3.What has been the most rewarding part of writing “Kwame Crashes The Underworld.” A: I would probably say school visits. As a children’s author, I’m offered several opportunities to visit schools and present my books, discuss being an author with the children, and do all this in an en- gaging, colorful, and splashy format. Being able to connect with kids, especially kids that look like me or kids that went to the same schools I did, has been a beautiful experi- ence. Kids have such capacity for empathy and energy, and I always leave school visits feel- ing replenished.
4.What challenges have you faced in the publishing or business world that you feel are specific to being a Black creative entrepreneur? A: This is a good question. Before I had an agent, I did a good amount of re- search into publishing. I saw that there were some authors who got pushback from their publishers about writing books featuring non-American mythologies. Some had publishers who were reluctant about publishing stories about Black characters. Some authors had marketing teams who balked at the idea of having a Black character even featuring Black characters on the front of the book. (Apparently, some authors say they’ve been told that having a Black character on the front of the book can limit sales in certain parts of the country.) I’m happy to say this has never been my experience. I was intentional about my publishing team; my agent, my editors, and my imprint are dedicated to repre- sentation in children’s literature. Even the things I couldn’t control, like publicity and marketing, have people in those roles that are also committed to making publishing more accessible. So, my experience within my publishing team has been nothing but positive. Outside of the industry, though…there will always be people who discredit Black stories and Black art. I just remind myself that my voice comes from a place of love for my community—their voice seems to come from a place of hate.
5.Where do you usually write, and how does your environment affect your creativity? A: I can honestly write anywhere that’s quiet. As long as I have space to think and time to put it on the page, I can knock out a lot of writing. I find that if I’m in a more active area, my mind lends itself to fight scenes, chase sequences, anything that is more chaotic and colorful. If I’m in a more serene space, the calm helps me think about the plot, conversations, and reflections on a deeper level.
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