Black Male Contemporary Characters in Series Books

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

I decided a few years ago to write a book series for males under the pen name P. Boyd. I did this to make sure that boys didn’t reject the book simply because the author happens to be female. My focus in penning this series was to ensure that African American males had contemporary stories about their childhood. They needed something positive to speak to their experience about being children in an ever changing world. At the time, I found no books that included young black males as characters willing to change their environment for the better. In short, my aim was to target the middle ground in literature where reality meets fiction. The result was a story that was crafted to include two African American male characters that decided to open up a detective agency. Their goal was to solve the petty crimes in the neighborhood. I wanted to craft the characters are brilliant, ingenious, ambitious, and curious. Some readers of this blog may wonder why I wrote this series. My answer is simple. In order to any child to believe they are worthy, they must be confirmed through the experiences they read about at school. Black males are no different. In order for black males to be confirmed as brilliant, driven, and ingenious, they must have those experiences confirmed in the literature.

Happy Reading!

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author 

Books for Black Males Beginning to Read

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

After careful research, I found there are only 3-4 authors that write series books for young African American males in grades 1-3. This is a problem considering there are very few book series written for African American males in the early grades. This is an issue considering early reading is the foundation for reading success. If black males have very few reading choices that include their experiences, how will they become successful readers?

As an author, I knew I had to do something. Therefore, I penned an unusual book series with African American males that are beginning readers as my audience. The Guardians of History is a sci-fi/historical book series about a family of mythical guardians that are charged with traveling back in time to ensure that certain moments in history take place. Key figures in African American history are highlighted in a historical fiction/science fiction format. I plan to pen more books in this series. I am excited about the impact of this series and the positive dynamic of the storylines.

Happy Reading!

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author   

Getting Girls Hooked on Reading

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

As a literacy advocate, learned a long time ago that the best way to get girls reading is to get them interested in a series book. Once they realize the joy of reading, they will seek out books they want to read independently. I highly recommend getting girls hooked on reading beginning in first grade through seventh grade. Series books are the best way to keep the fire lit on a child's desire to continue reading. For girls of color, the same rules apply. The issue is finding books they can read that reflect their images.


Happy Reading!

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children's Author

Black teen girls need voice in YA literature….

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

I love that there are at least five authors writing for black teen girls in the publishing industry. This is far more than what existed years ago when I was a child. However, it is just not enough. We need more authors, stories, and narratives that speak to the diversity of experiences of black teen girls. It is not until black girls complain about the lack of images, narratives, and availability of texts is when this is seen as a problem. The books just don’t exist on a large scale. Authors must continue to write a variety of fiction in order for black girls to engage in reading on a large scale. Also, the availability of those texts must remain a priority. Black girls must have voice in the literature in order to provide a more diverse and equitable view of their experiences.

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author

Positive black male characters are a must…

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

As a writer, I made a pledge to myself years ago. I vowed to create at least one book per year that featured a black male character as the main protagonist in the book. Why? Because when it comes to the children’s book literary world… black males are just invisible…

Sure there are occasional books here and there…

However, there has been no commitment to creating entire book series that feature African American males in abundance. I have searched high and low and out of the 400 series books that I found on the market. There are about two that include an African American male as the main character. I wrote three series which include African American male characters, and I will continue until the end of my career. Unless there is a concerted effort to create more books that feature diverse characters by authors and publishers…those books will never come to fruition.

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author  

Real experiences for real children

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

The hardest part about writing for children is making sure that I stay true to myself as a writer. I strongly believe in crafting stories that are realistic and speak to children’s experiences. I tried to make sure that I followed this thinking as I penned my installment about the rooftop club. At the time, I had never written a story from the perspective of the villains or in this case the bullies of the school. In this book, I attempted to include their perspectives and also to show what happens when bullies are reported. They don’t stop being bullies. They simply just retaliate and get worse. Many children go through this and don’t understand the language to communicate their experiences. It is my hope that children, parents, teachers, and caregivers see the importance of discussing this work. Diverse children need to read about diverse experiences.

