Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberley Gross.
Hi Kimberley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a storyteller, even before I knew what to call it. Writing has been a constant in my life—first as a personal outlet, then as a way to process my experiences, my culture, and the world around me. Over time, that love for storytelling led to a small but meaningful body of published work, including a book co-written with a friend and several children’s books created in collaboration with my daughters.
My journey hasn’t been linear. I’ve written while working full-time, raising a family, and moving through seasons that demanded my attention in different ways. Surviving breast cancer was one of those turning points—it didn’t suddenly make me more prolific, but it did make my relationship with writing more intentional. Storytelling became less about output and more about meaning, healing, and legacy.
Today, I continue to write and journal daily. I’m still in the process of shaping what comes next, creating thoughtfully rather than rushing production. Where I am now reflects persistence, reflection, and a commitment to honoring my voice—even when progress looks quieter than expected.
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?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to sustain creativity alongside real life—working full time, raising a family, and managing responsibilities that don’t pause just because you’re a creative. Time, energy, and focus have often been stretched thin.
Another struggle has been navigating progress at a slower pace than I expected. There were moments when I questioned whether I was doing “enough,” especially in a world that often measures success by visibility and output. Learning to trust quieter seasons—to keep writing even when I wasn’t publishing—took patience and a shift in mindset.
Health challenges also shaped my journey in ways I didn’t anticipate. Surviving breast cancer forced me to slow down and reevaluate what mattered. It reminded me that creativity doesn’t always move in straight lines and that rest, reflection, and healing are sometimes part of the work.
Even with those challenges, I’ve continued to write and reflect consistently. Those quieter, less visible seasons have taught me patience and helped me build a deeper relationship with my creative process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work centers around storytelling in its many forms. I’m a writer and creative who focuses on stories rooted in reflection, culture, and lived experience—particularly stories that center Black families and Black women. I write across genres and formats, including collaborative books, children’s stories created with my daughters, and personal journaling that often becomes the foundation for future projects.
In addition to writing, I’m also a book collector and reseller. I curate and sell books with a strong emphasis on Black authors and culturally significant stories, which feels like a natural extension of my creative life. Collecting and circulating books is another way I stay connected to storytelling—by preserving stories, placing them in new hands, and keeping meaningful work in motion.
What I’m most proud of is the way my creativity is rooted in intention rather than volume. I continue to write daily, even during quieter seasons, and I’m committed to honoring the process without rushing it. Collaborating with my daughters on published books is especially meaningful to me, as it represents both creative legacy and shared storytelling across generations.
What sets me apart is that I don’t see creativity as just production—I see it as stewardship. Whether I’m writing, journaling, or curating books, my work is guided by care, reflection, and respect for the stories we tell and the ones we pass along
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Consistency has been the most important quality in my journey. Even when progress has been slow or less visible, I’ve continued to show up—to write, to reflect, and to stay connected to my creative practice. That steady commitment has allowed me to keep my voice intact through different seasons of life.
Equally important is intention. I don’t create just to produce; I create to understand, to preserve, and to give meaning to my experiences. That combination of consistency and intention has helped me stay grounded, even when the path hasn’t been clear, and it continues to shape how I define success on my own terms.
Pricing:
- $7-10 for individual books
- $14-24 for book bundles
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/shauntobi
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shauntobibooks?_r=1&_t=ZT-92pVjxoBQAx
