just one look into the camera, Mira turns the whole project upside down. 🎬 "Because I come from a place people forget exists. I know what it feels like to be invisible." By the end of the day, she's not just a contestant. She's a statement. A spark. A risk. And she's only just begun.

After a long and tiring day at karate class, Melody-our spirited little adventurer-comes home feeling frustrated and ready to quit. "Maybe I'm not strong enough," she whispers, slumping at the dinner table. Her mother smiles gently, prepares her a warm meal, and says, "Let me tell you about some women who never gave up." What follows is a magical, cozy, and inspiring bedtime journey where Melody listens to true stories of powerful warrior queens, fierce revolutionaries, fearless leaders, and brave defenders of their people. Each night, a new story is told-one chapter per historical woman-showcasing how real-life "sheroes" faced battles, protected their people, and changed history forever. The book combines vivid storytelling, history, and magic through Melody's imagination. As she dreams, she often sees herself standing alongside these women-learning, fighting, and growing stronger.

It's no longer acceptable to merely throw some queer characters into a story, especially when that storyline is perpetuating and supporting harmful narratives. The LGBTQ(IA+) community deserves to see representation that celebrates queer relationships and normalizes them. We want to see hand holding, the slow burn build up, the first kiss, the first date....we want everything that heteronormative society has been given from the creation of entertainment until now. We are tired of painful, traumatizing portrayals of our lives - we want our happily ever afters.

Melody is back - and her magical passport is glowing again! With 20 countries explored, this bold little traveler sets off on her third journey across Africa, uncovering new stories, flavors, dances, and dreams in ten more amazing countries. From the starry waters of Lake Malawi to snowy mountain trails in Lesotho, royal dances in Eswatini, island spices in Comoros...

📖 Melody's Malindi Christmas Adventure - Part One: Seven Days of Magic Written by Jillian Stellar Genre: African Children's Adventure | Ages 4-10 This Christmas, five-year-old Melody leaves behind cartoons and city streets for a magical seaside holiday with her Kenyan grandparents in the coastal town of Malindi. What begins as a simple visit becomes a week full of "firsts"-from her first glimpse of the sparkling Indian Ocean to snorkeling with rainbow fish, exploring ancient ruins, and chasing butterflies under the sun. Each day brings new wonder: 🌊 Day 1: Melody sees the ocean for the very first time-endless, blue, and more magical than in any cartoon. 🦅 Day 2: Birds, butterflies, and proud Swahili history greet her at local museums and landmarks. 🏜️ Day 3: Sand dunes, river songs, and wild laughter fill the golden afternoon. 🎨 Day 4: Earth's canyon colors and a floating boardwalk through magical mangroves. 🐠 Day 5: Melody braves her first boat ride and dives into an underwater world of coral and sea creatures. 👣 Day 6: A peaceful beach day with family, seashells, and soft ocean waves. 🛍️ Day 7: The final day is for shopping in vibrant markets, getting her own handmade dera, and relaxing by the pool with fresh fruit and stories from Grandma and Grandpa. Surrounded by love, laughter, and the rich culture of the Kenyan coast, Melody discovers more than beauty-she finds courage, connection, and the joy of being truly present. A proudly African children's story celebrating family, culture, and the magic of first adventures.

Brianna, Evelyn, Liam, and Carlos find out that their small town of Wackleburrow is no ordinary place. They start a paranormal activity group, called Creepy Crew, together to find out what goes on here. Once they follow a creepy map from a fortune teller underground, they encounter a strange ghost dungeon ruled by a dragon. Read on and figure out what is up with the town!

An essay by yours truly.