Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyisha Joshua.
Hi Kyisha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey as an author really began long before I ever put pen to paper. For years, I pushed my own voice aside. I didn’t think people cared about what I felt or thought. It wasn’t until I hit a series of personal lows — psychiatric holds, DUIs, heartbreaks. I realized silence was no longer serving me. Writing became the only place where I could be honest without fear. For most of my life, I carried stories, questions, and truths that I didn’t yet have the courage to say out loud. Struggle Within’ started as journal entries. Raw notes. Voice memos to myself. But the more I wrote, the more I realized this wasn’t just about me — it was about giving language to the pain so many people carry behind closed doors. The book grew out of that intention: to unlearn the stories that kept me small and reclaim the ones that made me whole. Today, I speak, vend, and connect with people who see themselves in my journey. And every conversation reminds me why I started: to turn my healing into a bridge for someone else’s.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a smooth road for me, processing my trauma has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do. For a long time, I carried shame, confusion, and emotional wounds that I didn’t have the tools to understand. Therapy became a turning point for me. Working with my therapist helped me unpack the layers of my past, see my patterns clearly, and finally understand the lessons behind everything I went through.
But even though I’m not fully healed — and I don’t think healing ever truly ends — I can say that forgiveness has become easier. Forgiving myself for what I didn’t know, forgiving others for what they didn’t have the capacity to give, and letting go of the versions of me that were born from survival.
Every step wasn’t smooth, but every step was necessary. And that journey is what shaped the woman and the author I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work in Early Childhood Intervention as an Early Intervention Specialist supporting young children with developmental delays and characteristics of autism. I specialize in developmental therapy and parent coaching, helping families understand their child’s needs and feel confident in supporting their child’s development. My work requires patience, empathy, and the ability to meet people exactly where they are — skills that also shaped me as an author.
I’m known for my energy, compassion, and the way I empower families through both my professional work and my book, Struggle Within. Writing my story taught me how to hold space for people’s emotions, acknowledge their struggles, and celebrate their growth — all of which I bring into my sessions with parents.
I’m most proud of the impact ECI has in giving every child a fair chance to thrive, and of how my book has opened conversations about vulnerability, healing, and the power of self-understanding. What sets me apart is the heart I bring to everything I do. Whether I’m supporting a family or speaking about my journey, I show up fully and authentically — even on the hard days.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The biggest advice I’d give to anyone starting out is to drown out the noise. When I began writing Struggle Within, I had so many voices in my head — opinions, expectations, doubts — that I couldn’t even hear myself. I had to learn who I was before I could write honestly. The motivation had to come from within, not from validation or fear.
My Cousin SomberCholy, who created the illustration for my book, reminded me that our art is worthy simply because it comes from us. That’s something I wish I knew earlier: you don’t need permission to create. Trust your voice, honor your story, and let your work reflect who you are. Everything else will follow.
Pricing:
- 14.99 Online Platforms Paperback
- Ebook 9.99
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kyisha_Marie
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Elexia Bantum
IG: @shotsfiredbylex
