How to become a children’s book author, and why does representation matter? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Tameka Fryer Brown – Observer, Striver, Recovering Perfectionist
3:05 – Welcome fellow North Miami Senior High Pioneer! Class of 1988!
7:06 – “Reading a book with my daughter changed my life.”
9:01 – We are all made up of patterns from our past.
13:12 – Will kids today go through the same mid-life shift as us?
15:30 – A rejection letter opened the door to success.
17:16 – Did you learn the craft of writing or marketing first?
23:06 – The best literary agents are the ones that guide your career.
25:32 – How do you know when you’ve found your voice?
33:15 – A book can have a universal story and be a source of representation at the same time.
34:04 – “Publishing is 80% white” and there are not enough books, even about black stories, written by “own voices.”
37:38 – If someone is trying to diversify the inputs, are there are certain authors, curators, and lists that we can go to?
40:13 – What to read to learn more about racism right now?
43:42 – What was your experience in high school?
46:32 – High school to me, was still mostly white
50:07 – How do you stay ‘pure’ when writing? How do you write what you want to write, while also writing a book that will sell?
59:06 – “Sometimes the nostalgic feeling hits me.”
Social Links
Instagram: @tamekafryerbrown
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamekafryerbrown.author
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamekafryerbrown
Twitter: @teebrownkidlit
Other Links:
https://tamekafryerbrown.com
https://thebrownbookshelf.com
https://www.diversedebuts.com
https://sowing-circle.com
Resources mentioned!
https://bookshop.org/shop/brainlairbooks
https://thebrownbookshelf.com
https://diversebooks.org/](https://diversebooks.org
Washington Post Best Selling Author and Motivational Keynote speaker, Laura Gassner Otting, inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo because her presentations make listeners think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their limited scope of belief.
She delivers strategic thinking, well-honed wisdom, and perspective generated by decades of navigating change across the start-up, nonprofit, political, as well as philanthropic landscapes. Laura dares listeners to find their voice, and generate the confidence needed to tackle larger-than-life challenges. She leads them to seek new ways of leading, managing and mentoring others.