Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Wiggins.
Hi Sabrina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Back in 2005, my brother Ben proposed an idea to me – to create positive hip-hop music for kids. Driven by his enthusiasm, I came on board, and together we formed a non-profit organization called Hip Hop Education. Our mission was to empower young people through music, and we were successful in doing just that. The children we worked with had the opportunity to perform on local stages, serve their community, and develop a deeper appreciation for appropriate music and respect for each other.
During one of our events in 2009, I met Stefanie Magness, and we partnered up to host empowerment events for young girls. Our efforts were recognized, and we even received a proclamation for our work in equipping girls of color with the tools they need for their minds, bodies, and souls.
In 2014, I decided to take a break and pursue my MBA while also taking on a new supervisory role at work. It was a challenge to balance both, but my passion for serving youth never wavered. I began writing, unsure of what to write about, but eventually, I turned my experience with Hip-Hop Education and the children’s dedication to service into a story of them receiving an award from the President. This marked the beginning of my writing journey.
In 2017, my grandson Aiden’s birth inspired me to turn my writing into a small publishing house named after him. Fast forward a few years, and we are in the midst of a pandemic, with children at home learning. However, one of the things missing was diversity in books – stories that represented them and characters that looked like them. So, I teamed up with many other writers to create and share more books that offered our children a broader range of options regarding the stories they read.
Currently, I have self-published three books, assisted in self-publishing two, and co-authored a daily inspiration journal to encourage others. In addition to these, I am also working on a few other writing projects.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path I have taken as both an entrepreneur and a self-published author has not been an easy one. It has been a roller coaster ride, and it takes a lot of dedication and determination to succeed. As an entrepreneur, you need to surround yourself with the right people and always be willing to learn from reliable sources. The self-publishing journey has been particularly interesting because you are involved in every aspect of the process, from start to finish. However, marketing and social media have been a struggle for me. Despite this, I have taken small steps and have connected with many authors through social media groups, which has paid off.
Throughout this journey, I have come to realize the importance of being inclusive in our storytelling. Every child deserves to feel like they are a part of the story, and we need to do better in ensuring that everyone is represented.
We’ve been impressed with Little Aiden Press, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Little Aiden Press (LAP), we are committed to publishing children’s books that inspire, empower, educate, and entertain young African American readers. Our aim is to offer children the chance to engage with creative storytelling that features characters that look like them, and to explore the world around them through these stories.
Our mission is to encourage a love of reading and to create literate communities by engaging children with stories that showcase diverse perspectives. We believe that every child should have equal access to educational opportunities, and we strive to achieve this by providing a resource of educational and cultural books. At LAP, we aim to build literacy skills for all, while celebrating the beauty and richness of African American culture.
In 2022, I founded the Self Ink It Award to acknowledge and celebrate self-published BIPOC authors. This year, I expanded the award to include illustrators as well. As a BIPOC author myself, I understand that our voices and stories are not always given the recognition they deserve in the literary world. I wanted to create a platform that would shine a spotlight on these talented writers and illustrators and show them that their work is valued and appreciated.
Although my ultimate goal is for all authors and illustrators to have equal opportunities and recognition, I believe that it is important to uplift and support BIPOC creators in the meantime. Through the Self Ink It Award, I hope to encourage and inspire these talented individuals, and to promote diverse voices and perspectives in literature. By doing so, I believe we can help educate and shape the next generation of amazing human beings.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Venturing into entrepreneurship has been a challenging decision for me as it requires a careful balance between my work and family obligations. The journey has been daunting as I have to allocate my income between financing my business and taking care of my personal life. As an entrepreneur, there are inherent risks involved in investing time and resources, with no guarantee of success. Any financial loss incurred in the process cannot be recovered easily. The experience of entrepreneurship has helped me to develop valuable skills such as leadership, marketing, and financial management.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littleaidenpress.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/littleaidenpress
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/littleaidenpress
Image Credits
Will Starks
Stefanie Magness
Ajaezia Scott
