Blog: Mahogany Mama's Musings

Musings on the Publishing Journey

7/2/2026

After listening to a podcast episode that discussed self-publishing and Artificial Intelligence, I knew I needed to write a reflection piece about the technology. AI has upended many aspects of almost every industry.

When I first started, AI was not a realistic option for indie publishers, and I am glad that it was not. I saw great illustrators, like Ananta Mohanta in India (and others) produce amazing work in those years. though online forums. He was being hired left and right!

Unfortunately, the learning models took much of his work and farmed his style so that now many AI books look just like his illustrations. It makes me sad to think about it because he is a great talent... AND he now has to prove himself in ways he never imagined to keep his business going. I guess this may become the reality for many creative people seeking to build their careers on creative expression. So, I saw first hand the effects of AI on illustrators in other parts of the world.

My first book, What's in a Name?: A Child's Tale of Discovery was published in 2021. I worked with a firm in Europe called Graphic Mama for character design, and I developed the graphic design elements to illustrate it. Overall the illustration style is collage--much like my art and digital art. Admittedly, at that time, I knew very little about visual expression, but as a graduate of NYU's dramatic writing program, I knew about storytelling. And Ernst, being a creative dreamer, did too.

So my husband and I established Free Sparrows Press because we knew that we wanted to publish more projects, including the work of others (one day). After NYU, I did not submit my work to any publishers outside of one contest, but I did receive feedback from trusted writers and authors. Overall, I knew that I had a vision for the work and that certain projects would be just right for our budding press.

Now, I do have a literary agent, as I realize publishing all of the manuscripts that I have is not practical. But I would love to continue overseeing the artistic side of publishing projects through Free Sparrows as time and budget allow. It's a part of the process I truly love. Working with Eleazar, Jairalin, and Diego on some heart felt tales has been quite a journey.

That's why my first tale will get a new look-- a more unique style akin to Wonder in the Waiting, and more painterly akin to Use Your Palabras, Jovita! But not exactly like either one... Looking forward to sharing more in the future.

0 Comments

History and Writing Matters

6/13/2026

0 Comments

Today, I'm thinking about Karmelo Anthony and why we do not have the luxury of only publishing #blackboyjoy and #blackgirlmagic in the kidlit space. As much as I would like to center on joyful expression and humor, we cannot forget our past, in the same way that others can #neverforget . I do write about the funny whimsical moments of childhood.

However, there is a time for laughing, and there is a time for weeping even if it makes others uncomfortable.

Banned books won't erase stories that should be told… And, they must be TOLD to receptive ears because these stories shape how we got here. The stories of the past shape our present and our future. These stories have a way of sounding the alarm in times of need if we are willing to learn.

History does, and will, repeat on cycles because people forget--even their own family members, their ancestors. If a written record does not exist, forgetting comes sooner.

I tell my students that's why writing remains important.

Videos have their place, but writing carries catharsis. Putting words on the page is freeing. Some think words should be chained when people cannot be, but censorship can not outrun reality--it only fractures it.

0 Comments

Imago Dei & Ink

6/12/2026

0 Comments

My friend Lynn sent me a message last night, and I figured now is the right time to get started... I'm launching a platform on Substack, which will link back here and to YouTube. I have high hopes for consistency... The following is an introduction I plan to share on that platform.

Some things you should know about me:
1) I live in one of the most diverse counties in the United States, BUT that county is situated in the Deep South, which, as we all know, has a deep history of division, racism, and subjugation.

2) I was raised as a 3rd culture kid-- a black girl in an affluent, predominantly white suburban community, the daughter of a black woman who knew the sting of living under southern segregation and a black man who was one of a few students of color to attend an integrated midwestern high school in Cleveland, OH--something no one in his family had ever done before. I never felt deprived of any privilege. I knew I was loved. I excelled in school and in life because my parents sheltered me in many ways. YET, they taught me to respect all people AND equally important, not to take disrespect lightly.

3) I attended a top-tier, internationally regarded university, NYU, which opened a gateway to international travel opportunities. While I had traveled abroad before, NYU introduced me to a world where I would meet people from many different cultures, languages, and religious and ethnic backgrounds. The university offered me the opportunity to become a Martin Luther King, Jr. Ambassador who could represent the institution not only to potential students, but also in other countries like Senegal, Brazil, Italy, and Argentina. My eyes were opened to a world beyond Georgia, or Ohio, or New York. I saw people in real time in their places of comfort, speaking languages not my own.

