"Chin-yer connects the brilliance of Angelou and Hughes with the contemporary relevance of Jay-z and Kendrick Lamar. Her voice is exactly what the genre needs in addition to being powerful enough to attract new writers and get them excited about the art of poetry. Black Fairy Tales is a perfect example-- it's an addictive cocktail of the streets, creativity, and craft that will not only entertain you, but get you excited about the art. Books like Black Fairy Tales make me proud to be a writer and I'm glad that the world will be inspired by it as well."
-D. Watkins, Best selling author of The Cook Up and The Beast Side

"All these Bit*&es are fire!! This book is loaded with strong wordplay and strong metaphors. The similes are amazing! This book captures your attention from the very first stanza. Black Fairy Tales covers various hard to talk about topics such as murder, rape, incest, drug dealing, black on black crime, police brutality and much more that goes on in somebody's average everyday life in a low income American city. I STRONGLY recommend this book to anyone who has struggled."
-Bobby Evans, Baltimore City High school student & Do the Write Thing Poetry Competition Champion"

"Black Fairy Tales is organized in a way where each line becomes an event on the page, and the poetry is pure and potent with breathtaking lines all throughout."
-Jacob Mayberry aka BLACK CHAKRA, National Poetry Slam Champion"

"Chin-yer's delicately and thoughtfully crafted poems reimagine the content and context of classic fairy tales. We recognize them still, but now these stories wear a different skin, beautiful and terrible all at once. Masterful work!"
- Gayle Danley, International Poetry Slam Champion

"This author is the most talented poet that I have taught in all of my 14 years teaching creative writing at Morgan State University."
-Clay Goss, Playwright

Black Fairy Tales is a collection of Urban poems and poetic stories that tell the story of growing up Black. They read like fast paced mini-movies starring the characters, plot, and scenes of too many Black lives. Its vivid imagery, high definition graphic details, strong storytelling skills and impressive use of poetic devices leave readers, young and old, impacted with stories and writing that they will never forget.
About the Author: Chin-yer, the director of the Maya Baraka Writers Institute, a writing program for 45-60 youth poets, is a multi-award winning poet, fiction writer, essayist, and creative writing teacher. She won her first major writing competition when she was six years old. She has been featured in various literary journals and magazines and her poetry has been showcased on Fox 45. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Adele V. Holden creative writing prize/award; awarded to a writer who "demonstrates an understanding of craft, distinct literary vision, and voice". She was the recipient of the Academic Excellence award in Adolescent Literature through the English Department of Morgan State University. Chin-yer has performed her poetry in various modes at Baltimore Soundstage, Nowchild Soundstage, Walters Art Museum, African Heritage Festival, The University of Baltimore and as a feature at countless art venues and events. She holds a degree in Literature and Language Arts and is currently completing her Masters degree in Creative Writing at Morgan State University and completing a creative writing program at UCLA. She is also the founder and director of the 'The Baltimore Scene' arts movement which has curated over 50 literary and art events over the last twelve years including the largest and most reputable competitive poetry event on the East Coast, "Word War". She is honored to be the "poetry mother"/mentor of Baltimore City's international youth poetry champions. She is eternally thankful to be the biological mother and writing coach of two exceptionally talented National poets, Soul and Lovey.