Should she take the leap through the window into the unknown? Seventeen-year-old Kyrie had no idea if she could survive it, but the notion of staying was much less appealing than the risks of the streets. A bullet that finds a fleeing target in the night, a baby held out of a high-rise window, and squatting in a rodent-infested apartment are just some of the experiences within Kyrie’s family dynamic perpetrated by her father’s actions and enabled by her mother’s acquiescence.

Gifts in Brown Paper Packages (Gifts) is a coming-of-age story commencing the night New York City teenager Kyrie Graves impulsively flees the verbal and physical abuse prevalent in her childhood home to tackle life and adulthood with no plan except survival. The night that Kyrie decides to exit her bedroom window one final time changes the course of her life.

Gifts is a story of a young girl’s survival driven by strength, personal growth, a journey to self-awareness, and ultimately acknowledging her truth. Through Kyrie’s lens, the reader is led through vivid episodic flashbacks from her adolescence through young adulthood in a journey ripe with experiences that are sometimes funny, often shocking and painful, and always genuine. Acceptance of her story and how it shapes her enables Kyrie to embrace the lessons, i.e., gifts, that strife and challenges offer despite their unpalatable aspects. Kyrie reveals her struggles, fears, and growth through this tale while displaying the perseverance that births her power and voice. Ultimately, Kyrie recognizes and accepts all the gifts, even the ones that come wrapped in brown paper packages!

S.P. Brown, a seasoned writer, was born and raised in the vibrant city of New York. Her childhood unfolded across various boroughs, including Queens and Manhattan, ultimately leading her to Harlem. The journey through public schooling, from early years to high school, shaped her into an avid reader, instilling a deep love for books and the magnificent edifices that housed them.

From an early age, S.P. Brown was captivated by the notion that a short walk to the nearby library could yield a treasure trove of books, often too weighty for her young frame to carry back home. Yet, the promise of embarking on countless journeys through the pages of those books fueled her determination.

Fantasy fiction and mysteries held a special place in her heart during her formative years, nurturing the roots of her writing passion. This ardor for writing was further cultivated by her father’s insistence on reading and analyzing advanced literary works, which introduced her to an array of rich vocabulary and descriptive prose. These exercises not only shaped her linguistic skills but also provided a means of escape and creative expression.

Early experiences in community theater and a mock trial program at Columbia University School of Law stoked her affinity for words and public speaking. By the age of 14, S.P. Brown aspired to become an attorney, a path that aligned with her love for language and rhetoric. Over the course of two decades, she established herself in the field of Employment Discrimination law, dedicating 13 years to the media and entertainment industry. Here, she offered invaluable guidance to corporate leaders, yet her heart’s true calling remained in writing and mentoring.

Driven by an unwavering passion, S.P. Brown’s life mission revolves around inspiring and uplifting others through her writing. Her purpose is to share truths that catalyze positive change in at least one person’s life every single day.

In addition to her illustrious career, S.P. Brown is a devoted wife of 26 years and a proud mother of three remarkable individuals.