We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Annette Bentley Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Annette Bentley below.

Hi Annette Bentley, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My first inspiration came from my mother who planted the seed to write, but it didn’t germinate until I had my first two children. My son had an incident in daycare where I had to teach him about his race. The incident inspired me to write my first children’s book called “What Color Am I?” From there I published 14 children’s book. Then my granddaughter came along. As a grandparent, I understand how hard it is to hear a child say “I wish you could be here to read to me every night.” That is what she told me when she was around 4 years old. Six years later I am now creating a toy that will play my stories to her and other children

Annette Bentley, 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 am the wife of a jack of all trades, the mother of two young adults, and the grandmother of a beautiful and bright eleven-year- old little girl. My granddoll Melody Rayne is now my latest and greatest inspiration for my stories. In the mix of learning about how to be a writer and getting published, I experimented with various occupations: Cashier, Massage Therapist, File Clerk, Computer Operator, private home health aid, and working from home as a Virtual Sales Agent… But my favorite thing to do now is the one thing I’m doing-writing for children. I do my best writing in my home when there is total silence. However, when I am out and about and my surroundings gives me an idea for a story, no matter what paper is around, I quickly jot it down. I completed a book called “Nyrah’s Bully” (Publisher- AnneCorp Literary Works) which is one of fourteen, while sitting in a doctor’s office for two hours. Yes, I still write my stories on paper, before typing them up. I feel closer to my stories that way. I love writing my stories in a way that will educate, entertain and give children a temporary escape into a think outside of the box adventure. My mission is for my stories to be your children’s favorite books to pick up and read. My books are aligned around a city-to-city strategy called “Get Hooked on Mrs. Annie’s Books” which center on an exceptional reader experience. I am committed to continuously enhancing your child/children’s experience. I want my stories to inspire your children to become creative and allow their imaginations to run as far it will take them.

I took a writing course with The Institute of Children’s Literature, but I feel my best qualifications comes from my readership as a child in elementary school, and raising two boys. Watching their growths and incidents, gave me many ideas for stories. Also, I began caring for other children at the age of fourteen and still care for other children now. My books have received starred reviews on Amazon and social media sites. Authors such as J. Hale Turner and Maxine Billings, regards me as “an amazing writer.”

The types of products I provide are for children to help with reading and being read to. According to research, a child who is read to once every day, will know almost 300,000 words by the age of 5! I have created a plush toy that will play my stories to my granddaughter and other children. It will play soothing music and the ability to record your own songs, stories and messages is part of my plush toy. It is also a pillow. My bed sheets have my stories printed on them, along with positive affirmations, a word search game, typing keyboard, and questions about the story. I am turning children’s beds into one big book-literally taking the bedtime story to bed! My ultimate inspiration is to bring a new approach to bedtime stories-and give a new generation of children (and parents) the gift of something exciting at bedtime. A love of reading will be the gift that lasts a lifetime, and Kobe and the bed sheets are the ideal way to deliver that gift. They work well for reading at bedtime or naptime, therefore keeping kids entertained and comforted.

While there may be similar products on the market, my products set me apart from others because the plush koala bear plays original stories, and has the ability to download your own personal recordings, and the bed sheets has an entire story printed on it. none has bed sheets like mine.

I am most proud of the fact that I can say I have products that I brought to fruition from my creative and imaginative mind. The road is rough, but I’m proud to say I haven’t given up.

There’s not much to know about me. I’m a simple person, who loves staying in the comforts of home. I’m an old school, old soul, stay at home kind of person. In essence I’m an introvert. My tribe such as family, friends, and associates, inspire me to change that mentality. I’m working on it…

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

funding my business has not been easy. I’ve taken out loans and bootstrapped. However I did win a couple grants that was very helpful.

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

I remember watching a little boy read my divorce book. Tears streamed down his face. He felt the story and saw himself in it. Helping a child see themselves in my books, seeing a child hold my plush koala bear, or seeing a child play with the bed sheets and it makes them happy to do so, is rewarding!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mrsanniebooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsanniebooks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrsanniebooks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsanniebooks/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrsanniebooks
• Youtube: Mrs. Annie Books

Image Credits
Kareem Photography The Black Resume Yamon Visuals Photography