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author

Diverse Books offer Realistic Experiences for Children

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

I wrote the Rooftop Club book series in 2006. It was long before I became a published author. My goal with the series was to write a series for African American boys and girls that they could relate to as children of color. I wrote the series and set it in the backdrop of a city. I chose Chicago, Illinois since it is my home. Also, I wanted to ensure that I wrote a children’s book that dealt with a serious issue that often does not get addressed. Therefore, I penned the first installment of the book series that deals with bullying among older and younger children. My goal through this work was to create a book that was realistic and helped children open up and have discussions about how they feel when these things happen. The response has been pretty good. However, each time I see a news story it makes me wonder whether my work could have helped open up dialogue about this issue. Bullying is a serious issue for schools and especially children of color that often experience this issue daily. The problem with most books on this issue is that bullying is limited to small incidents and doesn’t really reflect the experiences of the children going through this daily nightmare. This is why we need diverse books. Children need to see realistic experiences in books to help them navigate tough circumstances.

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author    

This way little girls of color can see themselves….

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

This way little girls of color can see themselves….

I remember when I first wrote the book, For those who stare at the moon. I wanted to pen a book that focused on the imagination of girls. My goal when writing the book was for little girls to dream beyond the stars. I used my cousin as a model by providing the illustrator of my book with pictures of her as a little girl. I felt my cousin was one of the most beautiful little girls I had ever seen in my life. Her chocolate complexion, long eyelashes, and almond eyes reminded me of the beautiful little girls I would see pictures of from the Motherland. I had my illustrator apply her likeness to the book and I felt her image was the icing on the cake of a great work.

It wasn’t until I went to get the book printed that I ran into a problem. People of all races began asking me to lighten her skin on the cover of the book. I refused because my goal was to show beautiful little black girls that our beauty comes in all shades. I ignored those requests, because after careful research I realized that there were few books on the market that dared to do what I had accomplished. I had created a book where the beauty of little mocha girls was celebrated and honored. I had made them exactly who they are…

As more books emerge in the movement to diversify books, I hope people will view this as a wake up call. We need books that reflect our children. How else will they see themselves?

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

How I began…

In 2007, I officially penned my first children’s book. It now seems like it was decades ago. As a diverse author, I now know so much more about the industry, being a writer, and my target market. My goal is to write high quality books that can be enjoyed by all children. However, my mission is to ensure that children of color have richer experiences than I did with reading. I remember going through the stack after stack in the library looking for books where I could see my reflection. It was just impossible during 1980 to find books about African American girls. I could say that it was just my library in my neighborhood that didn’t have books. However, after learning about children’s literature during graduate school, I quickly learned one undisputable fact. The books didn’t exist. Why was it so hard to create books that reflected my image, experiences or culture? These were the thoughts I had going through graduate school. Then it hit me…

It wasn’t up to someone else to produce those stories. This was my responsibility. This inspiration led me to a discovery about myself that allowed my imagination, mind, and drive to be set free. I look back on those times of disillusionment and I smile. If it were not for the bad experiences I had, I could never create good experiences for children. If it were not for the absence of experiences I had in literature, I could never have create the experiences that give children life.

Each time I write a page as an diverse author… Each time I read a page as a diverse reader…I find life between those lines…

I write, read, and breathe to make sure that every child has the right to do the same.

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author

Meet Author Shenell L.T. Bolden

Shenell L.T. Bolden is a Maryland native. She was educated in the Prince George’s county school system. Her Bachelors of Science degrees are in Biology and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry & Bioinformatics from Towson University. She earned her Masters of Science degree in Science Education from Morgan State University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Public Health. Shenell L.T. Bolden is also the C.E.O. of the Sweetest Serendipity. A company she started by using her skills as a scientist to create an all-natural skin care line. Noa the Little Scientist is her first book release in the Girls in Science Series. 

Where do you typically write?

Believe it or not, at home on the couch; I like to be comfortable.

Please tell us about your writing process.

I don’t really have a process that I particularly follow. My books have a STEM focus so once I know which experiment I want Noa to experience next, I build the story around the experiment.

Could you tell us a bit about your publishing experience?

This is my first published children’s book. Golden Butterfly Publishing has been instrumental in making this first time experience a great one.

What online sites/resources do you use?

None so far. Everything in the book is based loosely on my own personal experience.

Do you work with a writing partner?

No.

In what ways do you promote your work?

