We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiffany Obeng. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiffany below.
Hi Tiffany, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
As an indie publisher, part of my self-care plan is to give myself daily grace. Grace looks like not forcing creativity, or not getting down on myself for missing a self-imposed deadline, or allowing myself rest. Creative breaks are a must for me, especially as a “rapid publisher.” Giving myself grace and taking breaks allows me to reset, refuel, and avoid burn out. In 2022, I took a break after releasing 10 books in 8 months. I did not set a deadline for my break. I went with the flow. During the break, new ideas starting coming to me. After about 3 months, I ended my break and started work on 5 more books. I felt refreshed. I felt re-energized. I felt refocused. We are mothers, wives, entrepreneurs, and full time employees. We can do it all, but not at the expense of ourselves ever.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I create children’s picture books that inspire, educate, and normalize our Black children. All of my children’s books feature Black child characters and families in workspaces where they have historically been absent and in universal situations. My catalogue of books range from career books for kids, to seasons books, to SEL books, to self-love books, and more. What is most special about what I do is that I do not pigeon-hole myself to one type of children’s book. I am able to stretch my talent and creativity with rhyming picture books, early reader chapter books, or lyrical books. I can write fiction and I can write non-fiction. I am versatile.
As a mother of a Black son, most of my literature feature Black boys as main characters. I did not realize this was lacking in kid’s literature. So, this also excites me to know I am diversifying children’s picture books in more ways than I anticipated.
If you had to pick three qualities that have you helped you navigate the industry, which three would you pick?
As an attorney by trade, I have been able to utilize a number of qualities and skills as an indie author. Two of the most important skills are my ability to research and my ability to synthesize large amounts of information. Another skill is my ability to communicate in a way that makes sense to my reader audience. Particularly for my non-fiction kids’ career books, I am able to find and gather information and then break down that information in a way that kids can understand and be inspired to learn more.
If you had a wish list, who would be on your list of people or businesses you would want to collaborate with? You never know, they may read this.
I would love the opportunity to collaborate with skin care brand Black Girl Magic. My book, My Summer Skin is Radiant, is a beautiful children’s picture book that encourages children (and adults) to love their skin color all times of year. As it follows two children’s summer days and play, I also want to encourage sun safety and I think a collaboration with Black Girl Magic sunscreen would be phenomonal.
Similarly, I would love to collaborate with Black boy hair care line Young King Hair Care on my book, Black Boy Hair Joy. As indicated by its title, Black Boy Hair Joy is a celebration of Black boys’ hair. It is a hair love book for Black boys that feature a range of cool hair cuts and even honors our Black boys as kings! I think a collaboration with Young King Hair Care would totally be on par.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sugarcookiebooks.
com - Instagram: www.instagram.com/
sugarcookiebooks - Facebook: www.facebooks.com/
sugarcookiebooks
Image Credits
Mock ups created with Placeit
