Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Lucretia Edwards.
Hi Kim, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For a long time, I considered myself a closet writer- until I took a leap of faith to start publishing the many stories that were hidden in my journals. I love stories and books-especially Children’s books. After completing a yearlong assignment through Americorps, working with students at a local Atlanta Title one school whose reading levels were below grade level, I was driven to move forward and pursue the dream of publishing my stories. I always like to say that “I went to work with the students to encourage and motivate them. However, they encouraged and motivated me to move forward to pursue my dream as a children’s book Author. That was the beginning of this journey, Kim Lucretia writes and, ultimately, the Kim Lucretia bookmobile.
The bookmobile part of this Journey came about because of my love for books and wanting to share and expose Children and their families to the vast and diverse options that the local bookstores may not provide. Our belief is that when you walk into a bookstore, every child should see themselves or their culture represented on the shelf. Initially, I was going to open a brick-and-mortar store. However, I felt that this would limit me from reaching the broader community. This is how the bookmobile came to be.
We are a mobile book boutique that celebrates the joy of reading while also celebrating cultures and traditions around the world by offering a curated selection of multilingual books for children 13 and under.
To date, I’m a published Author of 7 books (five are children’s books) and a plush doll Line called Amia.
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?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road. Many of the struggles of learning and navigating the world of book publishing and manufacturing dolls. The first part of the journey was getting my books published. After endless networking and pitching to literary agents I came to the realization that self-publishing was the path for me because I didn’t like the terms of the contracts that I would be obligated to. Through networking, I eventually met a few persons who worked at traditional publishing houses but left to start their own publishing companies. I learned the business and the how to of self-publishing under the tutelage of these individuals, I then moved forward to start my own company and began publishing my work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a storyteller- I tell stories through the art of writing and design. As a creative, I draw inspiration from the world around me. This inspiration includes sitting on my back porch admiring the greenery and listening to the melodies of the birds. It’s visiting my local museum and botanical gardens. Sitting at a local playground and watching the children play. Traveling around the French Riveria or sitting at a cafe in Paris for hours people watching. This is how my stories may come to be, and this is the inspiration that I draw from to create the design of my bookmobile and the characters in my books.
I specialize in curating books from around the world- most of the books are sourced through my travels. I’m known for shelving multilingual books that you don’t often see. I’m most proud of when people enter the bookmobile, and they light up with joy from seeing books that represent their country and culture. What sets me apart from others is how I’m able to bring the joy of reading to many neighborhoods who may not have access to local bookstores in a fun and posh bookmobile.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Being a good listener and understanding that this is bigger than me- It’s about impacting my community and the world around me. In order to truly serve others, you have to listen and hear directly from the individuals what’s needed. I don’t stock my bookmobile by what’s trending in the literary world. I stock my shelves based on the many conversations that I have with those I encounter.
Contact Info:
- Website: kimlucretiaauthor.com
