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ABOUT
SELF INK IT™ AWARDS
The Story behind Self Ink It™
During her childhood, Sabrina did not see characters of color reflected in books, and she asked herself whether or not her experiences as an African American girl were as meaningful as those of white children. Sabrina lacked cultural diversity at home, in school, and in the libraries, and she wondered if her feelings and experiences were valid compared with those who were not people of color. As a self-published author, CEO of Little Aiden Press, mother, and grandmother, Sabrina is supporting other Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) authors, providing them with platforms through which their voices can be heard and their stories can be told.
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By the end of 2020, many businesses remained closed or had to be shut down due to COVID-19. Many parents fearful of their children's safety developed new ways of learning and teaching that helped children confront their fears. To help their children, some parents began writing stories and became self-published authors to console their kids and also gave them resources for dealing with the world's horrors. It is our duty as writers to write stories that reflect our community's culture and life experiences in addition to giving children the tools they need to confront the world's horrors.
Why Self-Published Authors
Over the summer of 2021, Sabrina, who had published her own work, participated in the Black Child Bookfair, organized by Mr. Darryl Harvey, who founded the event. She traveled to Philadelphia, Maryland, and North Carolina, where she met other black authors who had self-published some of their own works. Self-publishing is often misunderstood, and many write off self-published work as poorly done because it was not traditionally published. However, this perception is misguided. As a self-published author, Sabrina knows all too well the hard work it takes to create a following, and the time and effort to sell books and get them noticed by others.
Sabrina created the Self Ink It™ Awards in order to bring the work of self-published BIPOC writers to light and to show that their efforts in writing are not a passing fad or a minor niche in the literary world. Their contributions are here to stay.
Sabrina table setup
Sabrina with fellow author
Group of authors pose for picture.
Sabrina table setup
About Little Aiden Press
Little Aiden Press (LAP) is a children’s book publisher dedicated to inspiring young African American readers with stories that will engage, empower, educate, and entertain. LAP provides opportunities for children to explore the world through creative storytelling and to see characters that look like them.
LAP’s mission is to share and create books with diverse characters, that will appeal to every child, helping children develop a passion for books and a life-long love of reading.
