“What’s Your Story?” is a guest post feature on BCBA’s blog. Indie/Self-Published authors are invited to write about their books, writing journey, creative process, inspiration, rewards and challenges of publishing, etc. They can go in whatever direction they choose. We are excited and grateful for their willingness to share, and we hope you enjoy our guests’ stories. Go here for more WYS? posts.
As a child, I read books, lots of books. I was always that kid who could be found sitting in a corner in my own world, lost in the words on each page. From Nancy Drew to Judy Blume, I read what was available at the time and started to notice none of the characters looked like me.
When I became an adult, my taste in books changed (I started reading dramatic, women’s fiction by writers like Danielle Steele and Jackie Collins) and got extremely excited when I finally found an African American author, Terry McMillan, who wrote about characters relatable to me. After reading Terry McMillan, I decided to put my pen to paper and created my first adult novel in 2002. Writing adult fiction became my first love, with two additional adult novels to follow as well as contributions to three award-winning adult anthologies.
While signing copies of my books at a book signing, a reader made the comment that she didn’t read but would like to buy books for her grandchildren. It was then that I decided to tap into the children’s and YA/teen market.
I released my YA/teen novel, Mulatto Girl Aggie, 13: Name on the Ledger in 2017 after having a deep conversation with my daughter about the movie Roots. My daughter couldn’t understand why the slaves wouldn’t fight back and take over since they outnumbered the slave owners. A lightbulb went off for me and I thought, “What would happen if a teen from the present day is forced back in time 200 years as a slave and had to survive?” Mulatto Girl Aggie, 13: Name on the Ledger was born.
My children’s picture book, Shirleen and the Shoes, was inspired by the social media comedian Shirleen. I would watch her comedy skits, and one thing that always stood out to me was her white shoes. In Shirleen and the Shoes, Shirleen takes a walk in other people’s shoes while learning about their professions.
What’s next? A children’s book for boys so they can see a character who looks like them!
