Arlinda tells it like it is, good, bad, or beautiful.

Don't expect sympathy, cuz she'll only give you the truth.

​

Arlinda Willis spent a lifetime proving herself to the world, family, and friends, only to find out she was just enough as she was. Her authorized biography, For Once in My Life, publishes August 27, 2026. But you can get your free copy today for an honest review.

BONUS! Get your free printable collection of Arlinda's Bowl of Truth meditation game, plus exclusive updates about Arlinda's soon-to-be-released biography, For Once in My Life: The Life of Arlinda Willis by Rob Cole.

​

What People Have Said

Love all the specifics on locations and restaurants (I'm an OG San Franciscan and remember most of those places).
Pia Hinckle
I really like how you weaved the history of Black people in America into the story--Arlinda’s journey reflects it well.
Judy Judge
You have excellent prose and great descriptions. The care and deep respect that Rob has for Arlinda is conveyed very well. It is apparent early on that they share a strong love of food. Arlinda is a very interesting person with a fascinating history.
Alina Pitman

​

Bowl of Truth

  1. Sign up for the newsletter.
  2. Download/print the PDF.
  3. Cut the paper into slips, like a fortune cookie but better.
  4. Fold and place them in a bowl.
  5. Read one as needed.

​

For Once in My Life

In 1963, eleven-year-old Arlinda leaves Alabama's Jim Crow racism to reunite with her mother. Convinced she must earn her love through achievement, she becomes a national TV dancer, Miss Black Cleveland model, and San Francisco legal secretary. But each fleeting accomplishment only deepens her belief that love must be earned.Unemployed and enduring a medical system that devalues Black women's pain, a cancer diagnosis strips away her independence and her carefully constructed image of strength. Left with nothing, she must finally prove she is lovable without the performance.

Publication date: August 27, 2026.

​