How long have you been writing and/or illustrating?
I've been writing since junior high or middle school, basically since I was 12 or 13. I started with poetry and basic rhyming - no free verse. I remember I wrote a poem about Dr. J called, "Adulation of the Dr." I remember it went something
like this:
Flies through the air
With the greatest of ease
Does a windmill dunk
Brings the crowd to their knees
Hair floating, flopping
As he rises up high
Can't nobody block the Dr.
No matter how hard they try
Although none of my illustrations are in this latest publication of "My Afri-bets Learning Book," the first publication showcased my talent. The reason I decided not to include them with the new edition is because I wanted the children to be able to fully interface or interact with the book. It doesn't matter how well
they draw, what is more important that they feel good about what they put on paper. Whether it is drawing or cutting and pasting, the end result is their creation from start to finish. However, from an artistic point of view, I've been drawing at least as long as I've been writing, if not longer. I started out tracing Marvel, D.C. super heroes. In my high school yearbook I was voted
most artistic. In college, I had to fall back on my artwork to up my GPA. Now that's another story. But I guess in terms of years, I've been writing and drawing since I was a teenager. In fact, when I was in the eleventh grade I one second prize at a poetry contest. For my second prize I met Roberta Flack and
was given three albums. I've been an ardent fan of hers ever sense.
If you did not draw your pictures, tell us about the illustrations. Who drew
In this particular book, I did not include the illustrations that were originally in my first publication. The cover was a combination of cutting and pasting and looking for a design that children could relate to more so than parents.
Can you tell the AACBWI readers a little about your current activity book, "My Afri-Bets Learning Book?"
"My Afri-bets Learning Book" is an activity workbook that seeks to engage the child, teacher and parent in the learning exercise. It teaches history and African-centered concepts through the use of poetry. It also provides writing and vocabulary building exercises, including the introduction into a little Ki-Swahili.
I came upon the idea when I was looking for a similar book for my son who was about three at the time. There were quite a few ABC books out there, but most were fairly simple in nature, i.e. A is for Apple, B is for Boy. Being a teacher at an African-centered school then, I knew I wanted something far more interesting and involved than that. The create talent in me kicked in about
then, and "My Afri-bets Learning Book" was born.
The poems are very positive, uplifting and informative. Children learn a little about Africa, where most of the world's gold comes from, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, and of course about the importance of mothers and fathers, and their own voices. One of my favorites is for the letter "C."
C
Is for us children
With our little feet and hands
We like to play on swings
And build castles in the sand.
C is for us children
Our laughter fills the air
C is for us children
We grow
We dream
We dare.
The drawing, or cutting and pasting exercises associated with each alphabet also allows for self-expression. It is important for children to know that first of all, you don't have to be a "Artist" to draw, and secondly to be involved in their learning. Allowing them to draw, cut and paste and color, allows greater interaction with the book, and the lesson. Again, it allows for them to be as
creative as they desire to be.
Just as importantly, "My Afri-bets Learning Books" requests and requires the teachers and adults to get involved too. The vocabulary was designed to bring mom and dad into the process. Parents can read the poems long before the children can. What I'm imagining here is that lap time that Dr. Francis Welsing
reminds us of which is so critically needed as young ages.
How did you come up with the title?
Well, Afri-bets ABCs was already taken, and that would have been perfect. Since "My Afri-bets Learning Book" is more than just about associating pictures with ABCs however, I just combined the Africentric with the ABCs and Learning holistically to come up with the tile. The " … Learning Book" conveys action. I want students to be actively involved in the learning process. I also want parents and teachers to participate and enjoy with the children, not just send them off to the corner and read. That's the Learning principle or aspect of it.
What is your opinion of today's African-American children's writer and/or illustrator?
Well, I really have nothing but good things to say really. I believe there is enough room to grow however. I believe from a writing point of view though, we do not challenge our children enough. We either write to urban, displaying little style, metaphor, plot, character development, relationship to African-centered principles, or we write on such an elementary level, that
although the character are black, the situations could really be anybody. But I think that's more me, and what I am looking for in a story. I want them to be able to compare and contrasts characters, understand different points of view, understand character changes and development and relate issues or themes to past, present and future.
I actually love most of the illustrations, especially those that have used professional illustrators. What I have found though, unless a writer hooks up with an art student maybe, or someone they know who will cut them a deal, professional illustrations can be even more expensive than even editing.
Please tell AACBWI readers about your publishing accomplishments.
I've been busy in the past years. Self-publishing has allowed me to write and publish with very little expense. Since January 2004 I've published seven books, five of which I wrote myself. "My Afri-bets Learning Book" and "Pictures Poetry" and "ABC's" are two of my early education books. "Pictures Poetry" and "ABC's"is the mainstream version of "My Afri-bets Learning Book". These poems are not Africentric, but the exercises are similar.
"Menfolk Talk'n" is for the young adult or teenager. It is a collection of poems and a short story. The short story is about a teacher who teaches at an African-centered school in Washington D.C. The teacher is reflecting over the loss of two former students from street violence.
Rounding out the selection is an Internet compilation I put together. A student of history, I found so much useful information on the Internet, however, the information or Web sites of course is varied and hard to find. With African-centered Reader 1 and II, and Dr. Jefferies Reader, I compiled various
articles relating to Africentrism and Dr. Leonard Jefferies into a book for those people who do not necessarily want to spend all day reading the articles on the net.
What other projects are in the works for you?
I have a few projects in the wings. The most demanding and perhaps the one that is dearest to me is a soon to be released High Expectations: Blueprint for an African Centered School. This book is three years in the making and covers 440
pages of material. It is a book designed as a reference guide or workbook for educators, parents or community groups who have decided to take back education and start the process of Nation building. It portends to be controversial because I dare to say that not only is the education system in crises, but is
has always been designed to keep our children mis-educated, culturally mis-oriented, and products to provide low-cost labor for the status quo. In short this means that a black child reading at the sixth grade level is all you really need to find low-skilled work, or become frustrated and end up in prison or in the streets. Our children are doing exactly what society is programming them to do, which is to reject family, community, and to be able to critically think for themselves. It is an age of individualism, a "My prerogative" era, and "Expectations: Blueprint for an African Centered School" is a blueprint to
stop this cycle.
BTW, I am also working on establishing a consortium of African-American writers, editors, publishers, printers, and graphic artists and illustrator. I want to form a "functional network" not a business card network, where we refer people and receive small referral fees (or services). The key here is to utilize the
talents that we have as a people while helping each other out at the same time. The referral fees or bonus can be as little as 5% of the client's fee, or maybe a discount on services provided to the referrer. Again, it's about putting our own network to work, not about passing out business cards.
Please give AACBWI readers some advice about publishing children's books, whether it's through a traditional publisher, print-on-demand, vanity, small press or self-publishing (obtaining your own ISBN).
I'm probably not the best one for advice, but what I can say is what I have read and heard other experts say, know your market. Go to the books stores and look for children's books of the type you have in mind. Note the language, style and
price. Ask yourself, do you want it to be a reader or an activity workbook. Look at the prices and the artwork. Understand that self-publishing usually means you have to do all the marketing, from press releases to setting up book signings. Self-publishing also is, but not always, synonymous to POD or print on demand. You can still be a self-publisher and have excellent distribution
channels. Also, a traditional publisher can always pick you up later, although this will require a new ISBN number.
A thing about ISBN's and Copyrights. These you can do for yourself, although many publishers, including POD will take care of them for you at cost. What I did is the research. Copyright is less than the $95 most publishers want to charge, and ISBN's less than $45 to $100. The key with ISBNs is ownership.
They connect a book with the author and publisher, so if you own your own you generally are the publisher. For major Bookstores, this may be a disadvantage because you as an individual are an unknown. Also, getting it into databases such as Books-In-Print might be an issue, i.e. costing a few more dollars.
Getting into databases really is essential to distributorship because these are the databases that Bookstores use to order and look up information. That's why POD with distributorships such as LULU, are good for first-time self-publishers. For as little as an extra $45 dollars you can get into the major databases, but remember, you still have to do your own marketing. BTW, it goes without saying that authors should maintain their copyright at all costs, unless of course they are getting Terri McMillan money, and even then they may want to think about it.
Now, I know that is a mouthful, and I know I just glossed over some areas, but the one thing I can say is do your homework, ask as many questions as possible, get a good editor...(trust me, don't do it yourself) and try your book out on other children, not just your family.
Thank you so much for speaking with AACBWI!
Tell AACBWI a little about your history in publishing:
Well, first of all, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. My history is short and sweet. I was challenged to try writing a book after my friend Damon saw a play I wrote and directed for a children's ministry, "Kids In Theatreland" I spend a couple of years putting it together, shopped it around with zero success and decided to self publish it. That's it. I did the typical first time thing and didn't plan it out like I should have but the response has been great, more than I ever dreamed.
I noticed from your Web site that you are the head writer for your children's theatre ministry. Is there a relation between Corinthia's character and your ministry writing?
Well, the basic message I tried to get across in the productions I wrote for KITL was that a relationship with God can be fun, it can be cool. It can be the most wonderful thing in the world to happen to a child. And it was a real blessing to see so many children touched by the entertainment of our plays and the message. I wanted to continue that mission on in some fashion after KITL disbanded and that led right into CORINTHIA.
I did decide to bring back one of our production stars, the Christian superheroes Faith & Hope, as a back-up feature in the CORINTHIA books. In fact, I?m adapting the production THE FIVE DEMANDMENTS as the next Faith & Hope story.
What would you say is the one thing people understand most about your writing?
I think folks appreciate that, despite some of the more fanciful stuff in the book, CORINTHIA is a very realistic and heartfelt tale of young girl learning how to walk with the Lord while running with her friends. I don?t write down to the audience and Corinthia doesn't come off as a preachy know-it-all or a snobby brat. She?s the average girl next door...who can fly.
What would you say is the one thing people understand least about your writing?
It?s not a religious book, not to me anyway. I don't do "religion." I'm not out to promote one organized religion over another or demean anyone's faith or anything like that. There are Christian themes that run through the book that are truisms of all religions but at its core, CORINTHIA is a great book for all children, period.
