Today we’d like to introduce you to Seletha Head-Tucker.
Hi Seletha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a native of Memphis, Tennessee, currently residing in St. Louis, Missouri, for the past 8 years as an educator. I began writing over 12 years ago and had a few books published by independent publishers. The cost of these books was over 10,000 to get published. I began to publish my own books and decided in September of 2020 to start my own publishing company in hopes of helping other African Americans/Black people to publish their books at an affordable price. My motto is Our Books, Our Lives, Our Stories. There is a limited amount of books by African Americans in the libraries and in schools and I wanted to be able to add more of our stories to the equation. To this date, I have published over 30 books for other people, ranging from biographies to children’s books. Since the inception of my business, I have also begun producing inspirational gospel stage plays. These stage plays have been produced in Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. Over the course of the last few years, besides having to fund these things as a teacher, and not being paid my worth, I also lost my mother and my husband about 7 months apart. While this was devastating, I thank God for having a village along with the strength of God to continue pressing forward in the gifts and talents God has given me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For the past ten years, I have worked as an elementary school teacher both in public schools as well as Christian schools. I love the children and seeing how excited they are when they realize the many things they are able to learn and achieve. I am blessed to say that each and every year I am amazed to say that the students have grown astronomically from the time they enter my classroom to the end of the year. They have not only grown academically, by emotionally and socially, and have learned things about the Bible they never knew were there. I am most proud of seeing students who came in without a voice, a couple in particular who were too shy to talk in front of the classroom and now speak freely and confidently. It is important today that we take the time to notice students who don’t feel they have a voice, especially those who feel unnoticed.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
As a CEO/owner, I have to foot the bill for illustrators and editors and often the money charged for delivering superb service for books, the money is just not there. It would be great to have grants or donations to help continue this effort.
Also, as a playwright, I would love to collaborate with others on theater projects for schools, churches and the community. All of these plays have been written and directed by me, but I would love to have others who enjoy doing stage plays to collaborate on projects.
