We had the good fortune of connecting with Allonya Payne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allonya, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
One Habit that feel helped me succeed was being on time and asking questions about any and every project I’m in or developed.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am an actress, and writer. The year of 2023 I was most proud of finishing my web series and that was totally written by me without any helping hands on the script. I totally believed in my words. Also, I finally had the chance to have my first book signing in December 2023 for my urban fiction book Centennial Homecoming Tatum College. Even though i am a three-book self-published author. I had a great audience they were engage in my reading of a small excerpt from the book. Other creatives with big followings came out and purchased Centennial Homecoming Tatum College,merchandise, and my other two books Love Choices and Adoration Anguish and Arousal. All three books are on Amazon. I want the world to know about my brand is that its authentic, and holds no barriers. I made sure I always be myself professionally. I didn’t try to conform to what others say should be my genre of writing or only taking roles for acting from people I knew. I stepped out the box and wrote my own way and path.

Its not easy being a creative in Memphis. If you are not popular people tend to not support, you or let you have a say so in the arts. I overcame that challenge by constant working with different groups of people and in other genres. I do not care about popularity I care about opportunities and quantity of work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

First, we would go to Brunch at Sage, or Serv. These two places have the best mimosas to me. My favorite is the flavored ones at Serv. For dinner we would go get some Soulfood at Art House Cafe. THEY HAVE A BROCCOLI CORNBREAD THATS AMAZING! For late night drinks and good music a cute little Bar called BarDog.

I love art of all types so I would take them to seize the clay. A place where you buy a small clay object like an ornament, snake, coaster and paint them any color they have in the business. Its therapeutic and fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Bianca McMillian deserves her flowers and praise for our project we just finished. In late 2019 I believe is the correct year. We always talked about doing our own project. I let her read my script The Essence of Eternity a drama about two sisters living life through love and career. She was amazed and said let’s do it. She used a iPhone to film edit and direct the series. And now in 2023 we just wrapped Season 2. She is an innovator, a helping hand, and a teacher for the creative arts. Without her my first written web series would not be here.

Website: WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/ADPAYNE_

Instagram: @adpayne_, @thewritelyrics_, @eoewebseries

Linkedin: Allonya Payne

Twitter: adpayne

Facebook: AD Payne

Youtube: adpayne16

Other: Books on Amazon name Love Choices by Allonya Payne, Adoration Anguish and Arousal by Allonya Payne and Cenntiniel Homecoming Tatum College by Allonya Payne

Image Credits
Biance McMillian-The Essence of Eternity Flyer Allonya and Bianca set Photo is a still shot of webseries by Bianca McMillian

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.