Following up on her 2007 novel My Mamma, My Teacha, Loretta Watson has reprinted There Is Hope, her 1996 book of poetry. For every copy sold, one dollar goes toward the Shirley Coleman – Loretta Watson Creighton Court Scholarship Fund and will help a child from Creighton Court pay for a portion of his/her college expenses.

From her site:

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Loretta Watson grew up in Creighton Court housing projects in Church Hill. She attended Woodville Elementary School, East End Middle School and graduated from Armstrong-Kennedy High School (Armstrong Building) in 1984.

Inspired by her love for children and determination to overcome obstacles, Loretta earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Virginia State University. In 1989 she began her career as a sixth grade teacher at Newsome Park Middle School in Newport News, Virginia.

In 1995, Loretta returned to Richmond to continue her teaching career. She taught sixth grade at East End Middle School, the same school she attended as an adolescent. She currently teaches sixth grade at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School (formerly Mosby Middle School) and serves as a cheerleading coach.

Loretta is a member of Mt. Gilead Full Gospel International Church. An outstanding role model, Loretta was actively involved in the Big Brother / Big Sister Program sponsored by the United Way.

Loretta is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is married to Nuzelle Watson, Jr. and they have one daughter, Shaune’ Watson.