Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2021, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know Shakirah Bourne and can offer your support.
Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Observant, funny, determined, curious, and ambitious.
Curious. I am constantly examining and trying to understand the world around me. I am that person who would try most things at least once, just to see what happens. It’s a trait that manifests itself in my creative writing since I’m always eager to experiment with different narrative styles and genres.
Explain your book’s journey—how long did it take—from idea to publication?
In October 2017, I decided to enter a children’s book writing competition on a whim, three weeks before the deadline, and so I came up with the concept and wrote the first draft in that timeframe. Four months later, I was a finalist in the competition and had signed with my agent. I spent the next year revising the book and officially got my offer from Scholastic in June 2019. The book comes out in July 2021, so that is approximately four years from idea to publication.
Balance is the key to successful living. How do you balance the act of writing with other priorities, such as your job, family or fun activities, and self-care.
I’ll be honest and admit that I struggle with balancing my writing and doing self-care. I write full-time but having more time to write does not automatically equate to more productivity. I had to learn to forgive myself when I don’t meet my goals because frustration and guilt do not lead to productivity either. I try to schedule daily tasks, including activities like mediation, exercise, and “do nothing” time, and take breaks whenever I get overwhelmed.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
I know Caribbean and Black readers will be delighted to see themselves and their culture reflected in this book and be excited to see these characters just being adventurous, mischievous, and having fun. They will want to enter a new character’s world and get lost in their story—follow them along on their journey and see how they overcome challenges. I think about the books I wish I could have read when I was younger and understand that even as the story addresses difficult themes, my audience needs to be entertained and engaged.
Tell us about your book.
Josephine Against the Sea is an MG Contemporary Fantasy about 11-year-old cricketer Josephine, who is very overprotective of her widower Dad and sets booby traps for his dates to keep them away. Her tricks work until she meets Mariss, a mysterious jewelry vendor who appears out of nowhere and sweeps her Dad off his feet. But soon, she discovers that Mariss is not human and has to convince everyone of her true nature before it’s too late. It’s a Barbadian book about a single father-daughter relationship, Caribbean folklore, and overcoming grief.
Josephine Against the Sea
Scholastic Inc. | July 6, 2021 | MG | 304 Pages | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Shakirah Bourne is Bajan author and filmmaker born and based in Barbados. She once shot a movie scene in a cave with bats during an earthquake but is too scared to watch horror movies. She enjoys exploring old graveyards, daydreaming, and eating mangoes.
Connect with Shakirah Bourne
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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