I reach out to schools and STEM educators in particular. I find that they will have the most vested interests given the subject matter. Although, I hope that more parents will purchase the book for their child’s private collection so that the first exposure to science or any STEM field is not at school or in the library.

Where do you find that most of your inspiration comes from?

My inspiration is my younger self. Noa’s character is loosely based on my experiences in science growing up. Although neither of my parents attended college, my father was tantamount to my success in school. I had his full support throughout school, throughout college, graduate school, and my pursuits toward the doctoral program. I lost my father late last year which delayed the book’s release; but even then he was very proud of me. Although, he did not get to see the release of the book and unfortunately will not see me cross the stage to receive my doctorate degree, he is still a major contributing factor to my writing process and to continue my mission to expose little girls to science at a young age.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/G_Protein

Blog: http://noathelittlescientist.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShenellLTBolden

Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KFUL3EM

Meet Young Adult Author D'Jaris Lindsay Jenkins

D'Jaris Lindsay Jenkins was born and raised in Columbia, SC where she currently still resides. She graduated from Blythewood High School. D'Jaris has always loved to write since she can remember. She grew up writing short stories and eventually grew to start writing novels. She enjoys helping people as is evident in her career choice as a Certified Medical Assistant. She loves reading other novels, spending time with her family and watching action and comedy movies. When she’s not working or with family she can usually be found writing or attending services at her local church, where she serves in Children’s Church and ministers to teenagers in the youth group. D’Jaris is also the mother of two girls Faith and Joy.

D'Jaris Lindsay Jenkins First Book Release.

Where do you typically write?

I write anywhere I can! Home and on my lunch break at work or any public place such as the library or Starbucks.

Please tell us about your writing process.

I usually get the main idea of the story. Jot down the main events that will take place and the goal to be reaches by the end. For the most part I write as God gives it to me.

Could you tell us a bit about your publishing experience?

I published through create space. It was an awesome experience along side my mentor. It was sweatless and very easy to do. It is however a very tedious process, nonetheless I enjoyed it every step of the way. It was exciting.

What online sites/resources do you use?

I normally use Google for any technical details I need to include in my novel. For instance my novel Cry Out, the teenager is being molested by her father do I researched what kind of behavior or personality someone in that situation would have.

Do you work with a writing partner?

I do not have a writing partner. I prefer writing alone.

In what ways do you promote your work?

I pass out business cards and use social media heavily to promote my work.

Where do you find that most of your inspiration comes from?

My inspiration comes from life experiences and things I see on a day to day basis. I like to deal with real life issues that people can relate to. I enjoy showing people that any situation God can bring you out of it.

Meet Children's Author Ryan Joiner

Author Biography:

Mr. Joiner is the consummate lover of reading. He can think of few activities more enjoyable. He’s equally passionate about inventing new ways to make reading fascinating and more accessible to children. He makes his home in Iowa. For information about Mr. Joiner’s books, contact him at:  ryanjoinerbooks@gmail.com.

Author Interview:

Ryan Joiner is an interesting author with quite a bit to offer the literary world. His forte is working directly with children to foster the love of reading. His recent children's release is gaining popularity. Therefore, we found it fitting to interview this author on the rise for our blogspot. You can find his latest release and interview below:

What are your favorite books?

There are too many to name. Probably 99.9 percent of the books that I’ve read fascinated me.

                             

What is your advice for aspiring authors or writers?

Read as many autobiographies as you can. That will give you the permission and the courage to write about your own life if you need it. You then privately write about your own personal life. As you’re writing on your life, your “personal” life-lessons and passions will emerge. This will be your material. Write about them-make them your genre- when you’re ready to write for the public.  

What are you best experiences as a writer?

My best experience as a writer was writing on my entire life. It’s how I found myself. It’s how I found my passions. It’s how I found my genre.

Do you suffer from writers block?

No. Writer’s block is an illusion. Brainstorming proves that writer’s block is nonexistent.

What are your current writing projects?

I am currently working on my Children’s picture book series called THE AMAZING THINGS THAT BOOKS CAN DO! It’s a four-book series.

What is the one thing that has surprised you the most during your writing career?

Elementary schools, Junior High schools, High schools, Community Colleges, Universities, book stores, and public libraries purchasing my mere Children’s picture book totally surprised me. In my mind, I’d limited my buyers to mere private parents and guardians-not public educational institutions.

