Daily Inspiration: Meet Shayla McGhee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayla McGhee.

Hi Shayla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always had a passion for writing and reading books. When I was a little girl, I enjoyed creating my own characters and sending them on adventures in the pages of my notebooks. My elementary school teacher noticed my love for writing and asked me to complete a project about Phillis Wheatley and Maya Angelou. Learning about these phenomenal, black female authors only increased my desire and passion for writing. I loved the fact that Phillis Wheatley was known as ‘the sable muse’ and decided to name my publishing company in her honor. Thus, Sable Inspired Books was born.

My daughter and I co-wrote our first book after we took a trip to London. She enjoyed this adventure so much. I asked her if she would like to write a book about her summer adventure in London to share with others. She excitedly said yes and Payton Goes to London was published!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am not sure if any entrepreneurial journey is completely smooth! Learning all of the ins and outs of self-publishing was a definite challenge at first. Researching book sizes, finding credible editors and illustrators, and determining which company to use in order to print my books was overwhelming in the beginning. Marketing can also be one of the most important, difficult, and time-consuming pieces of the publishing puzzle, especially when figuring out productive ways to attract my target audience.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Sable Inspired Books is a publishing company with the goal of producing imaginative and inspirational literature that highlights black characters and culture. Writing should be inspirational and reading should be fun. We aim to accomplish both in an enjoyable way.

For example, our current series, Payton’s Amazing Travel Adventures, is about a six-year-old girl that loves to travel to different countries with her family. Besides being an educational and entertaining way to introduce children to different places around the world, the series also aims to build curiosity for travel among young children, increase the number of black characters in books, and inspire other families to explore the world with their little ones.

In addition to children’s books, we publish coloring books, journals and create a variety of fun products such as swimsuits, pillows, bookbags, and postcards that feature diverse characters. Our company also offers coaching sessions for individuals interested in self-publishing their books.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Characteristics that are most important to my success are Perseverance~ You have to remain steady in the publishing world, regardless of all of the bumps along the way. Sometimes things become frustrating and you just want to throw in the towel. That is when you simply breathe, take some time to readjust, and continue working. Perseverance is also important throughout the writing process. Some people have a hard time working through writer’s block. Inspiration is not always going to come easily. Sometimes you just have to write through your stuck point. Otherwise, you will never get your book finished.

Patience is another important characteristic. Your first book may not become an instant bestseller. This is where marketing and patience come into play. You have to keep working, marketing, and networking to become successful.

Lastly, I would say that you need passion. Be passionate about what you are doing and remember why you are writing and who you are writing for. Your passion and drive make the journey fun, even when it is difficult. Be proud of your daily accomplishments and celebrate those small wins. The bigger ones will come.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: sableinspiredbooks.com
• Instagram: @mcgheepartyof5 and @sableinspiredbooks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sableinspiredbooks
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Shayla-McGhee/e/B08NY5F8ZN