Kimberley B. Jones is a professional early childhood educator and children’s book author. Currently, Kimberley is branching off into writing fiction, young adult and new adult literature, and adult novels on issues in society. She is releasing her latest book, “Our Friendship Matters,” and several others soon.
After receiving her education and being a military spouse, Kim held several jobs as a preschool teacher and a preschool director. Still, she wanted to put her knowledge to use by writing children’s books. She wrote her first book in college for her children’s literature course. Since then, Kim has self-published several children’s books located on Amazon.
Born in the small town of Saint George, South Carolina, the author graduated from Woodland High School in 2000, Benedict College in 2004 with a B.S., Child & Family Development, and from Ashford University in 2013 with a Masters in Early Childhood Education.
Kim loves writing and wouldn’t change it for anything in this world. She is now represented by the great publishing company Rhetoric Askew. Meet the author below.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Kimberley, Kimberley?
Kimberley: What makes me, me is my passion for writing and expressing how I feel about situations in life. But it is not only about how I feel but to also inspire change in the world, with hopes of letting the world know how others think and may react to situations. Everyone will not see things the way you see them, but I want people to know, it’s okay, and the world will change with or without you. My writing is my voice and how I see potential in a changed- society.
Fancy: How did you fall in love with writing?
Kimberley: In middle school, one of my friends and I used to play around in writing, but I never had an interest until college.
Fancy: You have several titles under your belt, particularly several children’s books. Is your upcoming book, “Our Friendships Matter,” a children’s book, and can you tell us more about it?
Kimberley: In “Our Friendship Matters,” these two girls graduate from a St. Louis, Missouri, private school. But during the summer, they become enemies because one friend decides to protest for her race: one black and one white. But once a tragic accident happens, one must come forward, to tell the truth by leaning on the friend she betrayed.
Sasha is the smart one who works hard to get good grades. They both have the jocks at school. Leah doesn’t care; what she says goes, and if it doesn’t go her way, then expect to pay. When one friend is interested in protesting, the other gets jealous of the other’s new friends and goes against her. It’s all about revenge.
It takes a tragic accident, threats, and leaving the city for one friend to realize that she made a huge mistake. A threat that will make all the high school friends come together and protect her.
Fancy: So what was your inspiration behind “Our Friendship Matter”?
Kimberley: What inspired me to write “Our Friendship Matters” was when African Americans started the Black Lives Matters movement. I would search the internet and watch the news. I would see other groups, like Whites Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, and Blue Lives Matter, forming against the Black Lives Matter movement, taking the focus off the real issue. In my view, it wasn’t fair or right. The reason Black Lives Matter started was to stop police brutality against African Americans, which has been happening for decades. Yes, all colors are brutalized by police. But in all reality, African Americans suffer the most.
Another reason I wrote this book is for African American parents who shelter their children from the truth. This isn’t good all the time. Children need to be aware of certain things that could happen because of who they are. That way, when they are faced with reality, they can handle the truth and know what to expect in certain situations.
The world is becoming more diverse, and our children are the future that can make a change. In this book, two best friends struggle with their friendship because they have been sheltered by money and do not appreciate the role race could play in their lives. Sometimes, we have to sit back and think to ourselves on the point we fought for. We need to think about what we can do to make things better. It starts with the youth, who are the future. If we can reach out to them, we can help them, and they can help us make this world a better place.
Fancy: Do you often draw inspiration from your children and/or students?
Kimberley: Absolutely. As teachers and parents, we have some knowledge of what children like to read because we spend most of our time with them.
Fancy: I read somewhere that you had an interest in writing children’s books about slavery. Would any of your books be categorized that way?
Kimberly: I started off writing children’s books because my motto was, “young children deserve to learn history.” I was fortunate to have a grandma who lived until she was 94 years old, to share with me all her stories of her coming up through the Marcus Garvey Movement, Great Depression, boycotting chain stores, World War I & II, The Great Migration, Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights Movement. I wanted children to know history to make life better for those who pave the way for African Americans today.
I wrote my first children’s book in college, and the book that inspired me was “White Sox Only.” It was a cute book about a young African American girl who was confused about signs posted that said, “white’s only.” She does not understand the concept of race, but only understands the color.
Fancy: Do you have a writing routine? If so, please share.
Kimberley: On the weekends, I start writing first thing in the morning. If my son allows it, I can get a full day of writing. During the weekdays after work, I try to do my daily chores and get writing in for a while. Then, I have to stop to get my 6-year-old son into bed by 8:00 pm. After that, it’s back to writing for me.
Fancy: So how do you balance teaching, writing, and your family?
Kimberley: I have to, but some days I come home too tired to write, so I have to save it for the weekends. That’s why I hope I will gain an audience that loves my writing so that I can become a full-time writer and balance my time with my son going to school and giving him more attention.
Fancy: How do you practice self-care?
Kimberley: I always try to manage time for myself. It’s not easy to do with a husband in the army and a six-year-old who is an only child that craves his mother’s attention. As a mother, you have to get it in where it fits.
Fancy: Do you have any upcoming projects or events that you care to share?
Kimberley: Yes, I am working on a romance box-set project with my publishing company, which is new to me because I never thought in a day that I would be writing romance. For myself, I am working on a suspense young adult novel that will knock teenagers off their feet.
Connect with Kimberley below.
Website: www.kimberleybjones.com
Twitter: @KimberleyBJones
Instagram: @authorkimberleybjones
Facebook: @AuthorKimberleyBJones
