Birmingbelle of the Week: Antonee Boykin
Antonee Boykin has been writing short stories and other creative pieces since she was a child. But it wasn’t until she had children of her own that Antonee began to wonder if she should be children’s book author.
Antonee recently published Alex & Tony Learn to Be Gentlemen, which is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The book, illustrated by Dia Reddo, even garnered Antonee a spot on the ABC 33/40 show “Talk of Alabama. (Check out the clip after the jump.)
Antonee calls Birmingham her second home. Her family moved to the Magic City from Mobile, Ala., when she was 10 years old. She moved back to Mobile in high school, but returned to Birmingham in 2005.
Read on to learn more about Antonee’s new book and what she loves about Birmingham.
What inspired you to write Alex and Tony Learn to Be Gentlemen?
My twin 9-year-old sons were the inspirations. They are always asking questions about a variety of things – some things are easy to answer while some questions may be a little difficult. The idea for the Alex and Tony series was a result of the questions they’ve had and the various things that we discuss. The series will cover topics that teach kids a variety of lessons and deal with things that they may possibly encounter. It’s my hope that these stories will open dialogue between children and adults.
How did you go about getting your book published?
I went the self published route for my book. While I would have loved to be published traditionally, that process can take a long time and I just didn’t want to wait! I wanted to start getting the stories published that I had written without having to wait for responses for the manuscripts that I submitted. I’m really happy with the way things have gone and are going regarding the publishing of this book.
What advice would you give to aspiring children’s books writers?
From a self publishing standpoint, I’d advise an aspiring children’s book writer to make sure the illustrations compliment the story and vice versa. The illustrator that I worked with did an awesome job of making visual what I had imagined. While I feel that my story is a great one, kids are also intrigued by pictures and the illustrations definitely brought the story to life.
What do you love about Birmingham?
I’ve always loved Birmingham’s rich history. I’ve been to the Civil Rights Institute several times and still I get amazed at all the historical things that’s taken place in this city and how it was such a vital part of the Civil Rights Movement. Downtown Birmingham in itself has had so many momentous things take place, and I love the reminder that it serves of how times have really changed for the better and how fortunate I am today.
Do you think Birmingham is a good place for writers to live?
Definitely! Especially with writing groups like See Jane Write, Alabama Media Professionals, and Southern Breeze just to name a few! These are great groups for writers within the city and contribute to making Birmingham a good place for writers to live.
Awesome post 🙂
I’m happy for you Antonee!
Would love to see the men step up and teach the young men out there.