I am my mother's only child and Memphis is my home. I went to library school at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville). While there, Professor Glenn Estes introduced me to picture books. At the University of Memphis, I took a Children's Literature Class from Professor Ramona Mahood. She introduced me to author, Charles Turner, who inspired me to write WILLIE JEROME--my very first book. Macmillan published it in 1995. Picture books are my favorite to write! They allow me to "sing" without a music education or singing voice. 

YOU DON'T WANT ME TO SING. Really. 

MY TOP 5 SONGS

Harvest for the World--Isley Brothers

Mister Magic--Grover Washington

Optimistic--Sounds of Blackness

Respect Yourself--The Staple Singers

Young, Gifted and Black--Nina Simone

*Aretha Franklin's version ROCKS too!

MEMPHIS, MARTIN AND THE MOUNTAINTOP

A 2019 Coretta Scott King Honor Medal 

Also voted a "Best Picture Book in 2018' by Kirkus, SLJ and Booklist

I discovered the poets, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks, when I was a child searching the crowded shelves in my parents' personal library.  While I loved each poet, my early writing was most similar to Paul Laurence Dunbar.  I wrote for the ear to hear and the voice to speak words like I heard them spoken in school, church and the sundry store. Langston, Gwen and I, have Dunbar in common.  It was Paul Laurence Dunbar who moved us early in life to make words our vocation. Words are my work and my pathway to words began with poetry.  

MY TOP 5 POEMS

Dreams--Langston Hughes

Good Night, Willie Lee, I'll See you In the Morning--Alice Walker

Little Brown Baby--Paul Laurence Dunbar

Second Sermon on the Warpland--Gwendolyn Brooks

Things--Eloise Greenfield

HONEY BABY SUGAR CHILD

#1 Read-Aloud for Babies

Read this book with SOUL!

My picture books include biographies of Black artists and moments in American History seldom told. I also write lyrical stories that celebrate the sustaining power of love between a mother and child. My books are illustrated by award winning artists like Gregory Christie, Xia Gordon, Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (YES! of the Famous Pinkney Family) and Mary Uhles. MEMPHIS, MARTIN AND THE MOUNTAINTOP won a 2019 Coretta Scott Honor Medal for illustrations. MORE good news is brewing! Will you gift my 5 books to a favorite young reader in your life?

MY TOP 5 BOOKS--(Written by ME)

HONEY BABY SUGAR CHILD

JUST LIKE A MAMA

MEMPHIS, MARTIN AND THE MOUNTAINTOP

A SONG FOR GWENDOLYN BROOKS

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN TENNESSEE

JUST LIKE A MAMA--Order today!

Here is a love poem celebrating all children--chosen, cherished and loved. Families are families forever and always. Love is the tie that binds.