Thanks to the folks at Voyage ATL for featuring me in their Rising Stars Series. I appreciate the opportunity to share my journey as a children's book author and writer. The full article is below.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Luttery.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? I love writing fiction, and my path to writing children’s books began at an early age with short stories and poetry. I spent much of my career working with non-profit organizations that focused on family and children, but I always maintained my passion for creative writing. My previous work in that field and writing came together and led me to what I do as a writer today.
My first book entitled Grandma Had a Grandma Too was the title that ultimately led me to establish my company Azure Dusk Publishing, LLC. It 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, so I decided to turn those moments into a story.
My book entitled Grandpa Had a Grandpa Too is a fun story about the bond between a grandfather and his grandson, and all of the good times that they share.
One of my books that is so dear to me is I am Wonderfully Made because the main character is an African American girl with chocolate skin and big bushy hair. The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (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.
Representation is so important, and all readers should see people that look like them, especially in children’s books. We live in such a diverse world, but we share so many of the same universal experiences. This book focuses on self-esteem, self-acceptance, and self-love, topics all children and people can relate to.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect? Bumpy roads are more meaningful because the obstacles I face help me to appreciate the journey I’ve taken to where I am today. It has not been easy, but so worth it. I got here through 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.
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, so that is what I did.
So many people today are doing their 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. 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 had a wonderful childhood full of love from my parents, brother and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and extended family. I remember vividly the times we shared, and I get much of my stories’ inspiration comes from those moments in my life.
These experiences are universal. Some of my adult readers say that my books help them recall moments from their childhoods and motivate 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 their families. For example, the Grandma and Grandpa 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 the 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.
My passion for writing my own stories inspired me to help other aspiring authors publish their books. I provide consulting services for the self-publishing process, writing, editing, and proofreading. I want to help others succeed and share the knowledge that I have gained through learning the process of how to create my books from start to finish. It is so satisfying to help other authors and see how happy they are when they hold their completed books in their hands.
I think that the traditional work model is somewhat antiquated in today’s world. 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.
Can you share something surprising about yourself? I’m also an “artist”. I put the word artist in quotes because I consider myself a novice. There’s so much to learn, but I absolutely love it. Creating art brings me so much joy and significantly improves my mental state. The process of drawing and painting is incredibly calming, providing me with a sense of peace and tranquility.
I am dedicated to developing my skills and investing time and effort into honing my craft. This artistic journey not only enriches my life but also offers a therapeutic outlet that balances my mind and spirit. My ultimate goal is to write and illustrate my books.
Pricing:
Grandma Had a Grandma Too – $9.99
I Am Wonderfully Made – $10.99
Grandpa Had a Grandpa Too – $12.99
Contact Info:
Website: www.kimberlyluttery.com
Instagram: instagram.com/lutterykimberly
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyBarrettLutteryBooks/
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