I'm reminded of the powerful bond that exists between fathers and daughters as I reflect on the journey of writing my debut children's book, Dear Daughter: A Love Story. Sadly most young ladies don’t have the privilege of having healthy relationships with their fathers. Dear Daughter aims to fill that gap and challenge the stereotype that men, especially Black men, aren’t good fathers.
While others tell me I'm a great father and parent, I struggle to believe it myself at times. Perhaps it's imposter syndrome from growing up in a household full of women and without a father figure. As a matter of fact, one of my many parenting mistakes with my daughter, Haelee, was not using my words. What I mean is that is that I didn’t often tell her that I enjoyed spending time with her, that she was smart, or that she was pretty. I literally thought that my actions were enough until she angrily told me that they weren’t. That inspired me to write Dear Daughter and give it to her as a gift on Valentine’s Day in 2022. As a matter of fact, the gift was even featured on Fox 8 News.
Haelee is also an author. Her latest book, Everyday Heroes: Real People, True Heroes, was written in collaboration with the students at Casa Esperanza Montessori School. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the unsung heroes whose acts of kindness make our world shine a little brighter. What makes this book even more special is Haelee’s decision to immortalize me within its pages, declaring that I am not only her hero but also a symbol of heroism for others. This gesture is particularly meaningful given her three-year hiatus from writing after the success of her previous four books. Haelee gave me the first copy this past Father's Day, and like Dear Daughter before it, this gift was featured on WXII News 12. Haelee's recognition reassures me that I’ve done something right as a father and a parent, despite my doubts.
Our books are available at major retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Amazon. However, we also recognize that not everyone can afford to purchase books. We've resultantly partnered with several public libaries to ensure our books are accessible to all.
You can find several of our titles in the Libby or Hoopla Catalogs. Now, we're curious, what’s your favorite place to buy books, or do you have a preferred library?
Oh yeah and stay tuned for more details about the upcoming release party of Everyday Heroes.
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