We had the good fortune of connecting with Belinda Mays and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Belinda, what do you want people to remember about you?
I want my legacy to be my published and spoken words. My goal as an author is to promote literacy and positive family images and I am intentional about the stories that I write and the illustrations that are used to portray my message. Sometimes I joke with my husband and say, “I want to be the Tyler Perry of books”. Tyler has a plethora of movies and stage plays under his belt and I am striving for that quantity in books. Currently, I am working on publishing a book a year for the next 10 years. Like Tyler my foundation is also routed in my belief in God and desire to promote and reflect the black community. Many of my books are based on my real life family figures and experiences. For example, my first children’s book, My Amazing Dad, started off as a Tall Tale speech about my father, Berkins Booker Jr. I decided to publish the book after he passed in 2013. Every time I read that book it is always met with resounding laughter from both kids and adults. That is what I pray my legacy will be. I want people to remember the stories, speeches, and books that made them laugh, helped the learn, or empowered them to be their best.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most proud of my fourth children’s book, I Am, God’s Affirmations For Little Girls. The book was inspired by the affirmations that my husband and I started teaching each of our daughters since they were 2 years old. It recently won two awards, a Book Excellence Award and the 2020 Christian Indie Award in the children’s 4-8 category.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband Dr. Anthony Mays, Director of Schools with the Harris County Department of Education, Toastmasters International

Website: belindamays.com
Instagram: @belindanechelle
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindanechelle/
Twitter: @belindanechelle
Facebook: @belindanechelle
Other: https://www.scbwi.org/members-public/belinda-mays