Anita Kopacz is the author of the Simon & Schuster fiction novel, Shallow Waters. It is the second title that Charlemagne tha God released on his imprint, Black Privilege Publishing. Anita is the former Editor-in-Chief of Heart & Soul Magazine and Managing Editor of BeautyCents Magazine. She is an award winning writer, a Spiritual Psychologist and a certified Tantra coach with a passion to see people thrive. Anita also created the nonprofit, Zero F's Given to raise awareness and help victimized and disenfranchised populations heal from sexual trauma, find their voice, and reclaim their power. She has helped thousands of victims through her work with Zero F’s Given and being on the board for the Center for Safety and Change.

While at Mara Akil’s Writers’ Colony, Anita Kopacz worked on her untitled second novel about the Yoruba Orisha, Oya. This novel imagines Oya as Yemaya’s daughter, born in Cuba after Yemaya’s adventures in the New World—as depicted in Anita’s historical fiction novel, Shallow Waters. Oya is the Yoruba Orisha of the weather, known to be one of the most powerful deities in Africa. The most notable mention of Oya in modern times is the character Storm in the X-Men. But her story runs much deeper than a comic book character.

Follow Anita on Instagram at @anitakopacz