We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Barrett Luttery recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kimberly , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

My first book entitled Grandma Had a Grandma Too was the title that ultimately led me to establish my company Azure Dusk Publishing, LLC. It was inspired by the relationship between my mother and niece who was about 4 years old at the time. I authored a poem based on their relationship because it was so heartwarming to watch their interactions with each other. I decided to turn those moments into a story. My book entitled Grandpa Had a Grandpa Too is a fun story about the bond between a grandfather and his grandson and all the good times that they share.

One of my books that is so dear to me is I Am Wonderfully Made because the main character is an African-American girl with chocolate skin and big bushy hair. We live in a diverse world, but we share many of the same universal experiences. This book focuses on self-esteem, self-acceptance, and self-love, topics that all children and people can relate to.

Kimberly , 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 love writing fiction, and my path to writing children’s books began at an early age with short stories and poetry. I spent much of my career working with non-profit organizations that focus on family and children, but always maintained my passion for creative writing. I feel that my previous work in that field and writing came together and led me to what I do as a writer today.

The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) reading community is an underserved audience in the children’s book genre. I passionately believe that books with diverse characters should be in the hands of children from all backgrounds to promote character diversity and inclusiveness. Representation is so important, and all readers should see people that look like them, especially in children’s books.

There is a lot of talk and data about the lack of diversity in the children’s book genre, and how things need to change, but unfortunately, it has not changed very much in recent years. An annual study provided by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides diversity statistics. The study was established in 1994 and the most recent statistics are for 2022. The data shows that of the 3,450 books that they received about 13% were written by African American authors, 14% of the books were about African American characters; 11% were about Asian characters, and less than 7% were about Latino characters. About 50% of books feature white characters and 27% are animals or other objects. Any quick Google search will provide these statistics.

I am so proud to share books with consumers that all children can enjoy, particularly little Black girls and boys. I am passionate about telling stories that reflect my own experiences and show diverse children in a positive light. There are so many negative images out there in the world that end up in the spotlight and they often overshadow many positive ones. I hope that through my work, I can bring a smile to children’s faces and help to instill confidence, high self-esteem, and encourage them to pursue their dreams.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

My collaborator and illustrator, Nicole Collie Jamison was introduced to me through a colleague. I told her that I had decided to write my first children’s book and was searching for an illustrator. I shared with her the vision I had for the images, and she recommended that I reach out to Nicole because she thought that she would be a good fit. Once we connected, I knew right away that Nicole was the right person for me. That was about six years ago and here we are now with three picture books, several coloring books, a website, social media, marketing materials, and more, Nicole is an awesome business partner but more importantly, she is my dear friend. We have a lot in common when it comes to understanding the patience it takes to work with others on a creative project, and our desire to share beautiful words and images with the world. It has led us to partner on projects for other creatives who need assistance with their goals. We have learned to work well together and understand each other’s strengths. We know each other so well now that we are good at finishing each other’s sentences.

We have some great projects that we plan to create together in the future. Nicole is an awesome illustrator and graphic artist, and I am so honored to collaborate with her. You can find out more about her work at www.nicolecollie.com.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I want to tell impactful stories that children will remember into adulthood and share with their children and grandchildren. What sets me apart is the passion I have for telling stories that speak to the heart, the joys of being a child, and that reflect the simple experiences that people have growing up that turn into cherished memories. I had a wonderful childhood full of love from my parents, brother and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and extended family. I can remember vividly the times that we shared, and I get much of my stories’ inspiration from those moments in my life. To me, these experiences are universal, no matter where you come from. I have been told by adult readers that my books help them recall moments from their childhoods, and that motivates them to focus on creating memorable experiences with the children in their lives. As adults, we sometimes forget that we were once kids, but being around children and seeing the world through their eyes reminds us of when we were young and looked out at the world with great optimism.

Each of my books includes activity pages that engage the readers to write down information about their families. For example, the Grandma and Grandpa books include family trees that young readers can complete with an adult family member who can help them with their family history. I Am Wonderfully Made includes an affirmations page with statements like, “I am awesome”, “I am talented”, and “I have a purpose”. I also have companion coloring books where the children can color and an activity page with instructions on how to do art projects and share kind words with others. All these things reaffirm the book’s mission of self-love, as well as sharing love and positivity with others. Building self-esteem at a young age is so important, especially with all of the distractions in the world right now. Children are exposed to so much at a fast pace, and I believe that books with positive messages can set a great foundation for them to have a positive outlook on life. Children who are in a healthy mental space become adults who have a healthy mindset and can influence generations to come in a great way.

I plan to release more books soon. There are so many stories that I cannot wait to share with the world, and I want my readers to cherish these books and see them as keepsakes to pass down to future generations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kimberlyluttery.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lutterykimberly
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyBarrettLutteryBooks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-luttery-76809b110/

Image Credits
All images are the property of Kimberly Barrett Luttery and Azure Dusk Publishing, LLC