Always an Adventure: Creating "Grace"
As a parent, I always try to find creative ways to teach my children lessons, explain challenging subjects, or find a new way to have an adventure. I want to raise kind and confident kids but never thought it would lead me to write children’s books.
I’ve always wanted to raise my children to be who they are 100 percent of the time, freely. My son loves experimenting with his hair. He’s had Mohawks, braids, a massive fro, and now locs. But he’s always been confident when rocking a new style.
My oldest daughter wore a tutu every day for a year. I had to learn how to make more to make sure she wasn’t wearing the same one every day. Then she switched to bright, vibrant, mismatched clothing in which she felt terrific. She was confident.
My youngest loved wearing two different shoes, long sleeves with shorts and tights in the summer – going or completely naked. There was no middle ground, but she was confident.
Growing up, I always had a pen and paper in my hand or some backpack with me. I was shy and introverted, but I faked it when I had to be outgoing. I started writing song lyrics and remixing my favorite songs and poetry. I wanted to be a songwriter; I bought books to educate myself. I purchased dictionaries full of rhyming words just in case I got stuck. I let someone whose approval I craved stop me. They told me, “There’s no money in writing or publishing. Not everyone will be successful in writing. It would be best if you were a nurse. We need nurses.”
I HATED nursing school, and even my professors could tell. I was miserable. I found a public relations job and still wrote in my free time. I helped artists and authors write biographies, press releases, and interviews. I wrote copy for websites and social media posts, edited books and memoirs, and more. It was a fantastic opportunity.
I found a group of women writers who encouraged me to write and see what happens. In 2020, I was inspired to write my first book, “Alphabet Dreams,” inspired by my youngest, who struggled to count correctly. “1, 2, 54, 75, 3” – so, telling her non-sleeping self to count sheep would be pointless, but she knew her alphabet, so I created “Alphabet Dreams.” It was an impulsive creation, inspired by an emotion, and it took me less than 30 minutes to write, a week to illustrate, and a week to get released. I was gaining confidence and wrote five more books over two years but released none of them.
How could I tell my kids to be confident and follow their hearts if I’m not doing the same? So, I’ve launched the Grace series.
In “Grace’s Underwater Adventure,” our hero helps a young fish named Ziggy who has gotten lost and isn’t confident in finding his friends on his own.
Grace decides to stay with Ziggy and help him along the way. She shows kindness and encouragement. As they go on their journey, Ziggy becomes more confident, and his colors change. He becomes brighter and livelier. He’s no longer dull and hiding but brightly racing towards the future with his friends.
It shows that kindness to others often makes them beautiful not only on the inside, but on the outside too.
“Grace’s Underwater Adventure” is now available on Amazon.
Nakeshia Shannon is a photographer, writer, and mother of three. Visit her online at NakeshiaRenee.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Always an Adventure: Nakeshia Shannon starts a new book series for kids
