The Masquerade of a Thousand Words

The Masquerade of a Thousand Words is a poetry and prose compilation. It journeys through real life situations: love, politics, relationships, and loss. This book is personal, it is relatable, and it reveals the truths we often don't want to face.

Nashaya Mac is an African American writer that fell in love with poetry at the age of seven. Throughout her life, creative writing, poetry, and journaling have been her therapy and reprieve. She attended the University of Tampa and Georgia Southern University, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology and minored in creative writing. At a young age, Nashaya began competing in poetry and oratorical competitions. She was first published at age 12 and learned about performance poetry (Spoken Word). This unconventional style captivated her and became the primary free verse expression. It wasn't until college that she would return to the more structured style of poetry; ultimately fusing the two forms to create the style in which she writes.
In addition to poetry, Nashaya has written several children's stories. She writes to expose children to the hardships and realities that they face everyday, i.e. emotional intelligence, death and loss, and even homelessness. Her desire is to cultivate the minds of young readers so they can be better cope, avoiding pitfalls like generational trauma and hardship. "Maintaining mental health and wellness is a life-long journey, much like physical health. If we arm ourselves with the proper tools at a young age, we will be prepared to fight those battles as they arrive."