Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Swain-Bates.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Crystal. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
After writing my first book in elementary school, I have always known I was destined to become an author. Attending college led me down a different path, however, as I obtained B.A. and M.A. degrees in International Affairs from Florida State University.
My education led to a thriving career in the U.S. Federal Government in both the Defense and Central Intelligence Agencies. My career was fascinating, and I really enjoyed it. But, I felt the desire to write books was becoming harder to ignore. So, one day I decided to resign from my position and return to what I’ve always known was my calling: Writing.
I have always loved to read and write. I remember rarely seeing books with characters that looked like me when I was growing up in the 80s. Decades later, it is still really hard to find children’s books with black characters. I was inspired to publish children’s books, including a line of black coloring and activity books, to fill the untapped needs of young African-American boys and girls who need to see positive characters that look like them.
To date, I have written and published 12 books featuring the stories and likeness of little brown girls and boys, a demographic largely ignored in the world of children’s literature. My books have been featured in Essence magazine, CNN, and the Huffington Post, but my biggest success was when my books were used as props on BET’s “The Game” and “Being Mary Jane” television shows.
My collection of books has made me a household name among black parents and families that want to expose their children to positive images of themselves. My most popular title, “Big Hair, Don’t Care,” is one of Amazon’s most highly reviewed children’s books in its category, making me a top seller for the e-commerce site. Major companies such as Amazon and Ingram, the world’s largest distributor of books, have spotlighted my phenomenal success with their platforms.
To further address the need for greater diversity in children’s books and merchandise, I founded BrownGirlsClub.com, an online store featuring apparel, books, bedding, party supplies, and other children’s merchandise featuring black characters.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
They say nothing good ever comes easy. My success has come with many struggles. As a solopreneur, I wear many hats. On any given day, I’m an Author, Publisher, Web Designer, Publishing Coach, Store Owner, Customer Service Rep, Accountant, Shipper, Publicist, and Social Media Manager, just to name a few. In order to get everything done, I work tirelessly and can’t always hang out with friends the way I used to. Not everyone understands the amount of work involved in building a business and balancing the fine line between my work and my social life has been difficult.
As a small business owner with a limited budget, marketing has always been a challenge for me. There are a lot of children’s books on the market and it can be hard to reach readers, although so many parents are desperate to find books featuring black characters. For one thing, it can be very expensive. However, social media, YouTube, and the ability for shoppers to leave reviews on Amazon have helped me overcome the prohibitive costs of traditional marketing.
Social proof is really important in the book business, that’s why authors rely so heavily on word of mouth, online reviews, and positive social media posts by everyday parents who have discovered our books.
Goldest Karat Publishing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As the CEO of Goldest Karat Publishing, the center of my work is set on filling the massive diversity gaps in children’s literature. I specialize in writing and publishing fun, beautifully illustrated self-esteem boosting children’s books starring black characters. To date, I have published 12 books with the aim of positively reshaping the way children of color all over the world see themselves.
My goal is to create a lasting legacy of empowerment within the black community by changing the invisibility of black characters in children’s books. I take pride in knowing that I am creating a body of work that is poised to have a lasting impact on an entire generation of children.
What sets me apart from others is that besides creating innovative products, that have helped me become a household name among black parents and families that want to expose their children to positive images of themselves, I also consult with major corporations, small business, and aspiring authors on how to find success in self-publishing.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I don’t define success in terms of money, followers, or status. Instead, I simply define success as having a positive impact. Having a positive impact and leaving a mark is the best indicator of success to me. The moment I heard that my books were changing the way black children feel about themselves was the moment I knew that I had been successful as an author.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.crystalswainbates.com/
- Email: crystal@goldestkarat.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrowngirlsclub/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cswainbates/
- Other: www.crystalswainbates.com
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