We recently connected with Annette Whitaker-moss and have shared our conversation below.

Annette, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

As an artist at heart, “I wonder if I can draw this picture.” It was fascinating; a picture from a magazine challenged my artistic ability. Then, I thought maybe I’d write music while learning to play the piano or write poetry or a novel. I created my first anthology during middle school.  My ability to express myself in writing led to my first book of poetry, One Heart to Another, and later my second book of poetry, Another Heart to Another. My work has been published worldwide in many poetry collections by Noble House, The American Poetry Society, Poetry Nation, Poetry.com, Quill Books, Xlibris, and Eber & Wein. Once I achieved my goal of writing my first book of poetry, I  wrote my first novel, Good Kid in Trouble, which chronicles a teenager’s life and the everyday struggles young people face.  My plan to move forward doing what I enjoy most: expressions of faith, joy, pain, and love encouraged me to keep writing and connecting to people on different levels. I successfully wrote my second novel, Shundra Henderson Thorns and Roses, where a beautiful young lady reminisces life’s ups and downs from adolescence to adulthood. I discovered my writing appeals to all readers’ hearts and souls, which led me to write an insightful self-help and relationship book, Life Realties. Because I still loved the art of drawing and painting, my next love was the camera and the fantastic outcome of what my eyes saw in its beauty. My creative side blossomed, and I became a published author and professional photographer, telling stories through pictures and books, representing The Promise of New Beginnings!

Annette, 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?

My creative journey has been diverse and exciting, leading me to explore the world of photography. As a professional photographer, I have taken headshots for authors and individuals, weddings, and special events, and produced many behind-the-scenes images as an Associate Producer for Christian Films and Romantic Thrillers. The expansion into photography has added a new dimension to my storytelling, allowing me to share compelling narratives through pictures and books.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

After joining a group for authors, I became their professional headshot photographer and later a BTS photographer as an Associate Producer for Christian Films and Romantic Thrillers, leading to my first appearance as an actor in the “Daddy Short Film.” These associates played a significant part and exposed me to building my reputation in the market.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Writing professionally and becoming a photographer were things I started as a side business. I worked full-time until retirement and used the money saved to grow my business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annettewhitakermoss
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseBudImaginations
• Other: https://annettewhitakermoss.smugmug.com