Turning the page to a new chapter, Leah Hernandez strives to develop a community of people of color working in book publishing by providing a voice to those who are often silent.
As founder and CEO of Muse Inc., Hernandez tirelessly contributes to ensuring the industry remembers that people of color are the “muse” for everything that goes on in culture. Founded in 2018, Young Authors Publishing, an imprint of Muse Inc., executes this by sharing narratives written by diverse young authors.
“Funny enough, working with kid authors has been more fun than working with adult authors only because I feel like kids really know what they want,” Hernandez said. “They have an idea, they go for it, and they don’t second guess it. They don’t doubt themselves, and that makes for a really fun creative flow.”
YAP found its footing in 2018 thanks to an Atlanta Housing Authority grant that permitted funding for the publication of Roxie’s Day in Vine City, written by Sykhia Clark, Gilbrea Clay, Taniya Lewis and Aniya Ussery. These four young girls, ages 10 and 13, highlight the community of Vine City through the character of Roxie.
Balancing a full course load at Clark Atlanta University, Hernandez set aside the idea of having a traditional college experience to achieve her publishing pursuits. Those who know Hernandez say she is meticulously dedicated to her craft.
“She was the ideal mentee because she was really hungry to learn,” said Lakesha Landers, director of financial literacy at Clark Atlanta University. “She’s a true businesswoman. The rooms and the spaces that she moves around in and the individuals she has associated herself with within the community and with other organizations show that she knows how to align herself with those who have some impact on what she is doing. She made a goal, and she stayed true to it.”
Along with earning a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing, in 2019 Hernandez published 13 books by a group of young Black boys in Atlanta. The authors ranged from 10 to 15 years old.
“The only thing I knew how to do was put a book together and that’s how Young Authors Publishing was birthed. From there, because I wanted to be successful, I really had to intertwine myself in the publishing industry and that’s when I feel like I was exposed to the nuances of how this industry works and how intentional they’ve been to keep Black people and people of color out of not just the stories but in places of power and who gets to decide what stories are shared,” Hernandez said.
Blending a rich history with a thriving community and booming opportunities, Atlanta appeared as a cultural hub for Hernandez to enact her vision.
“When I came to Atlanta, I only saw Black people and I saw successful Black people, and that was the most beautiful culture shock ever. It showed me in real time I can do whatever it is I want,” Hernandez said.
For Hernandez, representation is important as it allows readers to see themselves reflected in stories by laying out roles that exist in different dynamics through shared experiences. According to Hernandez, success not only means company sales and product output but also giving young authors the opportunity to share perspectives through their own words.
“We’re in a literacy crisis in our country, and those that are most affected are Black and brown children,” Hernandez said. “I think that there is a lot of intimidation that kids have about reading and about literature, and when kids see themselves on the cover, when they see their families and their community dynamics represented in the literature, and they see that person who wrote the book is like them, it can immediately eliminate the intimidation of reading and how they feel about reading.”
Through YAP, 12-year-old Michaiah Booker wrote Noah’s Family Farm, detailing the importance of Black excellence, legacy and male support within a family through the inclusion of animals as fictional subjects.
“After thinking and processing and having a conversation, I got on the topic of animals since I know that children between the ages of two and four usually learn those types of subjects at that age and can better understand what they are learning,” Booker said.
While it may not be easy for a child to get published, Hernandez saw talent in Booker’s writings. His love of writing turned into a spark early in his childhood.
“When I was younger, I read a lot of books, a lot of children’s books, and I guess that’s what inspired me to make my own stories,” Booker said.
According to Hernandez, with good storytelling and the right tools, children can work through any situation, properly guided by their peers.
“If you really have a passion for something, pursue it. Nothing’s holding you back,” Booker said.
Books published by Young Authors Publishing can be purchased through their website, museinc.net/yap/books.
The Everyday Heroes project is a partnership between Fresh Take Georgia, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other newsrooms in Georgia.
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