She also reminds writers that it takes longer to produce these books because they are illustrated. With her good succinct direction, Duncan says, “I was able to create something beyond my own vision.” (Note: a good relationship with a good editor is important!)

She started it in 2005, writing about five or six iterations before finally finding an editor at Boyd Mills. She points to the high point as being when “Memphis, Martin and the Mountaintop” was published in August 2018 and was then awarded the 2019 Coretta Scott King honor medal. Finally, it sold in 2017 after being rewritten several times.

“The fortunate child has someone there to mother them,” she said. A whole passel of children is with aunts, great aunts or grandmas stepping in to serve in the role of mothers because biological mothers can’t be there for whatever reason. There’s some intentional ambiguity about whether Mama Rose is an auntie, grandma, etc.ĭuncan says this is because, “Trying times require us to make families. It tells the story of a child who comes to live with Mama Rose. So many people want you to buy into the IG-Facebook façade but there is a process.įor example, her latest book “Just Like A Mama” was released in January of this year. If you have written well, they can envision the right illustrator for your work.”Īsked about the high and low points in her career, she says, transparency is important. After a rewrite, it got picked up by McMillan Publishing, along with another book option, “Aunt Viola and Mr. This gave Duncan the idea to write a children’s book, a picture book titled “Willie Jerome” as her thesis.

Turner told them they could write a children’s books and send them directly to editors without an agent. Mahood invited writer Charles Turner to visit the class. Mahood, who would unwittingly become the portal to her future as an author. So back to school she went at the University of Memphis. Upon graduation, she landed a job at the Memphis Public Library as a children’s librarian. As a graduate student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, her mentor’s love of children’s books proved contagious, planting the seed that eventually would be- come a full bloom writing career. Duncan discovered an affinity for children’s books somewhat early on in her career.

Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan