Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Thompkins.
Hi Valerie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child, I grew up loving books. Being read to routinely then reading independently from an early age has molded me into a strong writer while creating many opportunities to earn an income. When my report cards came out, my dad and I would take a trip to Borders for a stack of new books. It was such a big deal for me and still is. Looking back, there were not a ton of children’s books about black kids. Not in my North East Ohio school district or in the local bookstores. In October 2020, I wrote the manuscript for Girls Like Me in just a few days. I hired my illustrator, started my social media pages, and began telling as many people as possible that I was creating a book so that brown girls could see themselves represented in a main character role. Representation matters and I am on a mission to increase the children’s literacy rate. All children deserve to read about people who look like them.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Writing my children’s book was the easy part, but putting myself out into the world in the way that I have was a challenge early on. Social media exposure can bring an outside audience to your platform, and I have learned via my comment section on Instagram and TikTok that not everyone has a positive reaction to diverse and inclusive children’s books. Once my book was published, I struggled to develop a strategic marketing plan to create awareness, gain media attention, and generate sales. Sales grew steadily and then after a few months, I was planning content weekly and my social media community began to blossom in a matter of days.
The majority of self-published books do not sell more than a few hundred copies in their lifetime. This was intimidating to me at first because authors who do not have an agent or big name representation have to work harder for the same exposure. I learned that your friends and family are not your targeted audience, everyone else is.
Early on, I didn’t realize I was starting a business. I became an accountant, graphic designer, publicist, and more. Doing all of this while balancing my 9-5 can get overwhelming as the sole employee. It takes a lot of discipline and project management to get it all done.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am proud to be an author who creates diverse books for children. I am on a mission to improve the child literacy rate by making reading fun and increasing the representation of black and brown kids. I am known for my social media marketing, I have over one million views on TikTok and have been able to gain traction through Instagram Reels as well. I share free game for authors, provide book recommendations, discuss careers, and share all things related to black girl/woman hood.
Girls Like Me has a brown-skinned, natural-haired, white coat and stethoscope wearing, little girl on the front cover. My book not only features diversity, but it has a development aspect and explores careers such as an astronaut, architect, surgeon, and engineer– illustrating that natural hair belongs in every profession and setting. Women my own age have expressed a variety of emotions, the desire to have a book like mine growing up and feeling sparked by the encouragement to pursue their dreams, even from a children book. I know I am making a difference because I have three years old declaring they want to be a computer scientist when they grow up. Moms share that Girls Like Me has skyrocketed their daughter’s self-esteem and made them feel comfortable wearing their natural hair after feeling the desire to have straight blonde hair like their peers.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I give great thanks to my illustrator, Abira Das. A book cover is monumental for a children’s book, as are illustrations seeing as though little ones are brand new to reading and comprehension. Abira understood my request for a little girl with brown skin and black girl features, especially the natural hair. Little girls flip through the pages and truly think the little girl on each page is them pictured as a pilot in the sky or an attorney in the courtroom. Also, I thank my parents. They read to me every single night from the time I was a baby until I could read my own chapter books. I would not have my passion for reading and writing without their intentional guidance. Reading took me to spelling bees, speech and debate competitions, to my Master’s in Business, to authorhood. Reading is a fundamental skill that every child deserves.
Pricing:
- 12.99 on Amazon
- 16.99 signed copies on my website
Contact Info:
- Email: read@authorvaleriethompkins.com
- Website: www.authorvaleriethompkins.com
- Instagram: authorvaleriethompkins
- Facebook: authorvaleriethompkins.com
- Twitter: valtheauthor
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Like-Me-Valerie-Thompkins/dp/1736182900/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=girls+like+me&qid=1638758593&sr=8-1#detailBullets_feature_div
Image Credits
Wynning Shots Photography took my studio portrait.