Tell us about the illustrations of Corinthia
If you could see my daughter Olivia and her girlfriend Tiffany, you would see Corinthia. I just melded those two together: Corinthia's body and face is based on Tiffany and her ENTIRE personality is Olivia. I just talk to her and the story writes itself.
What is your opinion of today's African American Children's writers or illustrators?
I sincerely believe that the most original literature being produced by African Americans today is in the children's field. It's bold, challenging writing that excites kids, imaginative and entertains their soul unlike anything else on the Black literature shelves.
That's all I'm gonna say about that...today.
Have you been in contact with traditional publishers?
When I'm closer to wrapping up the second book, "The Cool & Dr. J," later this year, I plan to shop CORINTHIA around again. Being more creative than business-minded, I would much rather have a publisher doing the heavy lifting for me than going solo. But I'm prepared to do it again if need be. More of CORINTHIA will definitely hit the stands in Spring 2006.
I noticed that the bible inspired you to recommit your life back to Christ. Is there any particular story that captivated you to take the plunge into eternal salvation?
You know when you think about it, you are constantly recommitting yourself to God because we all sin and are sorrowful afterwards and beg the Lord's forgiveness. My father's passing in 2004 rocked my world and straightened my walk. My fire was rekindled after attending the Youth Adult Network Conference in Christiania earlier in July and listening to the powerful Apostle Robin Christopher.
But the bible story that stays on my mind is Jesus, as a child himself, speaking to the clerics in the temple in Jerusalem. I just enjoy the imagery of God, in the form of his most innocent creation, extolling his teachings to those who "preach" in His name. "Out of the mouth of babes" indeed.
I bet you have a fun and playful personality and it's said that most everyone has a 'child within.' What age does your 'child within' begin and end?
Wow, my child begins at age 10 and ends at age 10! I can't get enough of Justice League, anything Batman, love me comic books and animated movies. I keep ALL of the old Schoolhouse Rock tunes on the IPOD; VERB ? that?s what happening!
I am definitely a certifiable loose screwed little boy sometimes being raised by my 11 year old daughter! That's me!
Please give AACBWI readers some advice about publishing children's books, whether it be through a traditional publisher, print on demand, vanity or small presses self-publishing?
It sounds simplistic but...JUST DO IT! You'll be glad you did and sorry you didn't!
OH, if you can help it - by all means - DO NOT use Print On Demand publishers.
Thank you so much for speaking to AACBWI!
Thank you and thanx for having me @ AACBWI.
How long have you been writing and/or illustrating?
I have been writing for more than thirty-five years. I wrote my first poem while I was in high school, but I was interested in poetry in grade school. I do not illustrate my books.
My upcoming book, "Dontay's Dog" was illustrated by an illustrator whom I have never had the pleasure of meeting, Bonnie Everett-Hawkes. She was only going to do the bookcover, but after reading the storyline, she illustrated the whole book. I am looking for a traditional publisher for this enjoyable picture book about my grandson, Dontay and my dog, who I gave to Dontay after he moved out of my house. If I do not find one, I will self-publish this one also.
Can you tell the AACBWI readers a little about your upcoming/current book?
Right now, I am reading & signing two of my children's books, "Dontay's Alphabet Book of Color" and "Dontay's Poetry Playground." The first book I mentioned, is a non-fiction book that is a tribute to celebrities of 'color' from A-Z. It is an excellent book for adults as well as children, one that should be in every household library. My other two love poetry books, are SOLD OUT. The 2nd book listed is a poetry book for children of all ages. The poetry is mostly rhyme, but there are several poems that are free verse. It sells very well and it comes in two versions, black & white and color
Please tell AACWBI readers about your publishing accomplishments.
I have been fortunate when it comes to my publishing accomplisments because I write in more than one genre. I have won several contest, winning 1st-5th places.
I have published short stories, poetry, essays, and books. My work has appeared online and offline. If you put my name in a search engine, you will find my poetry all over the Internet.
Some of the magazines that my work has been featured in are: Skyline Publications, Weeones, Mature Living, & Purpose. I have been selected as "Poet of the Month" & "Poet of the Year" at www.poetryinacup.org. and also at:www.sormag.com. Poetry will always be my 1st love, but I am concentrating on publishing the more than a dozen children's books I have written. I am working hard in submitting my work to traditional publishers because children's books in color are just too expensive for me to self-publish.
Please give AACBWI readers some advice about publishing children?s books, whether it be through a traditional publisher, print on demand, vanity or small press self-publishing
The best advice I can give regarding publishing children's books is this: start out self-publishing your books, this way you can learn some valuable information on how hard this business really is, that way you are saving time and hardache when you receive all the rejections from traditional publishers.
Read a lot of children's book and publisher's catalogs to see what they publish and what they are looking for.
Be very selective as to who you send your submissions to. I try to find the smaller publishers that are in cities other than New York. I feel I have a better chance in getting my books published.
I think it is just a matter of time before I find the right publisher for my books. Endurance is the key!
Thank you Sabra for giving another African-American children's author a chance to be heard and known.
It is all about helping each other in getting our much needed work out there. Continued success to you.
