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

Hi Kimberly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My love for fiction began at an early age with writing short stories and poetry. I spent much of my career working with non-profit organizations that focus on family and children, but always maintained my passion for creative writing. After writing a poem about the relationship between my mother and niece, I decided to turn it into a story that resulted in my first children’s book entitled Grandma Had a Grandma Too. That led me to establish my own publishing company, Azure Dusk Publishing, LLC.

Through my company, I want to share inspiring stories with early readers that have a positive impact on how they perceive themselves and interact with others, especially African American children and other children of color identified as BIPOC, which is Black Indigenous and People of Color.

The BIPOC reading community is an underserved audience in the children’s book genre. I passionately believe that books with diverse characters should be in the hands of children from all backgrounds to promote character diversity and inclusiveness.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I believe what sets me apart is the passion I have for telling stories that speak to the heart, the joys of being a child, and that reflect the simple experiences that people have growing up that turn into cherished memories. I had a wonderful childhood full of love from my parents, brother and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and extended family. I can remember vividly the times that we shared together and I get much of my stories’ inspiration from those moments in my life. I’ve been told by adult readers that my books help them recall moments from their own childhoods, and that motivates them to focus on creating memorable experiences with the children in their lives.

The journey to where I am today was not easy, and it took a while for me to get here. As a child, I created my own children’s picture books using crayons and poster boards. The seed for my future was planted then.

After college, I immediately started working and that took me away from the creative space for some time. Instead of writing fiction, I wrote PSAs, corporate speeches, and non-profit feature stories. However, during my personal time, I never put down my creative writing pen. I continued to write poetry and short stories. Later in life, the seed that I planted years ago sprouted because my passion for writing children’s picture books never died, and I decided to refocus on that.

I got here through hard work, a lot of reading, and research to understand the children’s picture book genre. I am extremely proud of the books that I have written so far; Grandma Had a Grandma Too, I am Wonderfully Made, and Grandpa Had a Grandpa Too. These interactive and universal stories appeal to children ages 3 – 8 years old, but older children and adults love them as well. The simplicity of the language is perfect for reading aloud as a bedtime or anytime story.

My passion for writing my own stories inspired me to help other aspiring authors publish their books. I provide consulting services for the self-publishing process, writing, editing, and proofreading. I want to help others succeed and share the knowledge that I have gained through learning the process of how to create my own book from start to finish. It is so satisfying to help other authors and see how happy they are when they hold their completed books in their hands.

I think that the traditional work model is somewhat antiquated in today’s world. So many people today are doing their own thing career-wise, and I love that. I believe that is a big win for creatives because we can sometimes feel depleted and incomplete when we work outside of our passion, and there is always that little tap on the shoulder telling us that we should be doing something else.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely take my friend to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, The Dallas World Aquarium, the Fort Worth Zoo, and Fort Worth Water Gardens. We’d also take a stroll in downtown Fort Worth and downtown Grapevine. The Stockyards National Historic District is a great place to explore.

As far as dining is concerned, I like The Tavern on Hulen Street. The place is really pretty, and the Salmon is nice. The Fixe Southern House is another nice restaurant. I especially like their shrimp and grits, and the ambiance is nice too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are three people that come to mind. First and foremost, I want to shout out my mother who has always loved and supported me in whatever I do. Secondly, my husband who is my biggest cheerleader and has pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone. Last but not least, my friend, artist, and graphic designer Nicole Collie. She is able to interpret the descriptions that I give her of the book pages into beautiful illustrations that represent what I believe young readers will enjoy.

Website: www.kimberlyluttery.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lutterykimberly/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-luttery-76809b110/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyBarrettLutteryBooks

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