4) As a young adult, I had a few divine encounters that convinced me that the god of the Bible is still alive and active in the world today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. These encounters led me to attend Times Square Church, where David Wilkerson was pastoring. At that church, I met my husband, an immigrant from Haiti. His story is amazing, but I’ll let you tell it. That’s when I knew God does not see class or financial status the way human beings often do.

5) We homeschooled our kids. I never saw myself becoming a stay-at-home mom. Remember NYU? I had other plans, but God had deeper, more spiritually challenging and fulfilling ones. I’m glad He did--and still does-- as I wrestle with faith, comfort, discomfort, sacrifice, humility, sin, and forgiveness.

6) I am a recovering introverted overachiever and type-A personality… I am learning to let go, let God, come out of my shell, and allow Him to empower me in, through, and beyond offense. He has a funny sense of humor, as he has assigned me to teach Journalism, Media, and Filmmaking to middle school students who do not demonstrate much passion for a subject I love abundantly. YET...

7) I am wrestling with the possibility of being neurodivergent, as I recently scored 120 on the RAADS-R. Honestly, I am scared to get an official diagnosis. What would that label really mean, as I have already lived more than half of my life? I think I took the assessment mainly to give myself--and my family--clarity as we wrestle with our quirks. THAT is a whole other tale for another day…
So now that you know a few things about me, I would like to introduce you to the first subject of Imago Dei and Ink: Jovita Idar. Imagine living on land where borders had shifted, and the people in your community had been told that the old way of living was no longer valid? Your language, culture, history, heritage, and personhood would now be subjugated to a new ruling ideology. This is the reality many Tejanos faced at the newly drawn Mexican border. Our scene? Laredo, TX. While many Tejanos managed to maintain political power because of their sheer numbers, they still found discriminatory practices of the form of Juan Crow aimed to relegate them as second-class citizens in their own backyards. Schools were segregated and underfunded. Healthcare was nominal as the border battle continued. Yet, people like Jovita’s family--her father and brothers--organized community members to assert their rights as divine image bearers. So what happened when the Idar family lived through La Hora de Sangre and learned about the lynchings of children as young as fourteen? You’re right, they were not going to let it slide. In my next post, I will share more about the powerful courage of Jovita Idar and her family, and how their story connects Divine Image-bearing and advocacy today.

0 Comments

Am I an Artist, Writer, or Marketer?

6/7/2026

0 Comments

I have to admit that I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around algorithms and what computers want on the quest to help my art be seen. It's the most frustrating part of being a writer. I can write creatively, but can I write convincingly enough for people to take the time to experience the books and manuscripts I pour so much of my heart into? Then there is this blog... My heart is not really into it. I know that the writing can be helpful and that it can reflect the professional side of literacy, but when I write here, I feel like providing literacy help is much like reinventing the wheel, as educators will continue to scrap about phonics vs. whole language instruction. The latest iteration stemming from Lucy Calkins' reading and writing workshops vs. the Science of Reading. I taught my own children in depth literacy skills in early elementary and in upper elementary and middle grades we took a workshop approach. Both love to read and have an excellent grasp on writing. Then my youngest came along, and due to family circumstances, I found myself in a new education setting: public school. That was ten years ago, and admittedly, this former home educator and cooperative instructor felt like the proverbial fish out of water as I tried to convince the other educators about the value in my folksy experience. It has been maddening--and eye-opening--and frustrating--and rewarding. So you see, this blog is a mix of experimentation: often my words and sometimes the computer's as I try to figure out how to be found in the sea of content contained on the World Wide Web.

As a writer, artist, educator, and now, publisher, I have discovered that I must be a marketer, too. Where does artificial intelligence find its place in this world? I have determined--not in my art space and not in my creative writing space. It won't be generating any of my own academic analyses either... I have too much fun in each of these arenas to farm out my thinking and my creativity. But what if I am working on a lesson plan? Or brainstorming tips to help parents build literacy skills practice session at home? Must the wheel be reinvented? The science and technology part of my brain is excited about the possibilities of AI, but the right-brained artist and innovator wonders how the new technologies will help us become more creative or stunt the average person's advancements.

In other words, I am not going to vow never to use AI, in the same way that I will not vow never to use a calculator. I feel like we must determine the places and the spaces where it can be helpful or harmful and delineate the ethical boundaries. The Authors Guild recently released some helpful guidelines, which can be found here: https://authorsguild.org/resource/ai-best-practices-for-authors/. I am glad that we are having these discussions because I want most of my energy to go into creating and highlighting compelling stories that I think young people will enjoy. Likewise, academically, I love unearthing new (or forgotten) tales and ideas. But when it comes to marketing or writing for the algorithm, could a computer help a writer become more skilled in this arena? I guess time will tell.

0 Comments