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

Hi Florenza, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I expect that the books I create and the value they bring to young readers will outlive me. I often say that I’m creating future masterpieces. And I genuinely believe that. Books changed my life as a child. Between those pages, I could be anywhere I wanted to be. When life at home threatened to strangle the very life out of me, I found solace in books. Books were my friends. I want to be that level of a friend to a child.

To the struggling readers, I hope to create an interactive, engaging book that will draw them in so deeply that they forget they are reading and feel as if they were teleported into the world I visited while creating the book. The most remarkable testimony I’ve received from parents and educators is that children who don’t usually enjoy reading love my books and cannot put them down. That blows my mind.

I also hope that my future grandchildren will visit their local libraries and proudly point to an entire section of the building and say, “My g-ma wrote all of these books!” What a blessing that would be. I want little boys and girls to know that they can earn a living from being creative and that life allows those who refuse to color within the lines to let their wings flutter and soar.

Not too many years ago, independent authors were shunned and frowned upon. I recently gave my bio while attending a Diversity and Inclusion Conference (of authors). The facilitator smirked when I said I am independently published. A bit later, after my catalog and sales history were revealed, she shifted her mindset. When she was waiting to “be discovered,” I successfully published twenty books. Titles of which she was familiar. The world is shifting. COVID closed some doors but blew away walls allowing those who could only briefly peek through window treatment to dance into the room boldly.

The walls have crumbled. It is the author’s responsibility to ensure they create works of excellence and not be too excited to see their names on the covers but to go the extra mile to produce books of worth. I am that author/publisher. Please get to know my name. You will be hearing it spoken more often later.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story with your reading audience. I’m Florenza Denise Lee, author, publisher, speaker, Mindset Coach, Children’s Mindfulness Coach, Master Storyteller, advocate for our Nation’s Veterans, wife, and mom. When I read that list, I often wonder how many people it takes to wear so many hats.? For that reason, I add the title Gemini.

I create interactive, engaging Children’s books with diverse characters and family units. They focus on social-emotional learning (SEL), standards of learning (SOL), the military experience as seen through the eyes of the child, and life experiences. I work with phenomenal illustrators and designers and believe that my books bring an element to the child’s library not found elsewhere.

A reviewer of one of my most recent books, Brooklyn Beaver ALMOST Builds a Dam, wrote the following review:

The world needs some good modern children’s stories with the themes previously employed by classic literature, such as Aesop’s fables. Still, in a tone and tenor that contemporary kids will connect with. Florenza Denise Lee takes fulfilling this need a step further by giving readers a theme they might not have read about before in describing how when we give away all we have to those in need, the universe often ends up giving us back more in return. What is lovely about Brooklyn Beaver Almost Builds a Dam is that Brooklyn generously gives away her supplies without expecting anything in return. Eduardo Paj’s distinct artistry creates illustrations that ooze color and texture. My daughter stretched out a tiny hand because it looked like Brooklyn’s coat of fur could be stroked, and her fingers lingered as she took it in. Lee and Paj are now on our permanent radar for our next favorite read, and I am excited to see what will come from this dream team.

I believe it completely sums up the legacy I hope to create and leave behind. Like so many other late Baby Boomers, life was not easy. At times, it was downright disrespectful. But in it all and through it all, we developed gumption, and it is that grit that fuels our belief, my belief, that we can change the world. For me, it is one book at a time.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

My husband is my biggest fan and supporter. However, he is not creative. He thinks bottom line, ROI, productivity, and such. It makes us a real power couple. It also creates opportunities for disagreement and mental arm-wrestling. My mind is set on creating new, excellent books. Each day, I wake with the thought of what I can do today that will positively affect a child tomorrow. I view each idea as a potential book and each book as a possible legacy.

In 2014, when I began my authorship journey, it was chaotic. I woke Saturday, January 31, and pounded out what would become the first twelve books I’d write. Of those original twelve, I have published three. That day, I founded my company, Words to Ponder Publishing Company, LLC, purchased one thousand ISBNs, and prepared myself for creativity to flow through me like water through a broken sieve. Life did not disappoint. That night, I dreamt I was reading a book I’d never heard of, and at 4:44 am, I woke and recorded each word. From the original manuscript to the completed product, only one word changed. That book is The Tail of Max the Mindless Dog, A Children’s Book on Mindfulness. We sold 18,000 copies in our first year and a half, with little assistance from online sources.

