Q&A

As a former IT executive, what made you decide to write children’s books?

That’s an interesting question! I actually started telling stories when I was about nine years old — long before I ever thought about a career in IT. My love for storytelling has always been a part of who I am. I went to work for IBM thinking I’d stay a couple of years before heading to medical school, but I got hooked on technology (and that steady paycheck!) and ended up staying in the field for more than 40 years. Now it’s time for me to circle back to what I’ve always loved most — telling stories.

What types of stories did you tell when you were 9 years old? Who was your audience?

When I was nine, most of my stories were about my family and our everyday adventures. I’d stop by a neighbor’s house on my way to the grocery store for my mother and entertain them with tales from the Scott household. School incidents often turned into stories too — like the time I had to write 100 times, “The way I behave in school reflects my home training.” I found stories everywhere — in church, on the playground, or shopping trips with my aunt to Marshall Field’s. Life was full of stories, and I loved telling them.

I’d like to give you two words and have you give me a story: octopus and ten!

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Kayla who lived in Philadelphia. For her birthday, all she wanted was a pet — and she decided that an octopus would be perfect. On her big day, her mother handed her a box, and Kayla squealed with excitement. But when she opened it, there wasn’t a real octopus inside at all!
Instead, her mother had made one from an old round pillow — and to Kayla’s surprise, it wasn’t even anatomically correct. Her mom had sewn on ten arms instead of eight! They laughed and laughed. Her mother said, “Kay, you know I wasn’t about to have a live octopus in this house!” Kayla hugged her mom, and from that day forward, Kayla and her love for the octopus with ten arms lived happily ever after.

Where do you get the inspiration for your books?

My inspiration came from my oldest granddaughter. When she was three, I wanted her to have a character she could grow up with — someone she could see herself in. I looked around and couldn’t find a single series featuring an African American girl as the lead character. So I created one. That’s how the KaylaKay series was born.

What other stories will you tell about Kayla?

Kayla has come to visit with me every summer since she was a year old. So I have a really good inventory of stories. The next one: On Sundays, We Go to Church – relates our weekly schedule and then our Saturday ritual getting ready for church on Sunday was published in 2021; Me And Santa, published in 2023. 

I’m currently working on MeeMom and BeePop, which captures Kayla’s perspective on her grandparents, and BeePop Calls Me LadyBug, which explores the origins of family nicknames.

Will you write stories with other characters?

A few years ago, I would’ve said absolutely not — Kayla was my girl! But now that I have twin grandsons, new stories are coming to life. We Are Happy is about how they discover they’re twins, and since Kayla now has a baby brother, I launched a new series for boys called KashEEE. The first book, My Name Is Kash, is already out, and the next one, Kash Climbs, follows his adventures as he explores his world.

In addition to your own spontaneous bedtime stories, what books did you read to your children and grandchildren?

When my children were young, we read anything by Ezra Jack Keats. Some of our other favorites were Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, The Twins Strike Back by Valerie Flournoy, and She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl by Eloise Greenfield.

With my grandchildren, I still read the classics, but they’ve had access to a wider range of diverse titles. We’ve enjoyed I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont, One Love by Cedella Marley, I’ll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, Firebird by Misty Copeland, My Rainy Day Rocket Ship by Markette Sheppard, You Matter by Christian Robinson and The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes.

What types of stories do younger children like to have read to them?

I think children ages birth to three enjoy simple, rhythmic stories with bright, beautiful illustrations. They also love repetition - whether it’s a phrase, a question, or an action they can join in on. Repetition helps them connect words, rhythm, and meaning..

How important is it for children of color to see themselves in the books that are read to them?

It’s incredibly important - and not just something we feel; it’s supported by research. For example, Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report (7th edition) found that “Black and Hispanic families overall have the strongest views on the importance of and need for books with diversity.” Representation matters - it shapes how children see themselves and the world around them.

What’s the last book you read to one of your grandchildren?

My youngest grandchild is four - and his favorite book is My Name Is Kash… by me! He insists that’s the one we read every time he sees me.

What makes you excited about writing your books?

I’ve always loved telling stories, and that joy naturally flows into my writing. Seeing my stories come to life on the page - and knowing they help children feel seen, celebrated, and proud -  is what excites me most.