Lyric's Lenses : Xulon Press : 9781498440615 : 1498440614 : 24 Jun 2015 : Toya Lorraine Gooden received a BA Degree in Communications from Mid America Nazarene University in 2003. Presently, she is pursuing certification in drug addiction counseling as she continues her writing career. Her first book, Beneath My Perceptions was published in 2007. Toya has been a columnist for local newspapers and she is a motivational speaker with the Jackson County Family Court where she speaks to troubled teens. Toya has received numerous awards for her volunteerism including the Volunteer of the Year Award from Jackson County Family Court and the Don D. Sewing Prestigious Service Award for outstanding commitment and service to Friends of Yates, Inc. Toya is very purpose driven. She knows her limitations do not define her. While she had kidney failure and on dialysis, she took advanced college courses, attended modeling school, and received a kidney transplant. Despite these challenges, her determina