Thanks everyone for stopping in, spreading the word and passing along the joy of reading!

Paula, best wishes on your upcoming books and kudos to you for providing reading material to an audience that is under-represented.

I liked the DRB series. I was able to get a couple of my younger cousins interested in reading by using this series. So kudos to you and your ability to write a series for the youth that is interesting, entertaining and filled with messages on teen life. I can’t wait to tell them that you will be doing a new series. Any more clues as to what it will be about? Inquiring minds want to know. LOL.

Brenda

Other sites that are multicultural though not necessarily AA:

G.R.I.T.S Kids
Shen’s Books
Lee & Low Books
Worducopia Blog
a wrung sponge Blog
Crazy Quilts.

If you want more info and links come by Color Online or write me: cora_litgroup@yahoo.com

Color Online is supporter of Paula. We have her books in our physical library, our Prize Bucket and we have featured her works in many of our posts. If you are interested in finding works for young girls and teens visit us and the two teens I mentor. They are teens of color bloggers.

To find books you’re looking for, I highly recommend you invest time in reading book blogs. Most don’t promo POC but that’s changing and by reading book blogs you will find blogs like Color Online, Reading In Color, The Happy Nappy Bookseller. and Taste Life Twice. We all promote works for children and YA and we all are committed to POC writers.

It’s out there, most people just don’t know it and in many cases (sadly) the books simply aren’t distributed as widely as they should be. But at least The BBS gives you a place to start and know what to ask for. So we’re dedicated to being a resource that provides that information and networks with others interested in spreading the word.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. I will admit that I haven’t had a chance to read your works, however I plan to change that and soon. From the interview and the discussion I’m truly intrigued and love reading series!

As I continue to swim through the literary world, I keep asking myself the same question-If it’s difficult for me as an adult to find works that I like how is it for young person or child? Author’s like you and a few others are making it a easier. It’s nice to know that there a few out there concerned with issues such as diversity. Let’s face it we live in a diverse world daily.

I plan to check out the Brown Bookshelf in a bit, as I’m also intrigued about what you said about the site. I do have a question, is there a bookclub for young readers associated with it?

Thanks again,
Jaime

A few years ago, Varian Johnson and I were admiring the success of ReaderGirlz, a site dedicated to books that more or less showcase strong female characters. We thought a site like that showcasing African American characters was necessary. So we gathered up a few writer friends and launched The BBS.

The site serves multiple purposes: one is to highlight books by brown authors who are flying under the radar of librarians and any person who considers themselves a gatekeeper to a child’s reading choices. And let’s be honest, that’s most books by authors of color. The second purpose is to promote the books by Brown Bookshelf members, that’s myself, Varian, Kelly Starling Lyons, Don Tate and Carla Sarratt.

For two years we’ve worked hard to find authors deserving of the spotlight and we highlight them during Black History month. Each author and illustrator gets a day usually it’s an interview or a book review. While we need the spotlight on little known authors we also use the month to pay homage to veteran children’s authors of color because without them there would be no newbies.

It’s fulfilling work and a true labor of love. We take time away from our own writing and promo to launch 28 Days Later (the February initiative) but it’s worth it. It’s our way of paying it forward and paying back, all at the same time.

The covers…I understand, though I really like the graphic ones more, for the same reasons you listed. I have mixed emotions when I go into the children section of bookstores & libraries and here lately, it’s really been bothering me the lack of books featuring POC or characters who are more than just a quick stereotype mention in a book. But, today is not the day for me to get on a rant, so I’ll stop here.

Tell us more about The Brown Bookshelf and your co-founders.

-Tee

-Tee

Tee, LaShaunda and Susan you ladies have supported me and my series repeatedly and I can’t thank you enough for that. The key to a book’s success is all about awareness and access and you have exposed your site’s visitors to my books time and time again. Now the access, well that’s out of all of our hands. But I appreciate the love!!

@Tee: Right now, the DRB series is “behind me.” I say it that way because, first books are like first children – you’ll only have one first. So it’ll always be something I promote and talk about. But creatively, I’ve moved on. I’ve started a stand alone novel that deals with the fragile relationship of a mom and her bi-racial teen. I’m in the crush stage with the book and am really in love with it, right now. All I want to do is write and write but reality dictates otherwise. Still, I’m so excited about it.

As for more series from me. Count on it! I wanted to do a stand alone because I need to challenge myself. Also, in order to make the dough, I think it’s in my best interest to show that I can do things besides series work. But I already have a second series sketched out, totally unrelated to the DRB series. I plan to tackle it once this latest novel is finished and (hopefully) sold!

re: my covers…short version, Kensington felt the photo covers would appeal more to Af-Am teen readers. Though I too loved my graphic covers and wanted them that way to appeal across racial lines, the business person in me felt like if photo covers is what it took to sell the books then it had to be done.

-Tee

Paula is also our first writere featured in our Women Writers of Color Series.

Looking forward to following the tour.

Good interview. I’m so looking forward to introducing my daughter to your books. I’m also excited to know that this generation have books like yours to read. My younger years we didn’t have books that featured characters that looked like me.

Thanks for what you do, I appreciate it.

But, time flies! I remember receiving your first book in ARC format and getting excited over the whole YA series. I can’t believe it’s done, but I hope to see some spin-off books or series come from it. Is any of that in the works? Also, I really loved the design of the first two covers. Why did the whole look change and have you seen a difference in how the book is received since the follow-up books came out?

-Tee