MyMcBooks Interview w/ LaNiyah Bailey
Author Bio: LaNiyah Bailey is a 6‐year‐old author with a message for children like her – just because you are bigger than other kid, that doesn’t mean that people have the right to bully you.
In her debut book, Not Fat Because I Wanna Be
LaNiyah is not only speaking to other children through her book, but has become an advocate for anti‐bullying organizations. With a message that words can hurt and that not all weight gain is due to an unhealthy lifestyle, LaNiyah hopes her book will enlighten and entertain her young readers.
Interview with LaNiyah author of Not Fat Because I wanna Be.
I want to thank you for being my guest here on MyMcBooks Blog.
What inspired you to write? I was inspired to write because I’ve been teased and bullied a lot. I decided that enough was enough; I wanted to use my voice to tell people what happened to me and how it made me feel. Hoping it could make it better for another kid that was getting bullied or teased because they were different.
Do you consider yourself a born writer? I would say yes, to that because I am only six and have written a book already.
Have you had any training to become a writer? No, I never had training. It just came about in my mind and because it something that happened to me it was a little easier.
What type of books do you mostly write? Truth-based; fiction
Can you share with us a little about your current book? It is a story about a fictional girl named Jessica, who had an underlying medical condition that caused her to gain weight. She was being teased and bullied all the time because she was different. Then one day she had the courage to stand up for herself.
What type of book promotion works for you? Any special strategies you’d like to share? My mother and her team promote the book all over the internet. But, we have been going out a lot to places where children are and giving away the book for free, just to get the story out there. Then people come to the website and purchase the book.
What like most about writing? I like that I get to share my feelings and that I can possibly be helping other kids share their story.
Do you find it hard to balance your personal writing time with your other job(s)? I am in kindergarten so it’s not hard to write and go to school. I write when I get home.
Do you have any other works in progress? Can you share a little about them? Well, I am trying to come up with another story right now for my 2nd book. I am working with my mom on putting together a TV cooking show that we want to do with me and a celebrity.
Tell us about your writing space? We write all over our house. Paper and pens are everywhere. hahaha
Do you do first drafts on a computer or by hand? My mom wrote down my story with a pen and paper then she typed it up to do the editing.
What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write? Well, I imagined my story in my mind, along with the true things that happened and that’s how I created it.
Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards? I haven’t been in any contests or anything for my book.
What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone? You should use the courage from inside you and share it with others because you may be helping someone else with your story.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us? Yes, I plan on writing more books soon and I hope this book helps a lot of kids and inspires them to stand up for themselves and stops bullies from bullying others because of their differences.
I thank you for taking the time to share with my readers about being an author. And I thank you, for having me today. I had a great time and I really appreciate you helping share my message and my book “Not fat because I wanna be”. Please visit my website at: www.NotfatbecauseIwannabe.com
Author Website / Blog Address: www.NotFatBecauseIWannaBe.com
Facebook Fan Page
BOOK REVIEW
Product Description: Not Fat Because I Wanna Be by LaNiyah Bailey
In her debut book “Not FAT Because I Wanna Be” 6 year old, author/youth advocate, LaNiyah Bailey, details the struggle of Jessica, a fictional girl who has an underlying medical issue that causes her to gain weight. Bullied by her peers, Jessica learns to accept her body and eventually opens up about her condition to her classmates.
My Review: It’s important to take bullying seriously and not just brush it off as something that kids DO. Looking different do not give anyone the right to be picked on. If you or someone you know is bothered by a bully, talk to someone you trust. This is a great book for parents to read to their children and for teachers to share with their students, to educate them about bullies and the signs of bullying. Highly recommend this book.
That is beautiful that you are taking a stand! I hope that many read and take to heart your message. People should know that they can’t bully others. I am a firm believer in that!