We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raven Barnes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Raven, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

The idea to start writing children’s character books came from a deeply personal place. When my children, all under the age of 9, began struggling with challenges like low self-esteem, not sharing, and dishonesty, I realized these were more than fleeting behaviors—they were opportunities to teach deeper life lessons. I wanted to address these issues early, helping them build character and resilience before they faced the greater complexities of their teenage years and adulthood.

As I reflected on how best to guide them, I turned to prayer. I felt God leading me toward a unique solution—creating relatable, engaging stories with kids who looked like them and faced similar challenges. I wanted these stories to resonate deeply, showing real-life situations and parents offering thoughtful advice to help them navigate their struggles. Instead of using animals or whimsical characters, I focused on real boys and girls so my children could see themselves in the lessons.

This approach felt right on every level. Stories are a powerful way to teach and connect, and I knew I could use them to instill values like honesty, empathy, and perseverance. My goal wasn’t just to help my own kids but to create something meaningful for other families, too. With faith guiding me and the need so clear, I knew this was a worthwhile endeavor—and I’ve seen its impact every time a child or parent connects with one of my books.

Raven, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a wife, mother, woman of faith, CEO, author, and producer. My journey as a children’s book author began when I noticed my own children struggling with challenges like low self-esteem, dishonesty, and not sharing. I wanted to create stories that not only entertained but inspired growth, resilience, and character development. My books feature relatable, real-life kids navigating everyday struggles, guided by caring and supportive parents.

Last year, I had the joy of going on book tours with my mascots, and seeing the excitement on children’s faces as they connected with my characters was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life. Knowing that my work sparks meaningful change in young lives brings me immense happiness. Beyond my books, I offer character-building programs for schools and communities, combining my background in education with creative storytelling to help parents and educators guide children toward becoming confident, compassionate individuals.

Everything I do is rooted in my faith and a deep desire to serve children and mothers. Whether through my books, programs, or creative media productions, my mission remains the same: to empower, inspire, and uplift. My personal philosophy is this: “Life is breath, and when breath is gone, life is no more. So, with every moment we’re given, we should give it all we have—and share what we’ve learned with those who come after us.”

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most challenging moments in my journey was losing my father on July 5, 2024. His passing left a void not only in my heart but also in my passion for my work. As I navigated personal grief and professional transitions, there were days when it felt like everything had come to an end.

But even in those dark moments, God sent encouragement through family and friends who reminded me that I wasn’t alone. I allowed myself to grieve in my own way and at my own pace, slowly finding the strength to move forward. Each day, I made the decision to keep creating and loving, even when it was hard.

Out of this experience, I found a renewed purpose. I decided to take my work further by creating a YouTube channel to provide digital resources for children, inspiring them to build good character and resilience. This new platform, launching in Spring 2025, is my way of turning pain into purpose. It’s a testament to the belief that even in the hardest times, we can find strength to keep going.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth. Can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that doing something good should come easy. Early on, I thought that if my work was meaningful, it would naturally fall into place. But life proved otherwise. There were constant obstacles and moments where I felt discouraged or overwhelmed. The real lesson was realizing that just because you’re on the right path doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. It takes discipline, resilience, and the commitment to keep going even when things get tough. There were times I had to step back and take a break, but I learned that quitting was never an option if I truly wanted to make a difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mrsraven.com
• Instagram: @officialmrsraven
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrsRavenB
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raven-nicole-barnes-368ab41a1/

Image Credits
Raylyn Barnes: www.chasitysmedia.com