Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Luttery.
Kimberly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I established Azure Dusk Publishing, LLC because I wanted to share inspiring stories with early readers that have a positive impact on how they perceive themselves and interact with others, especially African American children and other children of color identified as BIPOC, which is Black Indigenous and People of Color.
The BIPOC reading community is an underserved audience in the children’s book genre. I passionately believe that books with diverse characters should be in the hands of children from all backgrounds to promote character diversity and inclusiveness.
My first book entitled Grandma Had a Grandma Too was inspired by the relationship between my mother and niece who was about 4 years old at the time. I wrote a poem based on their relationship because it was so heartwarming to watch their interactions. I decided to turn those moments into a story. That is what ultimately led me to start my own publishing company. My other titles include I am Wonderfully Made, a book about self-esteem and loving yourself, and Grandpa Had a Grandpa Too.
My love for fiction began at an early age with writing short stories and poetry. I spent much of my career working with non-profit organizations that focus on family and children, but always maintained my passion for creative writing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s a lot of talk and data about the lack of diversity in the children’s book genre and how things need to change, but unfortunately, it has not changed very much in recent years. An annual study provided by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides diversity statistics. The study was established in 1994 and the most recent statistics are for 2022. The data shows that of the 3,450 books that they received about 13% were written by African American authors, 14% of the books were about African American characters; 11% were about Asian characters, and less than 7% were about Latino characters. About 50% of books feature white characters, and 27% are animals or other objects. Any quick Google search will provide these statistics.
I did some research on traditional publishing and initially went the route of querying literary agents. The rejection that goes along with taking this path can be deflating, and as a writer, I understand that it is part of the journey. Yes, it stings a little to hear the word “no”, but I had to learn not to take it personally and not let it impact my confidence as a writer. I realized that I could take my writing projects into my own hands and self-publish my work.
The journey to where I am today was not easy, but so worth it. I got here through a lot of hard work, reading, and research to understand the children’s picture book genre. I am extremely proud of the books that I have written so far. These interactive children’s books contain universally appealing stories for children ages 3 – 8 years old, but older children and adults love them as well. The simplicity of the language is perfect for reading aloud as a bedtime or anytime story.
So many people today are doing their own thing career-wise, and I love that. I believe that is a big win for creatives because we can sometimes feel depleted and incomplete when we work outside of our passion, and there is always that little tap on the shoulder telling us that we should be doing something else. I’m happy that I’m able to do what I love and be in control of my own story.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I want to tell impactful stories that children will remember into adulthood and share with their children and grandchildren. I believe what sets me apart is the passion I have for telling stories that speak to the heart, the joys of being a child, and that reflect the simple experiences that people have growing up that turn into cherished memories. I was blessed enough to have had a wonderful childhood full of love from my parents, brother and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and extended family. I can remember vividly the times that we shared, and I get much of my stories’ inspiration from those moments in my life. To me, these experiences are universal, no matter where you come from. I’ve been told by adult readers that my books help them recall moments from their own childhoods, and that motivates them to focus on creating memorable experiences with the children in their lives. As adults, we sometimes forget that we were once kids, but being around children and seeing the world through their eyes reminds us of when we were young and looked out at the world with great optimism.
Each of my books includes activity pages that engage the readers to write down information about themselves and their families. For example, the Grandma Had a Grandma Too and Grandpa Had a Grandpa Too books include family trees that young readers can complete with an adult family member who can help them with their family history. I am Wonderfully Made includes an affirmations page with statements like, “I am awesome”, “I am talented”, and “I have a purpose”. I also have companion coloring books where children can color and an activity page with instructions on how to do art projects and share kind words with others. All of these things reaffirm the book’s mission of self-love, as well as sharing love and positivity with others.
More books are coming. I’ve written quite a few stories that I cannot wait to share with the world, and I want my readers to cherish these books and see them as keepsakes to pass down to future generations.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something surprising about me is that I’m a 5’1″ Black woman who’s over 50 who loves scary movies and fiction. As a teen, I dragged my friends to the movie theatre to watch scary movies, and I still love them to this day. My favorite author in this genre is Stephen King. He is a master at storytelling in a way that makes you pull the covers over your head while reading. Many of his classic stories like It, Misery, Carrie, and Cujo are based on reality, and they are so well written that they give you pause.
What I’m trying to do for my readers is what he’s done for me. I want my readers to take my stories with them into adulthood and share my stories with their kids. Books that evoke emotion are the books that stay with you.
Pricing:
- Grandma Had a Grandma Too – $9.99
- I am Wonderfully Made – $10.99
- Grandpa Had a Grandpa Too $12.99
- Grandma Had a Grandma Too Coloring Book – $4.99
- I am Wonderfully Made Coloring Book – $4.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimberlyluttery.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lutterykimberly
- Facebook: www.facebook/kimberlybarrettlutterybooks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-luttery-76809b110/
- Other: https://snipfeed.co/kimberlyluttery
Image Credits
Kimberly Barrett Luttery
