AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: A.L. Ember

Serving, Writing, and Inspiring with Purpose

A.L. Ember has always been drawn to stories—those spoken, written and lived. With roots spanning Nigerian, Jamaican, and Antiguan heritage, her love for culture, music, and food has shaped both her worldview and her writing. From childhood competitions to her current book series, her voice has matured into one that celebrates faith, resilience, vulnerability and love. Her storytelling is a mosaic of personal reflection, cultural preservation and spiritual encouragement. Whether she’s writing about strong friends, Caribbean islands or inner healing, her words are crafted to serve and inspire.

AN EARLY COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS

Driven by purpose and compassion, a heart of service beat through her educational and professional life. She earned a Bachelor of Science in International Relations with a minor in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Though she initially considered a language for her minor, due to her love for culture, business ultimately won. For her, it turned out to be a great fit! Following her graduation from university, she spent nine years in the customer service field up until May 2025. She was drawn to helping people and finding ways to make their day a little easier. She eventually gravitated toward mentoring others, improving customer experience and creating processes that made a real difference. It was incredibly rewarding to turn a love of helping people into a career that not only allowed her to serve others but also challenged and grew her personally.

Her love of culture drew her to International Relations, while her postgraduate studies: a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Birmingham, allowed her to combine that global perspective with a practical focus on serving others through government and public initiatives. It’s no wonder that her passion for service lives on in her storytelling. 

AUTHOR JOURNEY

She’s always loved stories. Even in high school, she remembers reading all the literature books before the school year started. Her parents like to remind her she was talking before she had teeth, so she’s always had a voice and a fascination with those who put theirs to paper through poems, novels and song lyrics. Around Grade 8, she realized she loved bringing stories to life and her mind constantly raced with ideas just begging to be told. She even entered short story competitions with local newspapers, so a debut book has been a long time coming.

Her writing is deeply rooted in her faith. God has guided this journey, and she writes what she knows, how her faith shapes her life and anchors her daily. For example, her book series, The Obedience Series explores the quiet courage it takes to say yes to God. From the trembling first leap to the ache of waiting and the weight of landing, these books walk with readers through surrender, uncertainty, and spiritual stretching—one obedient step at a time. Her hope is that even one reader might be touched, encouraged or inspired by her words. Of course, a bestseller would be nice too, but ultimately, it’s about the message reaching hearts.

She acknowledges that each author’s journey is unique, and this shows in her writing process. Her process genuinely depends on when inspiration strikes. For example, an inspiration for one of her books came to her on a Sunday morning drive to church. She was listening to a song she had heard countless times before, and one lyric suddenly echoed a little louder, sparking ten chapters in her mind. Additionally, when she’s writing personal reflections, she balances how much of her private life she shares with poetic storytelling. Novels, on the other hand, involve research: character development, locations, and small details that make the world feel real. Bringing a fictional character to life is magical, like building a human from scratch, reminiscent of those Build-A-Bear workshops, only with words. 

She wants aspiring authors to know that their voices are uniquely theirs and deserve to be heard. It doesn’t matter how many others write in their genre; their ideas are special. For somewhere, a reader is waiting for their words to become their comfort read. In essence, she encourages with these words: “Your story could already be someone’s number one bestseller.”

INSPIRATION FOR LATEST BOOK 

Her book, Dear Strong Friend: A Guide to Grace and Breathing, was inspired by a conversation with God. He had given her the task of being an encourager, and she asked, “What will happen when I need to be poured into?” He answered, “Then you return to Me, your source.” She realized that so many strong friends never get to lay down the burdens they carry for themselves and others. As soon as He told her to return to her gift of writing, the vision for the book became clear, guided by 2 Corinthians 1:4 (GW): “He encourages us when we are in trouble, so that we can encourage others in every trouble with the encouragement we have received from God.” Writing it was as much a gift to her as she hopes it is to readers. Her hope is that strong friends find freedom, realize that setting boundaries is healthy and holy and that those who lean on them remember that strong friends are human too. She extends the message of the book through a thoughtfully crafted guided journal. The Dear Strong Friend Journal is a gentle space for the ones who hold it all together. With reflective prompts, scripture anchors and space to exhale, this journal invites readers to be honest, be soft, and be held—even as they keep showing up strong.

WRITING THROUGH CULTURAL LENS

Her writing intertwines with her other passions, all still rooted in a desire to serve others. She’s always loved experiencing different cultures, which makes travel, food, and music some of her favorite interests. Growing up with a blend of Nigerian, Jamaican, and Antiguan roots really sparked that curiosity in her. Each place has its own rhythm: from the flavors of the food to the beats of the music and the stories people carry. Traveling lets her see that richness up close, and food is such a fun way to experience a culture in a tangible, joyful way. That love of culture and connection has naturally woven itself into her writing. For example, in her upcoming Island Light Series, each book highlights the beauty and complexity of a different Caribbean island. In this way, she gets to serve others by preserving and celebrating pieces of culture through storytelling—helping readers feel seen and giving them a glimpse into worlds they may not have experienced before.

OVERCOMING INNER STRUGGLES THROUGH FAITH

Her journey has been marked by moments of doubt, but also by deep faith and quiet courage. One of the things she notes is that she’s always been her own biggest critic, so her greatest obstacle has often been herself. Her sister reminded her that publishing should have happened years ago, and she was right—she has older, slightly juvenile manuscripts that may never see the light of day. But this journey has reminded her to trust that her voice is unique and that her message needs to be heard. 

Music often inspires her, and John Legend’s If You’re Out There perfectly captures this feeling: that change starts with us, that we don’t have to wait for destiny to act, and that our voices can make a difference. So, when she faces her challenges, she always goes back to her Source. Her relationship with God is the anchor of her life; without Him, she truly is nothing. Being able to do life with Him is a blessing, and having the opportunity to use her voice for His glory is all she could ask for. To thrive during challenging times, she leans on a strong prayer life, praise and worship, staying in the Word, and being honest with Him about the struggles she’s facing.

ON THR HORIZON

She continues to walk in faith, writing what she’s been given and waiting on God for what’s next. Ever since God told her to leave the bank, she’s been wondering ‘what’s next’ but she doesn’t have all the answers. Sometimes it feels like she’s singing Ain’t Got Nothing Figured Out on repeat, but she trusts that He knows the plan. When the timing is right, the rest of the path will unfold.

CONNECT WITH A.L. EMBER

📌Website: https://www.alemberauthor.com

📌Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.l.ember

📌TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@a.l.ember

📌Threads: https://www.threads.com/@a.l.ember

📌Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alemberauthor

📌Preorder on Amazon: Dear Strong Friend

📅 SAVE THE DATE: October 28, 2025! Join us in celebrating the launch of this inspiring book. Stay tuned for exclusive excerpts and special announcements! Venue: A.L. Ember's Facebook page.