What authors influence your work?

I’d have to say every author who I’ve read. Some authors helped me get my logic and reasoning right. Some authors helped me find myself. Some authors helped me confront myself. Some authors helped me confront the world. Some authors helped me understand the world. I’d have to say every author who I’ve read influence my work in some way, form, or fashion.

Do you ever suffer from writers block?  If so, how do you get past it?

I never suffer from writer’s block. Whenever I’m in need of ideas or inspiration, I simply brainstorm. Whenever I’m in need of energy to write, I simply rest. If I’m not tired I’ll eat or drink something healthy to pick myself up. Writer’s block is an illusion.

When you’re not writing, what keeps you busy? What are some of your favorite things to do?

Since reading is my most favorite thing to do, it’s what keeps me engaged. I also love patronizing bookstores and libraries. Spending time with family and friends is just as important and enjoyable. Nature’s my playground. I really enjoy sketching the illustrations of my books and dictating the designs of my books. There are a lot of things that I enjoy.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on my Children’s picture book series called THE AMAZING THINGS THAT BOOKS CAN DO!

What was the one book that most influenced your life and why?

How To Eat To Live by Elijah Muhammad saved my life. It was the book that introduced me to vegetarianism. It was the book that introduced me to fasting. It’s the book that taught me that less is actually more when it comes to eating. It’s the book that taught me that life isn’t all about physically eating. Ultimately this book led me to the life of energy which led me to life and living abundantly. For the sake of brevity-because I can go on and on and on about this book-I’ll just say How To Eat To Live is the one book that most influenced my life.

If there was one thing you could change about this literary journey what would it be?

I wouldn’t change a thing. Both the inspiration and the challenges have motivated me to keep going. I’m enjoying all the benefits that come from persevering.

You can find out more about Ryan by following his blog @http://ryanjoiner.blogspot.com/.

Meet Teen Author Patrice Sanford

Author Biography:

Patrice Sanford is a newly published teen author at Golden Butterfly Publishing. She is a California resident that loves writing. Her dream is to be a film producer, director, and screenwriter.  Her writing influences include Suzan Collins, S.E. Hinton, and Christopher Paul Curtis. Patrice is an avid reader of Realistic and Historical Fiction. Her love of reading is what made her desire to become a writer.

Over the years, Patrice has written many short stories. However, her first published work is entitled, Kenya’s Missing Book. It is a children’s book promoting teamwork and compromising. Without teamwork, Kenya J. Thomas wouldn’t have found her book. Kenya and her friends look everywhere to find her book, and had to change their technique multiple times. Read this work to see if Kenya finds her favorite book.

What are your favorite books?

My favorite books are anything by Cecily von Ziegesar, L. Devine or John Green. I also love Divergent and Catching Fire.

What is your advice for aspiring authors or writers?

My advice for aspiring authors or writers, would probably to have fun with your writing and don’t worry about what others have to say about it. I mean, yeah, you want them to read it, but for every writer, there’s a reader. If they don’t like your work, it’s not because you suck, but because your work just isn’t for them. Stay strong and stay creative.

What are you best experiences as a writer?

My best experiences as a writer are when I have a great idea and I go on with a great plot for a long time.

Do you suffer from writers block?

I actually do suffer from writers block sometimes. The times that I have it, are the most depressing weeks of my life.

What are your current writing projects?

I am currently working on getting myself situated and confirmed as an author, putting together the sequel to Kenya’s Missing Book, and finishing The Darcey- Anne Diaries and Jeremy the Great.

Fans can find out more about Patrice’s work by logging on to www.sywtk.blogspot.com. In order to purchase her book, readers can find her ebook wherever ebooks are sold. Please support this buddying author Patrice Sanford.

How to support a children’s author of color...

At first glance, this may seem like a crazy statement. However, it is a real issue within the publishing industry. Writers of color had to fight for years to get book contracts from reputable publishing companies. Many have had to meet quotas for selling books which has resulted in possible only getting one work published out of the fifteen or twenty they have already written. In other words, lack of financial support for a children’s author work can equal them ending their careers before they begin.

I distinguish between supporting an author vs. financially supporting a children’s author of color since they are fundamentally two different things. For example, support a children’s author of color looks like the following:

 

You might read their work, check it out of the library, and get them to do free book readings for children at schools.

