The future author made her entrance into the world in 1974 in Pittsburg, but later relocated to East Cleveland, Ohio where she would spend the majority of her adolescent years.
Warren is the oldest of four children born into a strict Jehovah’s Witness household where their lives revolved around the rules of Kingdom Hall. Her mother was a schizophrenic, who was more in fear and overprotective of her children. Her parents later split up, leaving it up to her maternal grandparents to help their daughter raise four children.
As the young writer entered her teenage years, she began to question the Jehovah’s Witness doctrine. “I was the trailblazer in my family questioning the beliefs, investigating the faith,” said Warren of her childhood doubts about the structure of the faith.
Like most children who spend their lives in Kingdom Hall, she had limited contact with non-believers outside of school. Warren was confronted with a situation which was a springboard for her to leave the Witness religion behind. Her 14-year-old friend got pregnant and was ousted from the faith. Warren was not allowed to talk to her or even buy a gift for her baby. “At 18 years old, I thought that was harsh,” said Warren.
She goes on to say, “I made my own mistakes; the elders were wrong. I know that would not be the God I know.”
Despite the many restrictions in her life, Warren always found comfort in writing. Her 7th grade teacher even suggested she consider it as a career. Writing was not the first career path she choose, but her true calling would later come back to find her.
Although in school her social activities were halted, she graduated number two in her class. Warren received numerous scholarships and could go to any school in the country. Unfortunately, the grip of her faith made her stay close to home where she attended Bryant and Trenton in Cleveland, where she studied micro-computer management. However, fate had its plan because she met her husband, who is now an accountant.
Her husband was also searching for God. He invited her to his church one day and her life has never been the same. She slowly picked up a Bible and studied the word and formed a healthy relationship with God. The transition proved to be challenging because her roots in the Jehovah’s Witnesses were still intact.
It wasn’t until her husband started speaking in tongues in his sleep where she realized how powerful the Holy Spirit can be.
While her relationship with God was growing, she was working hard. During that period she had a flexible schedule, which allowed her to develop her craft.
After she got in contact with Walk Worthy Press, she started her first novel, “What a Sista Should Do,” which tells the stories of three women struggling in faith while overcoming obstacles in their lives.
She also wrote the New York Times best seller, “The Bishop’s Daughter” and “The Farther I Meant To Go, The Longer I Meant To Stay.”
Warren is inspired by her role as the advisor in the group of her friends. She uses their life experiences as influences for her novels. She goes into prayer for them because “having a one-on-one relationship with the Lord will help sisters get through,” she said.
“God can still use you as a blessing to someone else when you are going through your issues,” Warren stated.
Her current book, “In the Midst of It All,” is about a young woman, Zenovia, who has been caring for her schizophrenic mother, Audrey, for many years. Audrey and Zenovia become part of a church called, “Brethren of Sacrifice,” where they believe her mother’s illness is a demonic possession. Zenovia struggles with her own beauty and insecurities. Her new stepfather is deemed controlling and manipulative. Zenovia who is married and living her own life must return home to conquer her childhood battles.
“In the Midst of it All” is partly a reflection of Warren’s childhood with a mentally ill mother. Her mother’s condition was not complicated and out of control like most. “Mom couldn’t function with other people because she is paralyzed with fear,” said Warren. She hopes to raise awareness about mental illness in the black community.
Warren said, “Mental illness is a ‘stigma’; there is no issue getting help for physical illness.”
She discusses how there is a notion that black teenagers do not cut themselves, or black girls do not have eating disorders. The church also shuns mental illness because they believe it is a demonic spirit.
“We may pray about it, but we need to take steps to healing outside of prayer. People with mental illness are an easier target for demons to attack,” Warren believes.
Warren continues to write hoping to inspire other young sisters to seek Christ for a solution to their problems. Currently, she is working on writing another young adult book series.
Her family has learned to accept Warren's religious path and love her family dearly. Warren has learned to balance her life to make time for her five children ranging from ages 5 to 12. She raises her children to be Christians and to respect other people’s faith. Many may argue she works too much to be a mother, but Warren said, “I am called to do more than being a mother.”
Although she has a complicated schedule, which makes finding time to write a challenge, she said, “I never let work get in the way of what I am called to do.”