I recall my husband’s question, “Why you?” At that moment, I believe I stood between two paths: mayhem and mediocrity. I chose the more chaotic of the two. My response was swift and sure, “Why NOT me?” What average person would put themselves in the firing zone to be picked apart like a blue crab by people who find no other enjoyment in life but to be nasty? The thought of going days without sleep, food, (dare I say) bathing, to pen words to paper hoping total strangers will find value in it enough to part with their hard-earned money is inanity. Only a creative would dare do such a thing. We do it not just once but over and over again.

Creatives not only see the world as it is but as it can and should be. Non-creatives are the black lines on a color sheet. Creatives are the crayons by which the image is completed. Seasoned creatives flip the page over to leave their mark unlimited by others’ perceptions, expectations, and limits. We are those who refuse to play in sandboxes with others because we’ve seen the endless beaches of the world.

To my non-creatives, we may look as if we’ve lost all of our senses, but without us, you’d have a white paper with black lines. We not only bring fantabulous color to your world but also come with glitter. If you are too timid to dive in with us, stand close by holding the towel and enjoy the view.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In May 2017, I threw up the deuce signs and resigned from a near six=figure job. I’d been earnestly praying for a release so that I might dedicate myself full time to writing and, more importantly, publishing. I’d experienced some levels of success but knew that I needed to understand the publishing business if it was to become more than a hobby. So, I accessed our finances, goals, current situation, and the checks and balances balanced, so I did it. I resigned. For eighteen months, I devoted myself full time to writing. Many days, I sat for over eighteen hours in front of my computer. I squirreled through avalanches of information, looking for ways to grow my business. During that time, I lost more than sleep; my hair started falling out, and I was constantly on edge and became jittery. It would be during that time of building that I became rooted. It solidified my belief that I had a gift to share with the world and that I wanted to share it with everyone. Just as I was ready to expand, I felt I was to return to my previous place of employment.

For some, this may sound convoluted. Others may get it. As a Christian, I firmly believe God orders my steps. I do not believe in coincidences and happenstance. Every ebb and flow is part of the journey, and I respect the process. Even when I don’t understand clearly. I logged on to my previous organization’s website and discovered a position I’d essentially created (from additional work that I had done) was open. With tears streaming down my face, I applied. Within a matter of days, I was interviewed and hired. This was December 2019. A few weeks later, the world would shut down due to a virus. By being obedient to that gentle nudge, I was in a place financially to help many families who’d lost their jobs due to COVID. It also proved to be the catalyst by which I would return to my home state of Ohio.

What I could not have foreseen even with a crystal ball is that one move set into motion the following that would grow my catalog from five books to thirty and counting. That decision became the bridge that returned Dorothy, Toto, Glenda, and the Scarecrow home. It also opened doors of opportunity to expand my customer base, which resulted in my current endeavor, Translating my backlist into Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Polish, and Hindi. Two of the titles have already been translated into three languages.

The tagline that manifested for my publishing company is, “.feeding your mind one book at a time.” On January 31, 2014, I never could have imagined seeing my name on a book cover, let alone dozens. Yet here we are, and yes, I am the author of fantastic interactive and engaging Children’s books that focus on social-emotional learning and standards of learning. They feature unique, diverse characters and lessons that will remain with the reader long after the book is closed. The reviewer was correct; I am the next generation of Esop’s Fables for young readers.

Lastly, the weekend we looked for a house in preparation for our move “back home,” I lost my father, my greatest supporter, to COVID and nearly lost my mother. Each day, I hear his voice inside my head cheering me on. He’d stand tall and pop out his chest as he introduced me to anyone within earshot, “This is my oldest daughter. She’s a writer.” Yes, daddy, I’m a writer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.florenza.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florenza_denise_lee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Florenza.Denise.Lee/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florenza-lee-7076418a
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Florenza_Lee
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbenf1R2h0FJAuqhF8W6YJw

Image Credits
Florenza Denise Lee