We recently connected with Jeremy JAMES and have shared our conversation below.

Jeremy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I WANT KIDS TO GET BACK TO READING. I WANT THEM TO READ BOOKS AND SEE STORIES AND ADVENTURES THAT RELATEABLE. THEY NEED TO READ BOOKS WITH KIDS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM. I WANT MY BOOKS TO BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER AT NIGHT WHEN ITS TIME FOR BED THEY READING KIDS THESE BOOKS.

Jeremy, 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?

As a child I was told I had a big imagination. I was creative and had a knack for storytelling. I used to tell stories so much that I had people believing me. I have been that way since I was a kid and still that way now as an adult. It was to the point that I was believing my own stories. LOL. Shortly after having my child I moved to Savannah, Georgia with her and as she got older I used to read her bedtime stories. As I was reading I noticed there were a lot of fairytales and other books but there was a shortage of books with any African American kids or family.
Realizing the shortage, I decided to write my own children’s books. I had to figure out what to write about. I had many ideas but was having a hard time narrowing it down. It finally came to me to write about my friends and all the things we did growing. Making a list of all the fun things we did together, I decided to write about a few. So I created characters and thought up scenes and proceeded to write my first book.
I mostly wrote while I was at work. I was usually able to write a rough draft within a day or two. Next, I had to come up with illustrations. I jotted down the scenes in my head and how I wanted them to look. I search many freelance illustrators to help develop my vision but it became a difficult search.
One day while in Best Buy, I was looking for something for my iPad when I ran into a guy who told me he did illustration. Taking his number we talked and came up with some illustrations. After months of working together, he came back with the first illustration and they were how I imagined them.
After I sent up my writing to get edit and proofread. We worked together to put it in book form. Soon we were ready to upload it and start selling.
I started pre-marketing by posting pictures and snippets on Facebook. I sent them to my best friend’s to get their approval and let them know what we were doing. After getting their approval we set the book on sale and waited from there.
The hardest thing about creating a book is finding the right people to match and mesh with. Finding the right creators, the right proofreader, and the right place to publish can be a tedious task. The biggest challenge was the finances. I struggled to make my dream happen without breaking my pockets. I gave myself a budget and was able to stay under in certain areas while going over a little at certain parts of the story creation.
I’m proud that I’m able to get this book out that explains about brotherhood, friendship, family, love, and respect. I want to showcase three brown skin boys who share a deep friendship. I want to uplift the black community with our truth. My friends and I are three boys that met at the Boys & Girls Club became best friends and remain that way into our adulthood. Even though we have grown up and moved to different states, we still talk and text, hang out when we can and share our story with our kids. I want my book to be a written record of our story to share with our children.

My goal now is to not only have this as a full book series but to develop this into a television series or web series. I plan to develop more series and flood homes with pictures and stories of black characters everywhere.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Seeing people read my books. Getting emails and dm’s tell me how much their kids enjoy ready my books. Having people thanking me for writing these books that shows kid and families of color and have a positive story.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Giveaways!! Running contest or offering of my books or merchandise. Networking with people in the community and advertising at events.

Contact Info:

• Other: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jays-big-move-jeremy-james/1136374595?ean=9781078768405 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jays-big-sleepover-jeremy-james/1137208274?ean=9781663517197

Image Credits
Donte Norwood Michele Stokes(Mom) Breyunia Stokes