Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2022, 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 Dorothy H. Price and can offer your support. Go here for past Debut You features.
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Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Creative, determined, persistent, loyal, and friendly.
The one word I’ll expound upon is persistent. I have been an aspiring children’s author since around 2009. Over the years, I faced mountains of rejection. But I never quit. I never took the noes as the final say on my becoming an author. I knew writing was my gift, and if I kept pressing forward, the publishing doors would open. And they have. But I still receive plenty of noes, so I’m far from finished. I’m just getting started.
Explain your book’s journey—how long did it take—from idea to publication?
This chapter book series is the result of rejection for another story submitted to Capstone in 2021. The editor declined my original story, but since the city setting was similar, asked if I had an interest in writing a chapter book series instead. Of course, I said yes! That’s how Jalen’s Big City Life came to be a four-book series publishing on August 1, 2022.
Belief in oneself is important; besides you, who has been your cheerleader(s) throughout this process?
Besides myself, my immediate family, friends, and writing partners have been my true cheerleaders. I’ve belonged to a few critique groups since 2010, and so many of us were unpublished back then. But we all persisted, and many of us are published with multiple books today. Having a support group of writers has made the biggest impact on where I am today.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
This series is for boys and girls who know city life like the back of their hand. But it’s also for those who have never experienced or been exposed to all the nuances of city living. And there are many. For example, doing laundry. Laundry Day Overload will show readers what it’s like to do laundry in an apartment building. For many children, that concept is foreign. I hope this series encourages children to learn, laugh, and grow from reading about J.C. and his friends’ adventures.
Tell us about your book.
Jalen’s Big City Life follows seven-year-old Jalen Corey Pierce’s life in the big city. Between adventures with his two best friends, Amir and Vicky, and new experiences with his family, J.C. is always learning new things and exploring city life. Jalen’s Big City Life centers on realistic adventures in a city setting and teaches important lessons, including kindness, responsibility, sharing, and respect.
As for additional stories in the pipeline, yes, there are more. Unfortunately, I can’t speak about them yet, but hopefully, they will be public very soon!
Jalen’s Big City Life Chapter Book Series (Picture Window Books, August 1, 2022, illustrations by Shiane Salabie)
Friendship Flowers | Museum Mix-Up | Sharing the Mound | Laundry Day Overload
Dorothy H. Price loves writing stories for young readers; her first picture book, Nana’s Favorite Things, is proof of that. A 2019 winner of the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program, Dorothy is also an active member of the SCBWI Carolinas. She hopes all young readers know they can grow up to write stories, too.
Connect with Dorothy H. Price: Website | Instagram | Twitter
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