Conversations with Stephanie Yates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Yates. 

Hi Stephanie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Writing has always been therapeutic to me. I have tons of journals and love stationery. I always knew that I wanted to write a book but did not know about what topic nor did I have the confidence to do so. Over the years I would send out encouraging words to family or friends through text message or email and they would say you need to write a book. I would think about it and the thought would fade. 

It was not until my twin sister Tiffany passed away from Cancer that the thought became a reality. My son was getting ready to be four at the time of my sister passing and to him she was gone suddenly. I did not get the opportunity to prep him of what could potentially come due to respecting the fact that my sister had not had the conversation with her own children. 

After her passing he would say things like I miss my TT, I just want to go to TT house, me and TT use to do that etc. I did not have the words to help him grieve as I was still working through my own emotions, so I went looking for a book because we love reading books. The books that I did come across had animals as the main characters or did not have anyone in the story that looked like my son who he could relate to, so I began to put ink to paper. Even though we try to shield kids from life’s toughest moments, kids have to work through difficult emotions, too. That’s where my debut book “Good Grief” comes in. Meet Memphis: a kid who loves his aunt and suddenly has to learn to live without her. “Good Grief” follows Memphis and his mom as she allows him the space to be sad and teaches him how to keep his “TT” in his heart. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Self-publishing my book has been a learning experience. I made sure that I surrounded myself with other successful published authors who could provide me with feedback, answer my questions, and help lessen the learning curve. Funding the book and making sure it gets into the hands of families who truly need it have been the challenges. That is where my Kickstarter campaign comes in. I will be launching it on February 7, 2023. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an educator with 19 years experience currently serving in the role as a middle school principal. 

What do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t call it luck. I would call it the blessings of being obedient to the calling God has placed on my life. That goes for my professional career and now journey of being an author. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familyfirstpress/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familyfirstpress
• Other: https://linktr.ee/familyfirstpress

Image Credits
Susan Miller Photography