However, financially supporting a children’s author of color looks like the following:

 

You buy their work with a purpose, write a review on your purchase, and get them to do paid visits to schools.

The latter will help build the career of an author of color. The former will take away from the professionalism of the author. I have heard for years that many children’s authors of color feel that their work is not respected. The authors are asked to give their work away for free or as a service. However, mainstream authors are rarely asked to do this unless they are Indie authors.

The lack of financial support of authors of color is why there are few books in this genre to choose from in the first place. All publishing companies function as a business. If the money is not there, it is assumed the audience and buyers are not there either. Therefore, why should you invest money in what essentially becomes a money pit?

It cost three times the amount to produce an illustrated children’s book than it does to produce a novel. Therefore, the investment needs to be there in order for the publishing companies to invest. Readers that want high quality books for their children need to invest in these authors in different ways:

      1.      We need more parents to buy children’s books from bookstores and online from authors of color.

2.      We need more parents to write reviews of these books.

3.      We need librarians to buy more books from children’s authors of color.

4.      We need more parents to set up blogs that feature children of color.

5.      We need more teachers to use books by authors of color in the classroom’

6.      We need more children to read books by children’s authors of color.

7.      We need more children, parents, and teachers to allow children to study authors of color in the classroom.

All of these things are a start and they are simple to do. These small things will guarantee that children’s authors of color will have access to readers and access to professionalizing their work.

Happy reading!

 

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author

Rashaun J. Allen Literary Blog Tour - Day 3

Meet Author & Publisher Rashaun J. Allen

After Rashaun graduated from SUNY Albany with his BS in Business Administration and The College Of Saint with his MBA. He decided to combine his educational background with his passion for writing. 5 years into his vision, Rashaun has two books of powerful poetry: A Walk Through Brooklyn and In The Moment and is also the founder of Royal Blue Publishing.

Rashuan has published paperback and electronic books, edited manuscripts for authors, and theses for graduate students.  He has facilitated workshops for poetry and entrepreneurship for schools, libraries and organizations. He has been quoted in publication throughout the capital region of New York: The Chronicle, The Troy Record, Albany Student Press & UA Magazine. His goals are to write novels, publish future writers, and inspire youth through his story.

 Rashaun J. Allen Interview:

What is the one thing that has surprised you the most during your writing career?

·         I received an email from a fan where she revealed that reading A Walk Through Brooklyn inspired her to pursue writing.

What authors influence your work?

·         Reading Maya Angelou “Why The Caged Bird Sings” encouraged me to want to write my story.

Do you ever suffer from writers block?  If so, how do you get past it?

·         When I am unable to create I move into a different aspect of writing. Usually, I will take the time to rewrite previous work to make smother. Or work on the arc the story I am trying to show.

When you’re not writing, what keeps you busy?  What are some of your favorite things to do?

·         When I am not writing I like to exercise and learn about my family history. I stay active by getting involved with Insanity or doing races like Color Me Rad. As far as family history I do research on Ancestry.com or take time to interview family members and pictures.

What are you currently working on?

·         I am currently working on childhood stories which will be part of a larger body of work.

What was the one book that most influenced your life and why?

·         Message To A Young Brother By Hill Harper. It just shared a lot of advice I could use to identify and solve issues I faced growing up as an African[American] male.

If there was one thing you could change about this literary journey what would it be?

·         I started writing and publishing in 2009. I would of took my writing serious sooner.

African American Literature for Tweens & Teens

Although, there has been considerable talk related to tweens and teens reading Urban Fiction this does not mean that those same teens would not read carefully crafted prose by Young Adult Authors. I am an avid lover of fiction, children’s literature, and nonfiction. However, I continue to read Young Adult fiction that crosses my desk from time to time. I decided to recommend three books that I have read personally, passed on to teens to read, and have heard rave reviews about.

 

Jacqueline Woodson – I hadn’t meant to tell you this & Lena

Sharon Flake – Who am I without him?

The Baby Girl - Key Rollins 

All three of these books offer great information related to struggles that teens have related to abuse, relationships, peer pressure, and friendship. I give all of these books 5/5 stars.

 

Happy Reading!

 

Tiffany A. Flowers – Author

www.goldenbutterflypublishing.com