Retracing Octavia’s Footsteps

Fam, yaw know I love walking, right?

Well, yesterday, I treated myself to a special stroll.

My first stop was to the new, independent bookstore, Octavia’s Bookshelf.

Recently founded by Nikki High, it’s the first and only Black owned bookstore in Pasadena. And that’s not by accident.

Pasadena is the birthplace of one of my literary sheroes, the late science fiction writer, Octavia E. Butler. She was a MacAurthur Genius, who is experiencing a renaissance with her acclaimed novels, “Kindred,” and others being adapted into TV series. And legend has it, she used to walk the tree lined, mountain view streets of the very neighborhood where the book store now stands.

Octavia’s Bookshelf – small, but mighty – didn’t disappoint. There were so many options of Black Literary Excellence on the shelves, I could have purchased more books than I could carry. Instead, I just bought one: “A Handful of Earth, a Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia Butler.”

Comprised of Octavia’s personal journal writings, it gives readers a peek into her life, process and struggles as a writer. And as a writer, now at a crossroads, because of the ongoing writers strike, this book couldn’t come into my life at a better time.

Another blessing my visit offered me was a chance to retrace Octavia’s steps: https://monicemitchellsimms.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/butlers-pasadena-literary-tour.pdf.

Walking for me, Fam, is not only exercise, it’s a refuge. And I was excited to explore where Octavia once created the worlds of her novels, worked out her life’s problems and allowed her mind to wander.

As I walked the 2.5 mile loop straddling Pasadena and Altadena, I imagined Octavia walking it, too. She passed away in Washington State in 2006 – seven years before I moved to Pasadena – so there was no chance, I would have ever bumped into her.

But what if I had?

What if in some alternative universe, I happened upon Octavia on one of her strolls? Would I introduce myself and gush about how we both attended Pasadena City College? Would I be so starstruck, I’d stare at her, not able to say anything? Or would I simply nod hello, and respect her solitude?

I don’t know the answer. But I’m glad I got to walk where Octavia walked.

And I’m inspired to keep forging my own path.

Step

by step

by step.