Dorena Williamson's journey to becoming a writer was an unexpected one and began when she as a mom noticed a dearth of literature that offered the representation for her Black children. And if she did find books that featured characters of color, the faith element was missing. So she began praying, "God, how can you use me to have an impact in this area of addressing race and colorblindness?" The answer to this prayer was that Dorena became a children's author, starting with her 2018 book ColorFull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us. She is now one of the featured authors in the inaugural year of IVP Kids with her newest book The Celebration Place which offers a captivating vision of the church as God intended. You will love hearing from this delightful, faithful writer who has had to push against everything from imposter syndrome to apathy about racial issues in the industry, and in so doing has created books that both children and adults can treasure.
About the Guest:
Dorena Williamson has a passion for all children to hear the message of God's diverse kingdom. She writes children's books that adults also enjoy and is the author of ColorFull, ThoughtFull, and GraceFull. Prior to becoming an author, Dorena enjoyed a career as a social counselor, a worship leader, and a stylist. Visit her website or follow her on Twitter for more information.
Additional Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators)
- Publishing in Color
SPECIAL OFFER | Effective Jan. 1st, 2024, all promo codes/opportunities mentioned in this episode are expired. Please use the code IVPOD25 at ivpress.com for 25% off Dorena's book The Celebration Place.
About the Hosts:
Maila Kim is a marketing manager at IVP; she holds a B.A. in English Language & Literature and a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in Christian Formation & Ministry with a concentration in Bible & Theology from Wheaton College Graduate School. Follow Maila on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Helen Lee is the director of product innovation at IVP; she is also the author of The Missional Mom and The Race-Wise Family, co-authored with Dr. Michelle Reyes. Helen also serves as the producer of The Every Voice Now Podcast and as the executive producer of The Disrupters. Follow Helen on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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