Your Hostess
Toni Morrison said it best: “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” My journey in storytelling began when I was a child. and has evolved through my career as a journalist, author, and publishing consultant. My passion for writing led me to found the Merze Tate Explorers, the world’s only all-girl travel writers organization. Now, I want to use my powers for even more good, by providing a platform for diverse authors and professionals in the publishing industry.
What are the challenges to sharing stories that celebrate, inspire, and educate the world from a diverse perspective? What are the challenges in getting these stories published?Who are some of the phenominal women who have succeeded in this arena?
This is what “Girls Talk Books” is all about. Now, get out your yellow legal pad and get ready to be inspired and entertained!
Let’s go Write, Now!
Sonya
APRIL
Featured Authors
When Michelle and her mother wrote a book to mentor girls of color they were excited. Then, they were constantly turned down by agents and publishers. The message they had to share was important, so they decided to publish the book themselves. Today, Michelle is the founder of Positive Push Press, a full-service publishing company geared toward sharing the stories that represent Christian voices in the publishing industry.
Check it out!
Success is more than money and Coach N’aimah shares that lesson with women across the globe as a life and business coach. N’aimah inspires women through the challenges she faced as a business owner and her road to earning six figures. Her methods and inspirations are what make Lady Khadijah Institute a success. Her book, Stop Saying and Start Doing:Transform Your Financial Future is changing the game of wealth and health.
Check it out!
It’s never hard to put your family business in the streets, but Shonda has done it with grace in her book, Black Indian . In addition, her new book of poetry, The Lost Songs of Nina Simone, is a (soon to be released) tribute to the legendary singer and civil rights activists. Shonda uses her words to bring power to storytelling. Listen to this podcast as she shares why memoir writers are the new family griots. Learn more about Shonda and her work at Shonda Buchanan.com
Check it out!
When Leah was a student at Clark Atlanta University, she worked with youth to help them write their own books. That love for helping youth write their way into royalties was the beginning of Young Authors Publishing and later MUSE, an adult publishing company. Her desire to amplify diverse voices is the mission behind what she does as a Black Global Publisher who offers everything from publishing to virtual summits that bring together leaders in the publishing industry.
Check it out!
Girls Talk Books Jr.
Little Eddie Goes to Carnegie Hall
What happens when a little boy takes an adventure with his music teacher to New York’s Carnegie Hall? Musical magic! Little Eddie Goes to Carnegie Hall is the story of Little Eddie, who accompanies his music teacher to an audition at Carnegie Hall. What Little Eddie learns along the way, and on the stage, inspires him to dream BIG! Merze Tate Explorer Cianna Hobson takes viewers on a visit to the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra to meet the real-life Edward Callahan in this musical book performance.
Watch more Girls Talk Books Jr. episodes on our YouTube Channel!
Edward Callahan, the inspiration for the book, performed to the reading of the book during a Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Storytime concert. The story, read by Von Washington, Jr., features Callahan, who earned a #1 Billboard rating for his classical album, Crazy Etunes. Check out the performance here!
Order your copy of Little Eddie Goes to Carnegie Hall TODAY!
And, check out Crazy Etudes BUY HERE!
Jammin’ in Kalamazoo
What happens when a publishing company, community organization, and Grammy-winning jazz composer unite? They Jam! Musical magic was created with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra commissioned Sonya Hollins and Season Press LLC, to create a musical story that celebrates community, music, and the power of youth voices. The book, Jammin’ in Kalamazoo, was the set to music by Branford Marsalis, former Tonight Show band leader, Grammy-award-winning composer, and more! More than 1,000 community members of all ages and backgrounds came out to support the debut of Jammin’ in the fall of 2023. Since then, the book has been a best-seller on Amazon and continues to bring joy to children throughout Michigan during KSO school visits where the story is read while KSO musicians perform.
In the book illustrated by Dennis Reid, three music students go into action after the community music teacher loses her home to a fire. Each put aside their desires to win a community talent show and work together to earn enough funds to make a dream come true for their music teacher. Characters in the book were crafted with the help of local music students who wanted to exemplify how musical mentors in the community impacted their lives.
Below are images from the debut: Branford Marsalis (kneeling) poses with members of the KSO, Season Press LLC, and musician Edward Callahan. Center, Jessica Mallow Gulley, KSO executive director, congratulates Von Washington Jr, after his amazing performance as narrator of Jammin’ in Kalamazoo.
Check out Jammin’ in Kalamazoo on Amazon. And…please LEAVE A REVIEW!
Praise for Jammin’ in Kalamazoo:
“It was such a fun experience to bring together music and storytelling in Jammin’ in Kalamazoo; it stimulates kids’ imaginations through words and sound.” – Branford Marsalis – Grammy-Winning Artist and composer of Jammin’ in Kalamazoo.
“I deeply appreciate the tribute in Jammin’ in Kalamazoo to my best friend and sister Velvelette, Bertha Barbee-McNeal Bertha co-founded the Velveletters and retired as a music teacher for Kalamazoo Public Schools. In Jammin’, her legacy lives on.” –
Cal Street – International vocalist and original Motown Velvelette
“John (Stites) would have been very happy to know that the storybook is already enriching the lives of many potential jazz fans,” –
Sandy Schaefer – Board of Directors, John Stites Jazz Artist Organization
Resources
You have an idea scattered throughout old notebooks, floppy discs (yes, that’s old!) and computer files. How do you get those ideas into the book you dream of sharing with the world? Sonya Hollins can help! Check out one-on-one and group virtual and in-person sessions.
Networking with a community of writers can motivate you toward completing your book. Check out these writers organizations and learn how to polish that book and prepare it for publishing.
From poetry to short story competitions, the world is waiting to see how you use 26 letters to tell a story. Check out upcoming contests and other opportunities to get one step closer to publishing success.
As you work on your book or seek to meet other authors, check out book events that will get you one step closer to sharing your story with the world.
Keep Writing: Words of Encouragement
Today is the first day of Girls Talk Books! Hooray! I decided to kick this off during Women’s History Month because so many of the women we feature have made history in…
Please stay tuned!