UNPLUGGED
Terry A. O'Neal @Terryaoneal
Selection from The Sparrow’s Plight
A collection of original poetry that depicts life as a black woman, a wife, a mother, a poet, a writer, and a dreamer

Bestselling author, Terry A. O’Neal, whose poetry has been published in numerous magazines, journals and newspapers around the world has been named among the most popular African American female writers of our time, featured in a book entitled “Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature”–a list of women who’ve left a mark on the wider world through their writing.
Her previous publications include three volumes of poetry, Motion Sickness, The Poet Speaks in Black and Good Mornin’ Glory; two children’s books Ev’ry Little Soul and My Jazz Shoes; the award-winning southern fiction novel Sweet Lavender; and her latest (2014) release of The Sparrow’s Plight: Woes of a 21st Century Black Poet with an introduction by Rudolph Lewis.
Her works are world renowned, recognized in South Africa, Iran, Jamaica, Australia, Canada, Bermuda, and across America. In March 2004, her poetry was translated into the Persian language and featured in the Persian Magazine Golestaneh. In addition, O’Neal has been featured on PBS, CNN, KVIE, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, FOX, and a host of television, radio, and print media programs.
In 2008, O’Neal ventured into the world of screenwriting, focusing on inspirational feature films for family audiences. Her most popular screenplay was the adaptation of her award-winning novel, Sweet Lavender. Under her independent film production company, Motion Productions, Along the Dirt Road went into pre-production in late 2012, featuring lead actresses Desreta Jackson and Camryn LeVert. Faced with budget constraints and production team changes, Along the Dirt Road closed production in 2014, and the screenplay reverted back to its original title, Sweet Lavender, which is currently awaiting production.
O’Neal is well-known for her dedication and time devoted to uplifting today’s youth, encouraging them to “carry out their dream, no matter how unlikely it may seem”. She is the editor of the publication, Make Some Noise! A Youth Poetry Anthology, an anthology for youth ages 12-18.
In 2017, a special edition of the anthology was released: Make Some Noise IV! A Baton Rouge Youth Poetry Anthology, featuring the profound poetry, prose, and short stories of Baton Rouge teens. The works in this collection focus on the Great Louisiana flood, the tragic police shootings in Baton Rouge Parish, social awareness, race, and relevant personal issues that today’s youth face in their day-to-day lives.
In addition to her writing accomplishments, she is the VP and Executive Director of the non-profit organization, Lend Your Hand, Inc. Educating the World’s Children; and the Founder of the National Black History Bee, a program devised to test students’ knowledge on African-American history facts in the form of a trivia competition.
Today, O’Neal is a contributing writer for Black Heritage Today Magazine, a publication that has often been hailed ‘the BEST black history month magazine in London’. Some of her upcoming works include Darling, a southern fiction novel; the documentary Hope of Finding Son: The Maurice Red Jefferson Story; and Sweet Lavender, a stage adaptation.
Her previous publications include three volumes of poetry, Motion Sickness, The Poet Speaks in Black and Good Mornin’ Glory; two children’s books Ev’ry Little Soul and My Jazz Shoes; the award-winning southern fiction novel Sweet Lavender; and her latest (2014) release of The Sparrow’s Plight: Woes of a 21st Century Black Poet with an introduction by Rudolph Lewis.
Her works are world renowned, recognized in South Africa, Iran, Jamaica, Australia, Canada, Bermuda, and across America. In March 2004, her poetry was translated into the Persian language and featured in the Persian Magazine Golestaneh. In addition, O’Neal has been featured on PBS, CNN, KVIE, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, FOX, and a host of television, radio, and print media programs.
In 2008, O’Neal ventured into the world of screenwriting, focusing on inspirational feature films for family audiences. Her most popular screenplay was the adaptation of her award-winning novel, Sweet Lavender. Under her independent film production company, Motion Productions, Along the Dirt Road went into pre-production in late 2012, featuring lead actresses Desreta Jackson and Camryn LeVert. Faced with budget constraints and production team changes, Along the Dirt Road closed production in 2014, and the screenplay reverted back to its original title, Sweet Lavender, which is currently awaiting production.
O’Neal is well-known for her dedication and time devoted to uplifting today’s youth, encouraging them to “carry out their dream, no matter how unlikely it may seem”. She is the editor of the publication, Make Some Noise! A Youth Poetry Anthology, an anthology for youth ages 12-18.
In 2017, a special edition of the anthology was released: Make Some Noise IV! A Baton Rouge Youth Poetry Anthology, featuring the profound poetry, prose, and short stories of Baton Rouge teens. The works in this collection focus on the Great Louisiana flood, the tragic police shootings in Baton Rouge Parish, social awareness, race, and relevant personal issues that today’s youth face in their day-to-day lives.
In addition to her writing accomplishments, she is the VP and Executive Director of the non-profit organization, Lend Your Hand, Inc. Educating the World’s Children; and the Founder of the National Black History Bee, a program devised to test students’ knowledge on African-American history facts in the form of a trivia competition.
Today, O’Neal is a contributing writer for Black Heritage Today Magazine, a publication that has often been hailed ‘the BEST black history month magazine in London’. Some of her upcoming works include Darling, a southern fiction novel; the documentary Hope of Finding Son: The Maurice Red Jefferson Story; and Sweet Lavender, a stage adaptation.