-The SCBC, Inc.

Where are you from?

I was born in Chicago, IL, and have recently moved back there after living in New York City for several years.


When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing round about the age of seven. I think I started writing because I was such a bookworm as a kid. I loved to read, and writing seemed like a natural extension of that. As soon as I opened a book, ideas would start bouncing around, like firecrackers being set off in my brain. I felt compelled to write them down. It was the only way to have a little peace and quiet inside my head! Also, I was a shy kid. Writing gave me access to any number of fantasy lives and experiences-I could imagine what it would like to be the popular girl, or to live in a world completely of my own creation. Writing made me feel powerful.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Once I started writing, I knew that writing would always be a part of my life. But I began to consider the possibility of becoming a professional writer as a sophomore in high school, when I had my first poem published in a magazine. At that time, I also had an after-school job at a branch of the public library in Cambridge, Ma, where I had the good fortune to be around book people-librarians, readers, and authors-who, in addition to encouraging me to write, taught me a great deal about the business of writing.

Why did you choose to write children's books? What age range do you
write for?

I think of myself as a nomadic writer, which basically means that I dabble in all genres. I've written poetry, creative nonfiction, articles, and I'm working on a novel. However, I am especially drawn to picture books, because I've always loved the wonderful pairing of art and words. Also, for most kids, picture books are their first entrée into the world of reading.

I would like for my books to be a kind of welcoming force; one that helps to usher kids into this world and to feel at home, so that they will want to continue to read and explore the vast terrain of books and imagination. The three picture books that are currently on the shelf, I Love My Hair!, Bippity Bop Barbershop!, and Joe-Joe's First Flight, work well for ages 4-10. However, I think readers of all ages will be able relate to and enjoy these stories.

What do your books offer African American children?

Growing up, I didn't see very many images of people who looked like me or the people in my family and community in the books that I read. Though I was still able to enjoy and learn from these books, there was always that part of me that wondered why this was so. In my own books, it is my hope to write stories that capture the diversity and richness of African American life, and to create spaces where African American children can see themselves and their experiences reflected and celebrated. But my goal is to do this in a way that is not heavy-handed or didactic. I just want to spark creativity and curiosity, and encourage kids to simply enjoy being a kid.

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?

Although I read a lot, and learn a great deal from other writers, I find that my greatest influences often come from sources beyond the literary world-not that anything is beyond the literary world, because literature is made up of all the things of life. I am strongly influenced by music, jazz in particular, film, nature. I am drawn to artists who constantly push and expand the perimeters of their work, who experiment and take chances, even if the result is less than what was hoped for. It is important for me to keep moving and growing as a writer-maybe that's why I'm always trying my hand at different genres. I think there is a lot of room for experimentation in children's literature. I'm very excited about some of the work that's been produced recently by both authors and illustrators.

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?

I was fortunate to have parents and teachers who encouraged and nurtured curiosity and exploration from a very young age. I was just thinking the other day about all the things my siblings and I did as kids. My mother made sure that we had a variety of experiences, from ballet to world travel. I am so thankful for that, because I think it instilled in me a sense that the world is full of endless possibilities, and that I have a right to take advantage of every one of these that I can. I think a lot of kids, especially African American children, grow up without that sense of entitlement; they feel as though the world belongs to everybody but them. For example, I lived in a neighborhood in New York City where the kids never left the block, even though Central Park was right around the corner. I always had the feeling that they and their parents felt as though they didn't belong there. This notion is often underscored and encouraged by the larger society, but I think it is our responsibility to address it in ways that are within our control. Which is why, in my writing, I want to shift the paradigms, so that African American kids can see themselves and the diversity of our experiences as a norm. Hopefully this will help them to recognize and envision the vast possibilities that exist in their own lives.

How did you come up with the title, "I Love My Hair"?

I Love My Hair is a story that celebrates creativity, uniqueness and the bond between mother and daughter. The title just seemed to capture the energy and exuberance of the story, in a way that was very simple-in a good way- and direct.

What is your favor children's book?

I love so many books for so many reasons, it's hard for me to narrow it down to one or even a list of favorites.

What tips can you give children want to become writers?

Read! Read! Read! Then, write, write, write!

Write about your life, or the color of the sky, or your brother's foul breath, or how the world would be different if you were Ruler of the Universe, anything that keeps your pen moving across the page. The hardest thing about writing is getting yourself to sit down and face the blank page. The more times you subject yourself to this agony, the easier it gets, and the more the words will begin to flow. Don't wait for inspiration. Whenever possible, talk to your teachers, librarians, parents, grandparents, booksellers, and whoever else will listen about writing. Hang out at the bookstore and look in the newspaper to find out when authors are coming to town to read and talk about their work, and get someone to take you to these events. It's important to surround yourself with supportive people, because writing is a hard and solitary business.

Find a few people, or even just one person, you trust to read your work, and don't be afraid to show it to them. Young writers-and older ones for that matter-are often afraid of putting themselves out there and being rejected, but that's part of the process. You know that old saying, "no pain, no gain?" Well, it is especially true with writing. You've got to do the work and then release it into the world. That's the only way you ever reap the rewards of publishing, if that's what you're after. I still get rejections-often. But you can't let that stop you. You've got to believe in yourself and trust that thing in you that makes you want to write-even if it makes you stick out from everybody else. Think of it this way, anyone who makes you feel bad about pursuing your dream, probably doesn't have one of their own. They'll end up being a cashier at Barnes & Noble one day, wishing they'd been nicer to you every time they sell one of your books-which will be every ten minutes. The possibilities are endless!

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything?

No, I can't say that I would.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with young readers?

Keep Reading!