Some of my earliest memories are of elementary school when I would pass on playing outside for recess so that I could stay in the cafeteria or on the sidelines to read or write poetry like Maya Angelou. I always used to save my birthday money so that I could buy books from the Scholastic book fair. So many of these stories are familiar to authors who have dreamed of writing since a very young age. They are memories that turned into aspirations.
I immigrated to the United States in the 80s with my family from the island of Jamaica and was always a kid who loved the arts. I drove my mom crazy in the way that only kids can with constant after-school meetings, drama club rehearsals, and the many other activities I wanted to be a part of. If I could choose how to spend my weekends, I always wanted to go to the library or see the latest film starring Denzel Washington. In college, I interned at many companies to understand the world of media. After I graduated, I applied for editorial positions at publishing houses in New York City, but soon gave up because I needed a job, and I could find something else quicker. Sometimes that’s just how life is; student loans need to be paid, and you’re pulled into adulthood and corporate America. It’s both a blessing and a curse because those experiences teach valuable lessons that inspire everything you write, but you never forget those “soul callings” and inklings that keep calling you back to what you really want to do.
I think if nothing else, this year has taught us that we need to take advantage of the present moment more than ever. So finally, after losing my job in May 2020, I decided to use my downtime while job searching to start my own independent publishing company. Clarendon Publishing is named after the parish in Jamaica where my family is from, and through it, I published my first children’s book on November 11, 2020, which highlights my Jamaican heritage.
Sundays are the Best is a touching children’s book that showcases a sweet weekly ritual between a young girl Sasha and her grandmother Mama as they make precious memories, cook up delicious Jamaican Sunday meals, and share unforgettable stories week after week.
Portia Perkins | Shereen Said | Clarendon Publishing | November 11, 2020 | 32 Pages
Portia Perkins is a proud Caribbean American from Jamaica who earned a Communication Arts Degree from St. John’s University in New York. After building a career in advertising, she decided to follow another passion, writing children’s books—but not just any children’s books. Her dream is to write inclusive books, featuring a diverse cast of characters so that children from all walks of life can see themselves and others like them on the page. When not writing or plotting her next book, she can be found with a mystery or suspense novel in her hand.
Connect with Portia Perkins and Clarendon Publishing about her books and future projects!
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