I am a wife, mother, educator, and now new author. I have been
teaching for fifteen years. Writing children’s books have always been a
dream of mine. Working with children for years and having two
children of my own provided the insight that I used to help write my books.
My family and I have lived in several different states over the years. I’ve lived on the east coast, in the south, and currently reside in St. Louis, MO. with my husband and two daughters. Originally from Springfield, Ohio, I am happy to be back in the mid-west. Volunteerism is a passion of mine and over the years I’ve worked with several amazing organizations like the YWCA, Girl Scouts, Junior League, and Jack and Jill of America just to name a few.
I grew up in Napa, California, raising a family with a now grown son and daughter who are my rocks. My life partner of 13 years is my best critic as he is always willing to share constructive criticism in regards to my writing (when requested of course). Lol I worked in law enforcement for several years – later being offered a full-time position at my local district attorney’s office. While the pay was great, I always felt there was something missing. The wine industry in Napa was booming and the population grew to immense numbers with wineries being the staple point, wine bars on every corner and the tourists were more catered to than the locals. I started to miss the old small town Napa I grew up in and needed to make some changes in my life for this and other health-related reasons.I moved from Napa to a quaint country town in Lake County, up in the mountains, high above Napa. I spend endless hours in my writing cave (which overlooks the lake),especially during this unfortunate pandemic.Here, in my writing cave, I create my stories (both novels and children’s books), editing,formatting and marketing each book after endless hours of author forums, webinars and zoom meetings in order to improve my niche.
I also ghostwrite, format and market books for others, treating each story as my own. My latest venture has been to create a Book Marketing Plan for future authors, which provides everything they would need from the beginning stages of the process to the end. Between writing projects and marketing, I am a criminal court reporter for my local newspaper. While I enjoy keeping my local community versed on the crime in my county, I am blessed to balance my brain with the lighthearted stories from within my heart along with stories forwarded to me for edits and formatting.
Life is good.I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am grateful for all of your support!
I am a mother to three little turkeys ages 5yrs, 3yrs and 1.5yrs. We have lots of fun reading books and doing art projects and generally playing outside. We live in the Cayman Islands with our dog Breezy.
Q: First tell us something about yourself?
Well, I was born in SE Washington DC, by a single mom who struggled to make sure I had the necessities in life. As an only child I spent a lot of time imagining things that I could become. I loved Reading, TV, Film but most of all Comedy and Dogs. Growing up in the PG County MD and DC was rough but it made me appreciate a good struggle which I never knew would prepare me for the road to come. Long story short, I joined the DC Improv Comedy School and before you know it, I was performing on the biggest stage in DC. Won a Standup Comedy Competition on Ourstage.com; found myself on DC101’s Elliot in the morning for an interview; 94.7 Tommy McFly’s Show for a voice over; appeared in a Washington Post Weekend Section and a Food Network Show (Dinner Impossible) which coincidentally led me to filming my own pilot show for Food Network that never aired. I never thought anything like this could happen to somebody like me. While doing all of that, I was volunteering in an animal shelter working my way up to what’s called Quarantine spending a lot of time learning how to deal with dog behavior especially fear and aggression. For the last 8 years I started an advocation for Pitbull Awareness, took in two amazing Pitbulls (Chloe and Jordan, both with AKC CGC Accreditations); help rehome animals and I run around helping people change the behavior of their dogs.
Q: How and when your journey started as a writer?
When I moved to the United States I didn’t know how to speak English. I went to a very good school located in the New York suburbs and they had a good English Second Language program. We spent a lot of time on creative writing.
Q: When did you write your first story?
Is it published or not? I wrote my first (Young Adult) story when I was in College student. I kept the manuscript for many years because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to publish it. I have since decided that the story needed to be told so it will be published in early to mid 2021. Please follow me on social media for updates.
Q: Tell us something more about your books?
My current book “Mommy, I Need My Wheels” is a story about a young boy named Eddy who just realizes that his training wheels are missing. He doesn’t think he can ride without them so he is begging his mother to put them back on.
However, Eddy’s mother and father are not letting him give up. Even as he tries and falls, his parents continue to encourage him to keep trying. This book is also published in Haitian Creole “Manman, Mwen Bezwen Wou Mwen Yo” because I think it’s important for children to learn to read in other languages early.
Q: Why do you choose kids as your reader ? is there any specific?
I am a mother to three young children and they love to read. My oldest child can read a young adult book in one day so I wanted to create something they could appreciate.
Q: How did these stories and characters come to your mind?
