We were lucky to catch up with Karina Gonzalez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Karina, thanks for joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

As a bilingual speech-language pathologist, I work with school-age children at a Title I school in New York City. When I began working with these students, I realized that they were likely experiencing the same alienation from books that I felt as a kid. Growing up, I never wanted to be a writer, and I wasn’t able to conceptualize how people turned it into a career. Moreover, I struggled to connect with books throughout elementary school. Visualization is a significant component of reading, and it can be tough for a child to visualize scenes without prior knowledge on the subject or first-hand experience to comprehend the text. During my first year as a bilingual speech-language pathologist at an elementary school, I sought out contemporary picture books that reflected not only racial diversity but also stories that centered families from a working class background. Mi Papi Tiene Una Moto/My Papi Has a Motorcycle, by Isabel Quintero, was a favorite amongst my students because many of them have fathers who work in construction or ride motorcycles and bikes. They immediately connected to the text, and of course, were drawn in by Zeke Peña’s delightful illustrations. That was a major lightbulb moment. Early reading experiences are so important because educators and parents can cultivate a love for reading by simply presenting stories that resonate with children. This was when I realized that I can contribute to this initiative by writing my own stories in the hopes that children can one day hold them in their hands, and possibly, ignite a love for reading.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

As a kid, my parents taught me that opportunities don’t simply land on our laps. Instead, we must create the opportunity, forge the path, and accept the challenges that will arise during the journey, as they always do. When I had the idea for my first picture book manuscript in 2018, I followed my parents’ advice and created the opportunity myself, which can be challenging in an industry that’s sometimes tilted to celebrities. Through rounds of rejections from editors, I remained steadfast in believing that my manuscript would be meaningful to someone. This inner hope is also at the core of my manuscript, and my life. This is also a message I convey to my students: visualize the positive moments and they will manifest in their own way and in their own time.

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

There’s something extra special about picture books. In my opinion, picture books, compared to other genres, can have the greatest impact on a community because they are not typically read in solitude. More often, they are read between parent-child or teacher-small group/class. Shared reading can foster community engagement. It’s also a learning tool for both children and adults. This is the magic that I relish and that inspires me to continue this writing journey.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of creating, which in my opinion is innate in all human beings, is that it feeds my soul. It allows me to connect with my inner child. Often, I find that the daily grind of work can prevent us from connecting with our inner child, yet when we engage in creativity, we can unlock that part of our being that’s always with us. I cherish those moments, and feel lucky that I found a way to connect with myself in that way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.karinanikole.com
• Instagram: @karina.nikole
• Twitter: @wordsbykarina

Image Credits
Aaron Maté