bio
2011 | ::ABOUT ME::
Personal Highlights
Zaji was born in Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. in 1967, migrating to the United States in 1972 with her mother at the age of four; just ten days before her fifth birth day. During her years in Jamaica, she lived atop the sultry hills of Stonehenge in the Parish of St. James, where Montego Bay is the capital. She is the middle child of three, with her incredible sisters holding a special place in her heart. She grew up on the border of Westchester and the Bronx, spending the next 32 years there. She attended high school in Co-op City and college in New Rochelle. Initially, she had a deep fondness for law and began to pursue it during her first years of college. Her love for the arts would later sway her, eventually leading her to writing, a hobby she fostered from childhood.
Zaji’s interest in the arts began with her love for lyrics and sound…music. She would sing in various shows in high school and college, eventually traveling to then, West Germany, for military duty in the United States Army. While there, she performed in numerous stage plays such as Rock Roll and Remember and the Dreamgirls where she played Michelle Morris, living the dual life of an artist and soldier from December 1988 to February 1991. After having her first child in Frankfurt, Germany, she decided to end her military duties to raise her daughter in a stable environment and subsequently left Germany, a place she grew to adore. She was honorably discharged from the military and shortly thereafter decided to pursue a degree in the arts.
Zaji also plays the piano and continues to sing every chance she gets. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking, crocheting and graphic designing. When no one is looking, she is usually crouched in a corner reading such magazines as National Geographic, Archaeology, Natural History and Smithsonian. And books such as The Elegant Universe, The Story of the Moors in Spain and Black Athena. Shhh. No one must know.
After 30 years in the North Bronx, New York, she has relocated to Long Pond, Pennsylvania, which is in the plush hills of the Pocono’s mountains Although she still has a home in the Bronx, she prefers the quiet and tranquility of the Poconos. Her two daughters are the center of her universe and her spiritual teachers. Without them, she is mute and void. With them, she is everything; words, sound, light and peace.
One of her ultimate goals is to move to a quiet and year round warm corner of the globe where she can live simply, quietly and off the fat of the land.
Professional Highlights
Zaji is a freelance writer, author, journalist, speech writer, copywriter and copyeditor who has worked with Oprah Magazine, Essence, Black Enterprise, Black Voices, Fierce, The Source, Kuji: The Lifestyle Guide to Self Enrichment and NV Magazine (New Vision in Business), as well as the Pocono Herald/Pocono Express, the Chicago Defender, QBR The Black Book Review and the Harlem Book Fair, in positions ranging from freelance writer and fact-checker to researcher, editor-in-chief and associate publisher. Her journalistic skills allowed her to skillfully conduct flawless research and masterful interviews. Since then she has published dozens of articles covering business, literary and general topics.
Zaji has done extensive copy writing and copyediting for corporate clients, covering marketing campaign collateral, press releases, and speech writing for awards and publicity events. She has also copyedited for academic clients, covering course instruction and seminars, lectures, interviews, articles, performances and exhibits. Â Her client list includes L’Oreal’s Soft Sheen Carson and Fathom (fathom.com), which covered such institutions as The British Library, American Film Institute, The British Museum, Cambridge University Press, Columbia University, London School of Economics, RAND, Natural History Museum, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Victoria & Albert Museum, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Science Museum and New York Public Library and many others. She has prepared effective grant proposals and business letters and has served as ghostwriter for the Director of the National Brotherhood of Skiers.
She taught journalism and writing on the weekends to freshman high school students at Hostos Community College through a program run by Young Athletes, Inc. (Y.A.I.)/GEAR UP.
Zaji earned her B.A. in English from Iona College where she graduated with Honors in her major, and was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. She completed her Masters (M.S.) with Honors (magna cum laude) in Journalism at the same institution. She will be pursuing an M.F.A. in Writing and a Doctorate in Philosophy in the near future.
Recent Accomplishments (as of Dec 2009)
Zaji has been a freelance writer and editor for nearly 10 years, while also moonlighting as a graphic designer for well over 7 years. She’s also extended her talents to publishing and is creating a new place in cyberspace where authors can showcase their works, and readers can enjoy good literature. She recently combined her talents under a single umbrella and launched Creative Ankh, a whole solution for authors, writers and readers. Although her focus is on authors, anyone seeking to improve their writing, create content for their website or other marketing material by using a copy writer, or design a brochure for their next project, can take advantage of the services. Visit Creative Ankh at: Creative-Ankh.com
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I know, I know. You’re wondering where I’ve been all day. Well, as you can see, I’ve had visitors who are a hand full. Â These little ladies are busy as bees and getting into everything now that they are crawling around and pulling themselves up. They seem determined to walk before 11 months old. They are 9 months old and power crawling like there is no tomorrow.
That is my daughter’s cat. Mr. Man had just finished having his lunch and decided to clean up a bit. I’m sure those who own cats know the deal. They will lick and lick and lick until every semblance of left over food is removed from every crevice on their body.
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else: YOU are the one who gets burned. — Buddha
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I’ve never met a person like you before. You are definately a unique person to me. The feeling I get is the exact same feeling I got when I woke up from the coma. The light is too bright, so bright it hurts to see. I think that I am finally letting go of today and tomorrow!
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Pittershawn has a unique vision and a creativeness which causes one to pause and think on new levels. It has been my pleasure to work with you on my corporate vision and know you for several years. As you seek new peaks and leave more footprints, I continue to be inspired and in awe.
Much success!
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Pittershawn, you are an amazingly gifted soul. I know our physical paths will cross one day and I’m glad about it.
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Pittershawn, again I have to say, girl you are my idol. I too am blessed that we have crossed paths. I want to be like you when I grow up:0}. Your website was beautiful, tasteful, and defined you completely.
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Thank you for forwarding this website so I could respect even more the individual who has offered to prepare my website. You are an amazing person.
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Hi my beautiful friend!!!! Just wanted to say hello my yaude
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So glad I have found my friend Zaja, a truely special person. You are touching so many lives and in that they yours and we as one will never be the same.
Thank you !
Your Friend
Your photos and messages are very intriguing.
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