They had such unique and strong personalities that watching their growth through adversity gave me the hope I needed to survive our current global pandemic. I was rewarded with seeing them come to life on the page. I had to know what each one felt at every turn.

When I think about my writing process, I realize that Jo Jo and Sophie wrote their own stories. Having them as fraternal twins made their characters similar but different when you add the boy/girl aspect. As twins, they needed to connect in ways that siblings relate to each other but share an even deeper bond. So, when my editor at Little Bee Books said that he wanted a story with alternating point-of-views (POVs), I immediately thought of Josiah (Jo Jo) and Josephine (Sophie). JAD: I always wanted to do a story with fraternal twins. Right now, I’m working on several manuscripts. It will be available to the public in July. Hurricane Katrina, debuted through Follett Book Fairs last year. I finally signed with Lara Perkins from the Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2019. As I began receiving recognition for my writing like being accepted into the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature (RUCCL) conference and winning the SCBWI Emerging Voices Award, I knew I was getting close to a deal.

I attended lots of writing conferences in Raleigh, Charlotte, LA, NYC and more, where I learned the technique of crafting my stories. Next, I found a critique group for fantasy writing, MAGIC. I sought out a writing community and found the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Carolina chapter (SCBWIC) and the support I needed to realize my dream. That’s when I realized that maybe I could be a writer. I wrote a chapter book for my kids and they loved it. It began when I read stories to my children and wanted to see more representation of Black characters in picture books and chapter books. JAD: My journey began even before I started writing. Please join us in saluting Judy Allen Dodson on Day 5. A name to watch, we look forward to all of the amazing stories she’ll bring to life. For years, she has celebrated Black children’s book authors and illustrators in her professional life and community service. Love shines in every part of their journey.Īn advocate for children’s literature diversity, Judy is a co-ambassador of the Raleigh-Durham Chapter of The Authors Guild and helped organize the Black Voices: Pushing for Change in Children’s Book Publishing series this summer. In a powerful story of courage, determination, resilience and family bonds, Allen Dodson gives us twin heroes who weather a devastating storm outside and the emotional storm of a mom battling cancer. Hurricane Katrina, Judy Allen Dodson added another title to her impressive list of credentials – children’s book author. With the publication of her debut novel, Escape from.

Are You a Bee? by Judy Allen