Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Trenise Ferreira. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Trenise, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?

I went to the University of Southern California for undergrad, and like many of my fellow alumni, I am a VERY proud Trojan! In addition to a great college experience — both educationally and socially — the professors in the Trojan family set me up for success after college by instilling in me a very important lesson during my freshman year in 2008. I had a broadcast journalism professor who worked in the entertainment industry, and, after telling us a story about how he won his first daytime Emmy, he said something I will never forget: “It’s important to hone your craft and be willing to put in the work, but in this industry, opportunity isn’t always based on merit. It’s not what you know or who you know, it’s who knows you.”

It’s who knows YOU.

What did he mean? To be very intentional and strategic with networking, form relationships with people who can open doors and create space for you at the table. As a black woman, I’ve learned throughout my career that this is especially true for us.

Out of college, I pursued a career in sports journalism, then pivoted to sports publicity, then pivoted again to a more traditional corporate communications career. While my work ethic and strong resume spoke for my abilities, I can attribute many of the career opportunities I’ve had over the last decade to following my professor’s advice and making sure to forge relationships with people who could make a difference for me. In fact, every job I’ve successfully landed? Each of those has come as a result of a referral from someone with sway and influence in the hiring process. Connections are key in any industry; developing them can make all the difference.

Now, as a children’s book author, I’m using these same relationship-building skills to form relationships with editors, booksellers, influencers, and educators, as they are the people who can help me better connect with future readers and other opportunities to sell my books.

When it comes to building relationships, it’s important to develop them at two levels: peer-to-peer, as well as mentor/mentee relationships. The former is important because having a strong support system of peers going through the same things as you at the same time is helpful as you navigate career success, challenges, and opportunities. The latter is helpful when it comes to advancing, navigating the unwritten rules of any industry, and receiving direct mentoring to develop in your career.

If you want to level up your networking game, I recommend identifying ways that you can be of use to the people you want to form a connection with. Being helpful to people makes you memorable, and people are so much more amenable to helping you, giving a referral, or extending their reputation on your behalf.

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.

I am a Jamaican-American writer who has been telling stories my entire career: as a college football journalist, a publicist at Walt Disney World Resort, and currently as a corporate communications professional and children’s book author. I studied Broadcast Journalism at USC and got my masters in Multimedia Journalism from UC Berkeley, which helped me to sharpen my storytelling skills and paved the foundation for my career.

But when I was in third grade, my teacher said that I should write books when I grew up – and Mrs. Buckner got it right! Wonder and imagination are at the heart of my stories, and I strive to create worlds where children can get lost between the pages, laugh and learn along the way. I’ve been a children’s author for the past three years, which has been such a fun extension of my career in in writing/communications.

An active member of the SCBWI Los Angeles chapter, I am also a graduate of the Children’s Book Academy and The Voice Roadmap writing programs. I was selected as an inaugural mentee for the 2022 Picture Book Rising Stars program and am currently a 2023 We Need Diverse Books mentee. Most recently, I won the SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Most Promising Picture Book Award (fiction). I’m represented by Hilary Harwell at KTLiterary, and you can find me in her natural habitat – on Twitter or Instagram! – @TreniseFerreira.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve been a children’s book writer for the last three years, and my big dream in this space is to be the Kobe Bryant of picture books and middle-grade novels. I’m building the foundation currently for a career that will span many genres and age groups, and thought I cannot share any news at this time publicly about projects in the works, check out my social profiles in mid 2024 and you might find some exciting news!

I write stories that center black kids and remind them that they are valued just as they are. That they can dream big dreams, that they can be silly, that they can be the main character in a story, not just those about blackness and overcoming obstacles. I also write stories about the wonder of the world around us and beautiful moments of humanity that connect us, rather than divide. When we foster curiosity in children rather than fear/exclusion, we can shape a brighter future for all.

I want to one day have my books included in Black History Month roundups and on featured tables at Barnes & Nobles for seasonal holiday favorites. Being a best-seller would be amazing, but for me, I will have my “Mamma, I made it!” moment when USC and UC Berkeley add me to their “notable alumni” Wikipedia pages. That’s the dream!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There’s something so incredibly satisfying about having an idea in your head and doing the work to give those characters shape — to give them a body, a voice, a personality, a world. So many people have good ideas for stories but never see them through. But putting pen to paper — or keys to keyboard — and creating a beginning, middle and ending of a story is so special. It’s yours! You made a whole entire world of characters that, with revision and polishing and rewriting, people can one day have the chance to get to know and love as much as you do.

There are few industries where you can truly make something from scratch, and writing is one of them. When I think of the characters who once lived in my head but who now live on a page and sit in editors’ inboxes, ready to make friends, it fills me with optimism and excitement for my future as a writer.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @treniseferreira
• Linkedin: @treniseferreira
• Twitter: @treniseferreira