We were lucky to catch up with Hiroshi Sosa-Nakata recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hiroshi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I will forever remember the first time someone bought my first book, I Saved the World and I’m Only in 4th Grade! Earth’s Greatest Pickle. Writing that book was a creative passion of mine which actually spanned multiple years. At that time, I had no idea what I was getting into or the tremendous effort it would require to share my book with the world. All I thought about was bringing the characters in my book to life, writing a story that would make me laugh, and seeing the heroes in my story overcome all obstacles.

Earning royalties from published books, every time a book in the series is sold in America, Mexico, Japan, Germany, etc., is the most incredible feeling to this day. I get to see in real-time what book is the most popular, what format sells best (ebooks or print), and what my fans really think. I also get to engage with fans on social media and I truly appreciate their excitement every time a new book in my series launches. Royalties vary depending on the format, region, and page count of each book, but I usually earn a few dollars for every book sold. The money earned goes toward my college fund and there’s something very empowering about working toward a bright future. I’m not just dreaming about that future, I’m taking steps every day to make it a reality.

These days anyone with creativity, resilience, and determination can easily reach a global audience. Literally anything is possible if you just follow your passion. In doing so, if your passion resonates with others, you can also profit from that as well.

Hiroshi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When I started writing, back in elementary school, I never imagined I’d become an award-winning author or that my book series would be sold globally. I simply wanted to write stories that I would love to read. Most books I found at that age were written by adults and I thought there was a tremendous opportunity to write about the things I loved. As it turns out, kids easily relate to multicultural characters and I’m extremely proud to contribute to this field, ultimately inspiring other kids to embrace their creativity as well.

Believe me, I didn’t always have the confidence I do today. If you were to tell me in second grade that my drawings and short stories would turn into an epic, out-of-this-world book series, I’m not sure I would have believed you. I remember when I first moved to Texas at a young age and felt incredibly isolated. I didn’t have any friends and I spent lunch breaks dreaming up stories in my head. These short stories, usually a page or two, would eventually turn into my first manuscript. That process, for the first book in my series, took me three years to formulate into a rich story with diverse characters, all working together to save the world.

To support my dream of becoming a young author, I created my own publishing company, Sosa-Nakata Publishing. Through this business I currently publish one book per year. The publishing process can be broken down into many smaller parts, to include writing, sketching, storyboarding, digitization, editing, proofing, and publishing. It sounds like a lot of steps and to be honest it is, but seeing others fall in love with the characters you have written, join them on their journeys, and follow epic adventures across multiple books, makes it the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I’m very proud to announce that I’m currently working on book five in the series, I Saved the World and I’m Only in 4th Grade!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My book series focuses on themes of friendship and diversity, something incredibly important to me. I speak three languages and I’ve spent multiple summers abroad with grandparents in Japan and Mexico. These lived experiences have helped shape the way I see the world and created an individual who celebrates culture every chance I get. My stories include multicultural characters who work together to, well…save the world. I want kids who read my book series to be proud of everything that makes them unique and read about characters that empower each other.

Unfortunately, it is also a recognition that we live in a world in which hatred and violence still exists. It is our responsibility to address these issues and, yes, even kids can make a difference. America is a symbol of hope for many around the world. It’s a land of opportunity founded on important values. Our Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they’re endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

We can start by simply recognizing that some of our classmates, friends, and family members each have their own struggles to overcome. Besides being here for them, we can use our voices to support change. We’re the future, after all and that future depends on our ability to work together toward common goals. Each of my books reinforces these key themes and demonstrates what we can accomplish by working together.

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.

When I tell others that I’m an award-winning children’s book author, they look at me with shock, awe, and curiosity. They usually ask questions centered around drive and determination, what it’s like to be a kid author, or detailed questions about the writing and publishing process. I admit, I don’t see many teen authors myself, but I’m determined to help others along the way.

Regarding drive and determination, that is something that everyone has. We’re all passionate about something or at least we start out that way. Over time we may come to realize that our passions require a ton of effort, that there are many obstacles we must face, and that at times others may not believe in us. When I speak to kids about following their passion they are inspired because they’re seeing evidence that, maybe for the first time, it is possible. It makes a world of difference seeing and hearing from someone like you, another kid, who also had the courage to dream big.

The truth about being a teen author is that I spend ninety-nine percent of my time wrapped up in my own thoughts, journals, sketches, and countless novels. That’s the part no one sees. Only one percent of my time is spent speaking on a stage to audiences or promoting my book series. I would still be doing this even if no one was reading or buying my books. The beautiful thing is that everyone has something they are passionate about and something they devote their time to.

The last thing I hear is that they’ve never seen a kid author. That’s okay though. It means that I’m doing something different, something worthwhile, and that my effort is being recognized. I highly encourage other kids to not limit what they can achieve. You can accomplish anything you put your mind to. My series, I Saved the World and I’m Only in 4th Grade!, currently has four published books and I plan to write ten books in total. That’s not bad for a teen author and I can’t wait to share my story and inspire others!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sosanakatapublishing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sosanakatafamily
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SosaNakataPublishing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiroshi-sosa-nakata
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sosanakatafam
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sosanakatafamily