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Draft:Octavia Grant

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Essence Fest Photo

Octavia Grant was born (July 25, 1985) in Georgetown, SC..[1] She is an American Independent Psychological Thriller Author. Grant has published nearly forty novels. She is most known for her novellas: Dear Vicky[2], Don't Call Me Crazy[3], Work Husband[4], and The Naughty List[5].

Early Life

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Octavia Taneka Grant was born on July 25, 1985, to Mary E. Holmes, a housekeeper, and the late Jonathan "Bankie" Grant, Wildlife Specialist for South Carolina Department of Natural Resources[6] at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center[7].

Octavia is from the North Santee Community[8] of Georgetown, SC. She is the youngest of her six siblings: Jonathan Ladson, Christopher Holmes, Sherika Dobbins Britton (Deceased), Sherry Dobbins Hauthaler, Donavan Grant, and Oscar Dobbins.  

She graduated from Georgetown High School[9] in 2003.This is where she discovered her love of both True Crime and creative writing began. In 2001, while in Dr. Larry Gates’ American History Class, she learned about local American Serial Killer, Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins[10]. That lecture sparked her interest in True Crime, Human Behavior and Psychopathy. In 2002, while in Mrs. Kathy Stevenson’s English III class, she was given a writing assignment to create a folklore. The story she wrote at 16-years-old was titled, The Hyenas Laugh.

Literary Career

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In 2011, Octavia obtained her Associates of Applied Science in Criminal Justice, from Horry-Georgetown Technical College[11], then relocated to Jacksonville, Florida[12] in hopes of landing a high paying financial crimes role. That did not happen. Later, she enrolled and graduated from the University of Phoenix[13] with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Security and Management. Armed with two degrees, she still could not find a career within the pay range she desired.  What happened, in her opinion, was even better. While employed at Bank of America’s Corporate Office, she preferred to listen to audiobooks instead of music. At the end of the audiobook, the narrator said, “If you’d like to join this literary family, please submit the first three chapters of your manuscript,” and she did.

Octavia signed her first literary contract with Shameek Speight of True Glory Publications in 2016. Her first book was titled, Should’ve Chose Me[14] (book was rereleased after going Indie.) November 2018, after some tension arose within the company, Octavia decided to take the reins of her literary career, sever ties with True Glory Publications, and go Independent. The first book she released as an Independent Author was, I’ll Never Let You Go[15]

ESSENCE Fest Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

As an Independent Author, Octavia carved out a great path. She has written nearly forty novels. Eight of those books are audiobooks. In July 2024, Octavia spoke on the Thrilling Tales Author Panel at ESSENCE Fest[16] alongside Wanda Morris[17] and Dr. Ian Smith[18] in New Orleans, LA[19]. She has been interviewed by Narrator iiKane[20] and Detroit’s Literary Reviewer and Movie Commentator Tamara Walker of Tam Telling Tales.

Features

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Octavia has been featured in magazines:

WYB Lifestyle

VoyageJacksonville[21]

Canvas Rebel[22]

Bold Journey[23]

160 Black Women In Horror[24]

Awards

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Octavia's psychological thriller novella, Dear Vicky, was the winner of the Black Girls Who Write (BGWW) It's Lit Award for Best Black Mystery/Suspense[25], Audio In Black North Star Award Winne[26]r, and African Americans On The Move Book Club (AAMBC) Award Winner for Mystery/Thriller Book of the Year[27]. Both Dear Vicky[28] and I’ll Never Let You Go[29] received the Indie Author Project Select Award & Honor from Jacksonville Public Library[30]

2024 AAMBC Awards

Personal Life

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Octavia was diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome[31] (PCOS) at the age of twenty-seven. Due to the disorder, she has experienced infertility issues that resulted in multiple fetal loss. In 2021 she gave birth to a son and in 2022 she gave birth to a daughter. She currently resides in Jacksonville, FL with her fiancé and their two children.

References

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  1. ^ "Georgetown, SC". www.georgetownsc.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  2. ^ Grant, Octavia (February 5, 2024). Dear Vicky. Independently Published. ISBN 979-8878597432.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ^ Grant, Octavia (February 19, 2024). Don't Call Me Crazy. Independently Published. ISBN 979-8880163878.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ Grant, Octavia (July 17, 2023). Work Husband. Independently published. ISBN 979-8852538284.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ Grant, Octavia (January 17, 2024). The Naughty List. Independently published. ISBN 979-8876461179.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ "South Carolina Department of Natural Resources". www.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  7. ^ "HomePage - Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center". Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  8. ^ "North Santee, Georgetown County, South Carolina", Wikipedia, 2023-07-27, retrieved 2024-11-27
  9. ^ "Georgetown High School". www.gcsd.k12.sc.us. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  10. ^ "Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins".
  11. ^ "Horry-Georgetown Technical College". Horry-Georgetown Technical College. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  12. ^ "Jacksonville.gov - Welcome". www.jacksonville.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  13. ^ "Online College for Working Adults". University of Phoenix. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  14. ^ Grant, Octavia (October 11, 2020). Should've Chose Me. Independently published. ISBN 979-8696249551.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  15. ^ Grant, Octavia (January 6, 2019). I'll Never Let You Go. Independently published. ISBN 978-1793029850.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  16. ^ "EFOC 2024: Thrilling Tales: A Conversation With Black Thriller Authors". Essence. 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  17. ^ "Wanda M. Morris – Author of ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS". Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  18. ^ Ian, Dr. "Dr. Ian Smith, Best Selling Author, TV Personality, Physician". doctoriansmith.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  19. ^ "Visit New Orleans". www.neworleans.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  20. ^ iiKane. "Kane". Kane. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  21. ^ Stories, Local (2023-11-22). "Meet Octavia Grant". voyagejacksonville.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  22. ^ "Meet Octavia Grant". canvasrebel.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  23. ^ "Meet Octavia Grant". Bold Journey Magazine. 2024-08-27. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  24. ^ Saulson, Sumiko (June 14, 2023). 160 Black Women In Horror. Iconoclast Productions. ISBN 979-8397825733.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  25. ^ "It's LIT! Literary Awards 2022". Black Girls Who Write. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  26. ^ "AWARDS". AUDIO IN BLACK. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  27. ^ aambcawards (2024-04-11). "The Nominees for the 16th Annual AAMBC Literary Awards are revealed". AAMBC Awards. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  28. ^ "BiblioBoard". library.biblioboard.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  29. ^ "BiblioBoard". library.biblioboard.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  30. ^ "Main Library". Jacksonville Public Library. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  31. ^ "Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2024-11-27.