My middle son was three years old when he learned to ride his bike without
training wheels. I remember watching him trying and falling in our backyard and then one day, he did it. “Mommy, I Need My Wheels” features an interracial family. You see, Eddy and his mother are black but his father is white. I have an interracial family and I wanted my children to see our family in a book. When they see the pictures, they don’t ask any questions related to race because it feels normal to them that Eddy and his father have different skin tones. When people see my book’s pictures, I don’t want them to get caught up in the characters’ race, I want them to simply see a family enjoying their lives.
Q: Do you want to give any message for your readers?
Read as many books as you can and keep an open mind. Try to expose yourself and your children to diverse books as much as possible. There’s just so much to learn from those who appear to be different from us.
Q: First tell us something about yourself ?
I am Anthony Newland and I was born and raised in South London. After completing a degree in criminology I have worked many roles ranging from customer services to roles within the criminal justice system. I have always been creative and wish to fill the world with my best and favourite ideas.
Q: How and when your journey started as a writer?
I have enjoyed writing since I was a child in primary school. I would often write short stories and even wrote and acted in plays for my family at family gatherings. I was always an avid reader and would often read books above my age range which I believe stemmed the birth and growth of my writing journey. Over the past ten years I have written plans for novels, short stories, poems and also music. “When Cow Lost Her Moo” is my first published story and is the first step in my official author journey.
Q: When did you write your first story? Is it published or not?
“When Cow Lost Her Moo” is my first children’s story but I have written a number of short stories and other mediums over the years. After writing this story I felt it was the right time to release my work into the world. Starting in children’s literature was never initially my intention but after writing this story it felt right and very special to me.
Q: Tell us something more about your books?
This is my first story but I have many ideas ready to go and intend to follow this story up soon. So keep your eyes peeled!
Q: Why do you choose kids as your reader ? is there any specific reason?
The reason I was inspired to write this particular story is the many inspirations around me. There have been an influx of young children within my family and I am inspired by them constantly. Watching them grow and build their personalities is fascinating and has been very surreal to me. My wife is a primary school teacher which is also a huge inspiration for me. She has supported me through the entire process and this has helped me take this direction.
Q: How did these stories and characters come to your mind?
Interestingly, when I write stories I usually plan them out in my head first starting from genre, to basic story thread, with characters and titles coming last. This story however took a very different process. I was sitting on a bus thinking what should my next story be about? I remember feeling a bit lost and having a moment where I had a lack of inspiration. Then the title “When Cow Lost Her Moo” came to me and skipped my usual steps of storytelling. It is a title I then sat on for some time before fleshing out the plan and story structure. I believe how I felt at the time inspired the title but overall it was one of these ideas that you pluck out of the deeper unexplored parts of the mind. As if gifted to you by a third party.
Q: Do you want to give any message for your readers?
The message I want to give is that without a doubt in life there will be moments in which we lose ourselves. Moments in which our “Moo” is missing. However there is always light at the end of the tunnel and finding ourselves is a matter of self-exploration and belief. Always use the tools around you but most importantly always believe you can!
Q: First tell us something about yourself ?
I grew up in the suburbs in an affluent, Caucasian community in the Bay Area (peninsula) of California. I was always 1 out of 5 African American students at my school. My classmates would continuously ask questions about my hair and skin color. Oftentimes, I would downplay my identity to fit in. In first grade, I remember that I wanted to be a part of this “all-girl” group.
I had to be wearing pink to join this group. Luckily for me (I thought), I was able to find a very small hint of pink in my shirt. Sadly, one girl pointed out that I wasn’t White, which meant I was banned from the group. I was only six years old, and this broke my heart into pieces. It was one of my first encounters with racism.
How and when your journey started as a writer?
In the summer of 2019, I thought it would be great to propose the idea of writing a book with some of my old college friends. Unfortunately, our schedules and circumstances didn’t align for us to collaborate, so I started my book journey solo. My family, students, and my own experiences are what motivated and inspired me.
When did you write your first story? Is it published or not?
I published my first children’s book “Best in Me” on June 7, 2020.”Best in Me” is truly my labor of love.
Q: How did these stories and characters come to your mind?
I was moved to include my daughter, Justice, in the book to show her that she is perfect just the way she is, an agent of social change, and very much loved by me. One day when I’m not physically here anymore, “Best in Me” will serve as a constant reminder for her. Her name “Justice” speaks for itself. Similar stories like my own inspired me to develop the characters Ciara, Jacquelyn, and Sharonda in “Best in Me.” My cousin Sharonda who lives with Cerebral Palsy, also inspired me to write this book. She’s highly educated, an accomplished businesswoman, and mother. Like many students, being a victim of bullying made her school experience very challenging.
