I loved reading as a child because it gave me the opportunity to get lost in another world, especially when the real world around me had moments of chaos. Writing was something that came natural to me. It was my way of expressing myself and I could do it for hours without effort. It was just like thinking. In my professional life, I work with children who have experienced trauma. It’s a gut wrenching feeling to see innocent children’s lives being altered in a way that will impact their lives forever. This insight prompted me to begin creating children’s books that touch upon mental health in a subtle way, giving hope to little readers who need to know that they will be ok and that life can be better.
Here are some questions taken from an interview with me about my children’s books:
What topics do your stories cover and why are these important to you?
So far, I have covered topics such as overcoming fear, discouragement, sadness/depression, physical injury and girl power. I really enjoy using animals and insects as main characters because all children can identify with them and learn the lesson from the stories without realizing that a lesson was being taught.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I definitely get my life inspiration from the children I work with. I quickly realized that adults need to be creative when it comes to how we will reach and help children to heal. Every child is different and not every child has access to services to address their needs. I was also inspired by my own life and childhood. They say every author puts a piece of themselves in their writing. I would certainly agree in my case. Childhood is the most precious and vulnerable time in our development. It sets the tone for who we become as adults. Many adults are still healing from wounds in their childhood.
What are the titles of the books you have written, and what are they about?
The Black Bird was my first book. It’s about a beautiful black bird who gets injured, finds itself caged and becomes crippled with the fear of flying again, even after she physically healed. This book is great for children who are dealing with fear or discouragement after being hurt, physically or emotionally.
The Butterfly was my second book. It tells the story of a caterpillar who is discouraged about her life in the forest and is ready to give up. She receives a surprise visit from a beautiful butterfly who gives her just the right words of encouragement. This book is great for children struggling with identity, self-esteem and depression/mental health.
Who will Alex be? is my third book. This book was a lot of fun! This book is all about girl-power and representation. It tells the story of a young girl who is daydreaming about the possibilities of career choices when she grows up. From ballerina to Astronaut, she uses words of affirmation to declare that she will be anything she chooses to be! This is very important for girls of color to know that they are not limited and that the choice is theirs. Representation impacts self esteem and so planting seeds such as these, is a must.
Will you continue to write more books?
Oh yes! I will definitely continue to write more children’s books. Despite technology, I believe that reading is still a valuable way that parents can spend time reading with their children. It gives them the opportunity to use the teachable moments in the books to plant seeds of self-love, healing, empowerment and resilience in their children. As a mother of three, I know firsthand how important it is to instill these values in children.
Till next time,
Drea
#children #author #mentalhealth #empowerment #trauma #healing
Conversations With Drea 