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Survival, Storytelling, and Strength: The Writing Journey of Maya Golden Bethany

Updated: Apr 24

Writing as a Path to Healing

For Maya Golden Bethany, writing is more than a career—it’s survival, healing, and advocacy. An award-winning journalist, author, and founder of the 1 in 3 Foundation, Maya has dedicated her life to truth-telling in all its forms. Her memoir, The Return Trip, is a deeply personal exploration of trauma, resilience, and identity, while her upcoming political thriller, The Senator, brings a Black female protagonist into a genre where women like her are rarely seen.


Maya’s journey into storytelling began in childhood as a way to escape reality. "As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, creating stories in my head or using my imagination became a way to cope," she shares. "It is as much a survival skill for me as it is a creative skill." This relationship with storytelling carried her into journalism, where she built a career spotlighting other people’s truths before ultimately deciding to share her own.


Maya Golden Bethany

From Journalism to Fiction and Memoir

Maya’s career in journalism has shaped her writing style—concise, investigative, and deeply human. Having written for Newsweek, Salon, Insider, and BlackGirlNerds.com, she developed a sharp eye for narrative that translates seamlessly into her fiction and memoir writing. Yet, transitioning from reporting the news to crafting personal and fictional stories was a unique challenge.


"I wasn’t always rooting for myself when writing my memoir," Maya admits. "When you're writing about a protagonist, you want the audience to believe in them, but when that character is you, it’s hard to ignore your own flaws." Despite this, she pushed forward, recognizing that sharing her story could help others.


Her upcoming novel, The Senator, delves into themes of political corruption, environmental justice, and the power of investigative journalism. "This book was inspired by real sacrifice zones—communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and industrial waste," she explains. "My grandparents lived in one, and I spent my summers playing there. It stuck with me." Combining elements of her reporting background with gripping fiction, The Senator positions a Black woman at the center of a traditionally male-dominated genre.


The Realities of Writing and Advocacy

Balancing her writing career with running the 1 in 3 Foundation—a nonprofit supporting survivors of sexual trauma—is no small feat. "Some days, I’m in the carpool line while taking calls from survivors," she says. "It can be overwhelming, but this work is necessary."


Her advocacy and writing intersect in meaningful ways. She ensures that trauma representation in her books is realistic, but not exploitative. "I don’t want my stories to just be trauma-filled narratives. I believe in the hero’s journey for Black women. We struggle, but we also heal, grow, and find joy."


Maya Golden Bethany

Creative Process and Overcoming Challenges

Maya’s writing process is immersive and cinematic. "I visualize every scene like a movie, hearing the sounds, smelling the air. Sometimes I get so deep into it, I forget to drink my tea." To maintain focus, she has created a dedicated writing space in her home, complete with dim lighting and essential oils to keep her grounded.


Like many authors, Maya has faced creative blocks, but her background in journalism helps her push through. "Deadlines are my biggest motivator. If I don’t have one, I set one." She also leans on her community of writers and mentors, recognizing the power of collaboration.


Breaking Barriers in Publishing

Publishing has historically been difficult for Black women, especially in genres like political thrillers. Maya faced her share of rejections and industry bias. "I was told that only celebrity memoirs sell. That’s simply not true. Everyday people’s stories matter just as much."


Determined to break barriers, she partnered with Rising Action Publishing, an independent, women-owned press that embraced her vision. "I want more Black women in publishing—not just as writers, but as agents, editors, and decision-makers. We need people in these rooms who understand our stories and our audiences."


Maya Golden Bethany

Looking Ahead: More Stories to Tell

Maya is already working on her next book, a memoir exploring neurodiversity and parenting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. "As a mother and a survivor, I approach parenting differently. I see my son’s struggles in a way that mirrors my own healing journey."


When asked about her dream adaptation for The Senator, she laughs before saying, "Gugu Mbatha-Raw would be my ideal Alex Broussard." She envisions bringing more Black women into political thriller spaces, both on the page and on screen.


Advice for Aspiring Writers

For Black women looking to enter publishing, Maya emphasizes the importance of community and perseverance. "Find your people—mentors, critique partners, writing groups. We write alone, but we don’t succeed alone."


She also advises new writers to learn the business side of publishing. "Take workshops, understand how querying works, and don’t be discouraged by rejection. Every ‘no’ gets you closer to the right ‘yes.’"


Where to Find Maya’s Work


Through her writing and advocacy, Maya Golden Bethany is proving that Black women belong in every genre, every conversation, and every space. Whether through investigative journalism, fiction, or nonprofit work, her mission remains clear—amplify voices, challenge systems, and create change.

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