Yvelette Stines is a writer, author, and storyteller who covered health & wellness before it was a social media trend. Her work educates, entertains, and creates safe spaces for individuals to evolve, flourish, and mature holistically. Stines has been featured in renowned publications including Essence, Business Insider, SHAPE, T Brand Studio of The New York Times, The Source, and more. She is a thought leader and an accomplished author of six self-published books and journals related to lifestyle, health, and wellness. Her seventh book, “Healing with Copper” is available now from Simon & Schuster.
Tell us about your journey as a writer.
I always loved to read and write. I always loved science as a child. I did struggle in school. I’m dyslexic, and I learned that when I was in ninth grade. And once I was diagnosed with dyslexia, I became very interested in it and it helped me learn how to learn differently. When I was in 12th grade, I read “Invisible Man.” It changed my life. And that kind of set the standard of, I want to change people’s lives. You have to trust yourself and you have to listen to that inner voice and just be relentless about it. Because if it doesn’t leave you alone, it’s something that you have to do. Healing was something that piqued my interest.
Talk about [your book] “Healing with Copper” and how you have healed from copper.
It was a big undertaking. It was also a dream come true. … With the book writing and aligning it with health, it was great synergy. I do take a supplement that has copper. It does help. I’ve had anemia all of my life, and when I had fibroids. … Fibroids naturally deplete your iron. Copper and iron go one and one. You can get it through foods and like for example if you have your turnip greens, add some spinach. Copper helps absorb iron. Copper is very vital and I think people don’t realize copper is a mineral. It does increase energy and helps with de-stressing. You don’t need a lot if you eat a regular healthy diet like avocado, salmon, cashews, and dark chocolate.
As a Black woman, what do you consider your superpower(s) to be?
Discernment, intuition, and knowing when to shut up.
If you could thank any Black woman for her contributions to history and society, who would it be and why?
Harriet Tubman. Toni Morrison. More recently, I think she’s a history maker in so many ways, Viola Davis. I absolutely love and adore her. She’s another one that has stuck to her artistry and creativity throughout the years. It’s just a reminder that we have that within us if we just sit still, be still, and trust ourselves in our spiritual life. For me, it’s God, but just that level of spirituality to know what to do, how to do it, and when to move.
Interview edited for brevity. Watch the full interview below.
