We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sanyu Ntanda. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sanyu below.

Sanyu, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Learning is an ever-evolving process: Try. Fail. Refine. Repeat.

In December 2021, my brother brought a paint-by-numbers kit to my mom’s birthday party. It was the first time I had ever seen one, and I thought to myself, “How cool! I’d love to buy a few of these kits and practice painting.” Fast forward to today, and I’ve painted hundreds of kits. My studio has become my happy place, and I’m completely obsessed with the world of paint by numbers. The process is incredibly rewarding. Try. Fail. Refine. Repeat.

I imagine I’ll go through the same process with my children’s books. Authors often say that the first book is where you make all your mistakes—it’s a learning experience and a chance to figure out the process. While I’m very proud of my first children’s book, Jama and the Search for Courage, I’m already looking forward to working on the next one, so I can create an even more refined product and sharpen my craft.

There were several things I did to learn about the children’s book industry and to achieve my goal of publishing my first book. Most importantly, I invested in myself. I spent countless hours watching YouTube videos by children’s book author guru Eevi Jones, attended online classes and seminars, listened to podcasts, read books about writing, marketing, and selling children’s books, went to book fairs, and joined a global community for children’s book creators.

Sanyu, 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’m a Ugandan-American children’s book author based in Houston, Texas. My journey to becoming an author started in seventh grade, when I wrote a book as part of a middle school English project. That book sat on my childhood bedroom bookshelf for decades until it was time for my parents to downsize their home. My mom rediscovered the book and brought it to our family reunion in the summer of 2024. She encouraged me to publish it and here we are. I self-published my first children’s book, Jama and the Search for Courage, and it came out in February 2025.

My stories explore universal themes through the lens of a unique setting – an African village. By weaving relevant themes into the fabric of African culture, my stories resonate with readers across the globe while celebrating the richness of Africa’s traditions, landscapes, and daily life.

My stories highlight values integral to African experiences—such as deep connections between family and community, gathering around hearty and delicious meals and showing respect to elders —while resonating with readers from all walks of life.

One challenge the African Diaspora faces is finding books with characters who reflect their children’s identities. I’ve had several conservations with parents of African children, expats with kids in international schools, and educators who value diverse, global perspectives in children’s literature. They have all expressed an interest in finding children’s books that represent African culture and experiences.

My books give children, especially those of African descent, the chance to see themselves represented in literature. They provide an opportunity to celebrate diversity and global experiences which, in turn, allow underrepresented and often marginalized children to feel seen, heard, and valued in the world of books. At the same time, I hope readers from other cultures will connect with and take joy in the universal language of storytelling.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the confidence I gain after producing something I’m truly proud of. I can’t begin to describe the joy I felt when my illustrator sent me the final draft of my book cover. We had gone through several rounds of edits, and with each tweak, it got closer and closer to my vision. When I finally saw that final draft on my screen, I screamed, jumped out of my chair, and danced for three minutes straight to the music playing in my head. I was elated, to say the least. Seeing something evolve from an idea into a finished masterpiece is absolutely priceless.

Aside from writing books, I also enjoy painting. When I first started, I was terrible—my pieces were one-dimensional and pretty awful. But after years of consistent practice (try, fail, refine, repeat), I’ve grown to love my work. Now, I sometimes look at my paintings and think, “This is amazing, and I created that.” The confidence I’ve built through this journey is something no one can ever take away from me.

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

I truly believe that the meaning of life is to find your gift, and the purpose of life is to give it away. Those are the wise words of fellow creative, Pablo Picasso. I joined the creative journey later in life, as it took me several decades to discover this joy. But once I tapped into my true creative self, I began to flourish.

I’m driven by my desire to become the best version of myself. I aspire to spend time with my higher self. Challenging myself and expressing myself creatively are the most fulfilling ways for me to consistently grow and evolve. That’s what drives me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.AuthorSanyu.com
• Instagram: @authorsanyu
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsanyu
• Other: My Bluesky account is: AuthorSanyu.bksy.social

Image Credits

Jah Mitchell Photography QBN Studios