The Flint Festival of Writers is excited to host acclaimed children’s author and Flint resident LaTashia Perry as its 2019 featured reader.
Perry is the author of the Kids Like Mine series of books and the creator of the 4 Kids Like Mine brand, both aimed at empowering black and brown children to value and love themselves as they are through positive self-images.
In anticipation of Perry’s reading, we asked her about her passion for instilling self-confidence in children and how she approaches the writing process. Check out her answers below, and mark your calendar for Perry’s featured reading at 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14 at The Ferris Wheel at 615 S. Saginaw St. in downtown Flint.
Your “Kids Like Mine” series of books aims at empowering kids through positive self-images. Why did you turn to writing to do this? What power do you think books have to make this sort of difference?
There’s a huge shortage of books featuring black and brown children. In order to keep children engaged and excited about reading, it’s important to offer them material they can relate to. Reluctant readers are more likely to pick up books with characters that look like them.
Fans of your work know that you wrote your first book, Hair Like Mine, when a little girl told your own daughter that her hair “looked funny.” What was your process like for writing such a book? Did the idea immediately come to you? How did you go about bringing it to life?
Initially I began searching for books with little girls that looked like my daughter and that discussed natural hair and celebrating our differences. When I couldn’t find one, I decided I would write it. I had no clue what the title would be or anything. One early morning at 3 a.m., I woke up out of my sleep and grabbed a notebook and pen. I began writing. I like to call it my “writing zone.” I just kept writing, and by 9 a.m. I had completed my book. As I read over the words, it hit me! The title should be Hair Like Mine!
What advice do you have for other Flint authors who might hope to share their stories in the way that you have? How would you suggest they get started?
Tell your story! Don’t allow fear and doubt to silence you. So many people are harboring amazing stories inside of them. Always remember, your story has the power to heal others!