October 4, 2021 – PRETTY WOMEN HUSTLE ONLINE

For the next 100 days, We are featuring Female Authors from across the nation for the sole purpose of highlighting books created by women for women.

Today we introduce you to Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace. They are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou and others. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris so much. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.

Their latest self-published works are books of poetry: Mirrored Images and Different Sides of the Same Coin. Both Books mirror messaging “no pun intended.” Ranging from a host of life topics: relationships, frayed familial dynamics, juggling life, single parenting, racism, etc. Some have said, our books are reminiscent of Harlem Renaissance revisited. Our anthologies of poems pair current social and living conditions with poetic verse. In this volume the sometimes darker sides and motives of human nature are also addressed.

Where their first collection of poems Different Sides of the Same Coin revisited Harlem Renaissance and collided with

2019 social unrest, Mirrored Images rips off the bandages of human life experience. It forces one to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Broken, hurt people, hurt others. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social justice and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights.

Writing allowed Chyrel and Lyris to find their voice. Surviving a deadly pandemic, navigating life’s rough waters, and continuing to stay true to themselves birthed their latest book Mirrored Images.

Can magic be recreated for a second time? The sisters believe that it can. We write about what we know. Our experiences as black women are what we know well. Our writing is lensed from that intrinsically authentic experience.

If you could use any four words to describe your writing, what would it be?

Truthful, heartfelt, emotional, and therapeutic.

You two write your books together, what does the creative process entail?

My sister Lyris needs room to be creative, she can only write if inspiration is present. I’m much more of a technical/literal writer. Lyris is very emotional so I must give her time and space to allow for her creativity to flourish.

You’ve written several books, what is the one common message that flows in each book?

People in and of themselves are enough. God doesn’t make mistakes. Whatever the package it was created perfectly. You are smart enough, pretty enough, the right weight, the perfect size you are enough.

What advice do you have for upcoming co-authors?

Just write. Both of our books were birthed because we journaled. You have no idea what story could develop from Journaling.

What is next for the both of you?

Individually we have projects coming out. My sister Lyris is writing a story about single parenting and raising a son alone. I’m doing a cookbook with my mother in-law. We will come back together to release our non-fictional family drama based on our lives growing up called “If These Walls Could Talk.”

What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles?

Our definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles is all hard working women providing for the people they love are beautiful. When you make ends meet and sacrifice for the sustenance of other’s there’s nothing more esthetically pleasing than that to us.

Purchase your copy here