Why do you choose kids as your reader ? is there any specific reason?
I strongly believe that enhancing students’ school belonging is of paramount importance for students’ overall success and self-efficacy. To truly grow, we have to be willing to accept and tolerate the differences in one another. As a teacher, I challenge my students to learn about and build positive relationships with others who don’t look like them. With great intention, I have dedicated my entire teaching career to serving the underprivileged and marginalized Black and Brown communities because the little Black girl in me still cries inside.
Q: Do you want to give any message for your readers?
“Best in Me” is a short, multicultural, picture book of poetry that celebrates children of all backgrounds. This book covers the themes of race, cultural understanding, tolerance, acceptance, friendship, and self-esteem. It is full of optimism with a powerful message: “Stay true to yourself, regardless of what others say or think. Discover and/or rediscover the BEST in you!”
Q: First tell us something about yourself?
I love children’s books! They hold a very special place in my heart. Many complicated concepts in life that we often struggle with well into our adult years are beautifully, and succinctly described in books for kids. From kindness and empathy, to jealously and anger the simple yet carefully constructed words in children’s books have always provided me with a compass in life. I find they are great resources to help give kids and adults guidance as well as allow our minds to travel to faraway lands and imagine incredible creatures, scenarios and adventures. I believe helping foster a child’s imagination is one of the best gifts we can give them!
Q: How and when your journey started as a writer?
My professional life has always included writing. Early in my career, I started a medical marketing company. My job included writing columns and articles for industry publications. During this time I also authored and co-authored three marketing text books. I’ve loved writing my entire life and have always been passionate about expressing myself through written communication. Restaurant
Q: When did you write your first story? Is it published or not?
I wrote My Blank Page when I was pregnant with my first son in 2017. It was an adventure that came to life in my head as I thought about how we all have the power to transform a blank space into anything we can dream. It was published in 2019 by Ashland Wells Publishing.
Q: Tell us something more about your books?
My Blank Page is a fun story for children to read and also a great tool for moms or teachers to use as a lesson plan or to get kids engaged in an activity. The book encourages imaginative play and also directly asks the reader “what would you do with a blank page. ?” The story prompts the readers to grab paper and explore, dream, and create.
Q: Why do you choose kids as your reader ? is there any specific reason?
I am passionate about imaginative play and asking readers of all ages to think and create. With technology and phones having a constant presence in our lives, I felt this story would be a great way to show children the most powerful tool we can have is something that is within us all already and we just have to tap into our creative energy to fuel our imaginations.
Q: How did these stories and characters come to your mind?
Much like the child in the story, the story came to life as I grabbed a stack of blank pages and began to create. As I made the objects the boy does, the adventure and words unfolded in front of me.
Q: Do you want to give any message for your readers?
By encouraging kids to use and hold onto their creative talents, you are doing more than passing the time with play. You are helping them grow and develop crucial life skills. My hope is that the book I created can spark at least one creative thought in the minds of the children in your life. Whether they finish the story and want to draw, make paper airplanes, or embark on their own pirate adventure, my wish is that this book can interrupt a TV show or video game long enough to encourage children everywhere to exercise their creative muscles and dream.
Q: First tell us something about yourself ?
I was born and raised in New York City. I have a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and taught English for 15 years. I love to sing, shop, help the less fortunate, travel and spend time with my family.
Q: How and when your journey started as a writer?
I loved writing and creating my own stories since I was a child. During teaching, I would create stories with my students spelling words. The students would always love the stories I created and encouraged me to write my own book last year in 2019.
Q: When did you write your first story? Is it published or not?
My first book called Super Spots was released in October 2019.
Q: Tell us something more about your books?
My first book is about a girl named Nia, who has a skin condition called Vitiligo. She is a positive girl that loves to create songs that rhyme and teach others about her skin condition. During the pandemic, I wrote 5 books, so I am now the author of 7 books.
Super Spots
7 Days of Prayer for Blended & Unblended Families
DING! When reality calls you answer
Counting with Korey & Kamiyah
Colors with Korey & Kamiyah
Community of Dads
Silent Call to a Bright Future
Q: Why do you choose kids as your reader ? is there any specific reason?
I love to encourage young people to read as often as possible so I chose children as my audience.
Q: How did these stories and characters come to your mind?
I am living with Vitiligo and it has not always been an easy journey. Some children can be cruel when they see people that are different. I desire to teach children to accept their differences and the differences of others in my writing.
Q: Do you want to give any message for your readers?
My message to readers “Be comfortable in the skin that you’re in an Be unapologetically yourself.