Y’all!!!
We did it!!!!
We successfully launched my coloring activity book!
I truly have you guys and so many others to thank for this amazing milestone on my writing journey!
The launch, during the week of January 18th, was such a hit! I was also able to support several Black-owned businesses by purchasing books from their stores and using them as a part of the week long celebration as giveaways. I did the giveaways for my Instagram followers. So if you’re not following me on IG yet, head over there right quick and follow me on Instagram, so you don’t miss out on what’s ahead!
Why did I choose to highlight Black-owned businesses during my launch?
Black-owned businesses are truly near and dear to my heart. I feel that many times, especially the smaller ones, don’t get nearly as much shine as they deserve! My goal in celebrating the entire week was of course to get my coloring activity into as many children’s hands as possible. However, I also wanted to feature some pretty dope business owners and do my part to help stir up some business for them.
I think I was able to crush this goal on both ends. The first week of my launch saw close to 80 coloring books sold! I also went live each night that week to raffle off a book from one of these stores.
In total, there were close to 640 views of those videos! That means 640 extra eyeballs were on those stores. 640 potential new customers were shown beautiful and excellent book offerings and merchandise from these businesses. I don’t know about you, but I’m not too sure most businesses in this age of COVID get 640 customers through their doors in any given week these days!
So I count my launch week as a total win on all accounts!
The businesses and owners I highlighted were Brown Boy Brown Girl owned by Teresa Baker, Be Bomb BookClub, owned by Christina Williams, Lora McClain Muhammad, who is the author of the best-selling I Need You to Know ABCs of Black Girl Magic and a Young King’s Greatness which is a coloring book series, and Jermecia L. Starks the author of Dr. Jam: The Kid Doctor of Education picture book and coloring book. Please, please, head over to their websites and shops and check them out to support them! Thanks a million!
Of course, if you’d like to order The Rumble Hunters Coloring Activity book, you can find it right here on my blog’s shop! You might also want to check out some of the brand new and might I add CUTE merchandise I’ve recently added. I created a brand new illustration of James, my book’s main character to celebrate Black History Month. He has found his way onto a sticker and a few shirts for the kiddos! 😉
I know that since the launch, I’ve been pretty quiet.
My apologies!
Shortly after the launch, I was approached with a really cool opportunity to partner with six other Black women children’s book authors for a virtual book tour during the month of February aka Black History Month!
We literally put together an ENTIRE book tour in roughy a week and a half! 😅😅
It’s been an entire whirlwind, but also so very refreshing to collaborate with these highly driven and extremely accomplished authors! They are also passionate about sharing stories that feature Black and Brown characters with children everywhere, just like me!
In our planning, we started with the simple, yet profound concept that when we unite, we are better together. What the six of us have been able to achieve in this short time has proven this many times over!
(Her)story: The Children’s Book Virtual Tour has already booked a handful of tour stops stateside, and will be heading to Germany (virtually of course) at the end of the month! We’ve been featured on WURD Radio, with Syreeta Martin, which is a local radio station in Philadelphia, PA. And are grateful to have been able to share our aspirations for this tour far and wide.
The line-up of spectacular authors (and let me add they’re all self-published!) includes: my friend that I previously mentioned, Lora McClain Muhammad. Her best-selling coloring book series, I Need You To Know: ABCs of Black Girl Magic and a Young King’s Greatness, have already sold over 26,000 coloring books in roughly two years, give or take!
Amanda Lynch, the stellar author of six children’s books, including My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams, is co-written with her daughter Ava Holloway. It was inspired after a chance photo of Ava went viral this summer. She was shown in her ballet costume with a friend as they posed in front of the statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee.
Virtuous Cornwall, two-time author of the Animalsville series which promotes community, good hygiene, and communication, successfully launched her newest book Virus Busters last week! It has risen to the #1 new release spot on Amazon in its category already!
Sharifa Anozie, another best selling author, has penned two books, It’s In You and her newest project, Sibling Love, which she successfully fully funded in less than a month on Kickstarter late last year.
Lastly, Sheryl Smiley-Oliphant brings a well rounded view of Black fatherhood and the Black family in her books, My Daddy Doesn’t Need a Cape and New Baby Coming, New Baby Here!
It is an honor to take my seat amongst these phenomenal women! We have seen what can be achieved when we unite for a common purpose in the example of the election of our first ever Madam Vice President Kamala Harris, even if your political stance doesn’t align. With this tour, our hope us to inspire children (and even adults), that when we unite, there’s not limits to what we can do!
If you know any educators or if you’re an educator yourself, I’d love for you to consider bringing (Her)story: The Children’s Book Virtual Tour to your school or organization! You can email us at herstorybooktour@gmail.com. Or feel free to drop me a note right here on this post. I promise I check them! 😅🤗
Words cannot express how grateful I am for your support over the years. You guys truly do rock!
Thanks so much for the love!
Blessings,
Courtney
P.S. Be on the look out for a new lesson plan related to our family’s homeschool studies in ancient history. Our co-op has been pretty busy while all this that I mentioned in this post has been going on in the background. I’m working on a special Black History unity study (prayers please for me to finish before the month ends! lol) Either way, I cannot wait to share it with you all!
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
