Generational Health's Favorite Children's Books with Danielle M. Jackson
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Photo credit: Crystal Jackson
Certified Health Education Specialists Danielle M. Jackson, MPH, CHES, is a food advocate and children's book author based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her purpose is to educate and equip individuals of color on the benefits of local food access. Hello Legendary Press (HLP), a publishing company confounded with her teenage son, creates adventurous children's books journeying them on a path to becoming healthy for life. She currently has six titles under HLP that encourage life-long veggie lovers, community adventures, and self-care activities such as physical activity.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I currently hold a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and a Master's in Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behaviors. After receiving my B.S. in Nutrition, I worked at the 3rd largest public hospital in the United States for three years, where I found my passion for community-based nutrition programs. My interest in community food systems and sustainability transpired with my first opportunity to work with food-insecure individuals.
Once I received my MPH, I took that experience to an organization that aligned with my mission to make neighborhoods across the city of Atlanta food secure, more specifically, nutrition secure. Hence, I started working as the manager of the Fresh Marta Markets, America's first transit station farmer's market model. Currently, I am in charge of outreach and education. I love my job and the opportunities to create healthy communities.
What inspired you to start your business?
Within my day job as the Fresh MARTA Markets manager, I enjoy how fresh produce and southern hospitality allow customers to return week after week to rave about their new meals and memories. In hopes of capturing some of that excitement, I decided to write children's books to engage children in literacy, life lessons, and local food. Hence, the birth of Hello Legendary Press and our first book series, the "Lettuce Turnip Series," which includes adventures to the farmers market and community garden, was born.
My logic behind wanting to target children and families comes from my background in Nutrition. This topic is controversial, and everyone is different, but a few things remain scientifically sound. 1. Eating a balanced diet can decrease or eliminate certain diet-related chronic disease states. 2. Self-care and physical activity can improve overall health and wellness.
Where is your business based?
My business resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
I started my business by manifesting that I wanted to create something bigger than myself. Once I did that; honestly, things began to align. A good friend of mine has a sister-in-law that is a best-selling children's book author, and it just so happened that after manifesting my desires, my friends told me about her self-publishing mentoring program. I was so intrigued, and it just so happened that her next children's book challenge was starting in a few days! I completed the challenge and wanted MORE, so I attended her next Masterclass course.
Between those two classes, I had enough insight to write my very first children's book and self-publish. From the initial conversation with my friend to the published book, it took me six months. During the Masterclass, our instructor taught us how to set up our business to separate our book business from other affairs. I took those steps and created Hello Legendary Press two months before my first book launch.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
For me, it's meeting my target audience where they are. Since I am well connected in the local food access world as Fresh MARTA Market manager, I used those contacts to engage with schools, other farmer's markets, and educators.
I've reached out to non-profit organizations, bookstores, libraries, national associations, and coalitions. I am constantly pitching myself and my books to anyone who will listen because I know there is a market for books like mine; I have to put in the work and find them.
What have been your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge is consistently connecting with my target audience and expanding my community presence. I'm no celebrity, people don't know me from the next self-publishing children's book author, so I had to ask myself, "What is unique about Hello Legendary Press?"
To answer that question and overcome my challenges, I enrolled in another mentoring program. This mentorship helped me build a foundation for my business. Throughout that mentorship, I answered many questions that helped me connect with my target audience and develop my brand.
How do you stay focused?
I stay focused by staying present in moments. I have learned that in my line of business, I can't be on auto-pilot. I have to be present and engaged. My days start by creating a to-do list around my scheduled events/meetings and mapping out my day as best as possible. I enjoy seeing my to-do list at the end of the day wholly checked off. It allows me to feel accomplished. However, not every day ends with an utterly crossed-out to-do list. Sometimes, the list is incomplete when the clock strikes 7 pm, which is okay. I've learned to set boundaries with myself and give myself grace. I know that I give my best every day, whether the list is completed or not.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
My business is different because
1. I searched my market and hadn't seen many books for children of color about healthy eating, self-care habits, and physical activity. Hence the birth of "Generational Health's Favorite Children's Books: The first book series published through Hello Legendary Press is the "Lettuce Turnip Series," a.k.a; let us turn up. I use food puns throughout the book to engage families in a creative story that makes them laugh while learning.
2. I have realized that books for children of color are rare; books for boys of color are even rarer. Therefore, we have created and are creating books geared toward little black boys to have representation.
3. Last but not least, within my line of business, there is usually a compromise between culture and curriculum; you typically get one without the other. Within HLP, we make it our mission to provide the three C's: culture, curriculum, and creativity.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Networking has been the best strategy to build my business. I speak with other authors about how they engage with their target audience. I reach out to educators, non-profits, librarians, and museums via email, phone, or in person: any and everyone willing to listen to me regarding HLP. Every opportunity doesn't turn into something huge, but it makes me a better business owner because I learn from every encounter. Talking with people and getting out of my confront zone afforded me many opportunities to advance my brand.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
1. Put in the work to achieve your goal. Every business (big or small) and entrepreneur has had to put in the work and hours to get where they are today. Create a business plan and stick to it as much as possible. Learn as much as possible about business overall and your respectable market. There is a book, podcast, Masterclass, or something along those lines for every business.
2. Put yourself out there and tell your story. People relate to you when you tell your story and engage with them personally.
3. Most importantly, be you! Your story and brand are unique because your story of how your business was born is unique. Share that with the world. Embrace your loud laugh, your squeaky voice, your freckles, all that uniquely define you. Allow those traits and characteristics to set you apart and help build a connection with your audience.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
Favorite app: Evernote, it organized my entire life.
Blog: Here Wee Read, allows me to see all the current book headlines around diversity and inclusion in children's books
Book: I can't pick just one. I am an author! But if I had to choose, one of my favorite reads is Atomic Habits. It has transformed the way I look at my life. I used to look at my day as 24 hours, but it's 1,440 minutes (86, 400 seconds) in a day, and they all count. They all contribute to your habits and success.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
Canva is my favorite business tool. They have thought of everything, and it helps me create content that I would have never dreamed up, but it's perfect for my business.
Who is your business role model? Why?
Self-published children's book author Crystal Swain-Bates is the very reason why I am an author. She had the vision to build up individuals that wanted to tell their stories by writing and self-publishing their books, and she executed them. Over 300 men and women have self-published from her guidance, mentorship, and wisdom. I am forever grateful for her knowledge, expertise, and willingness to share.
How do you balance work and life?
I take spending time doing the things I love with the people I love very seriously. I always tell my family, "Thank you for sharing me with the world." I adhere to my boundaries: I stop working at a specific time, eat dinner at a certain time, and go to bed at a particular time.
I also love spending time alone because it allows me to check in with myself and make sure I am good. Because if I'm good, I can tend to the people around me. I also found a few hobbies that I enjoy beyond words. Some hobbies include my friends and family other hobbies I engage in solo.
It took time to get to this place, I spent much time feeling burnt out and having nothing to give to myself and my family, but I had to be honest with myself. I want my business and my family to thrive, and I made it a reality in manifesting that. Do I want to continue to work at times, of course, and sometimes I do when the creative thoughts are flowing, but those moments are few, and far, and in-between most days and nights, I stop at my personal "clock-out" time.
What's your favorite way to decompress?
My favorite way to decompress is to sleep. Sleep is so important to me—the ability to restore and create. I take resting very seriously and always have. I love the feeling of a clear, focused, and refreshed mind that comes with a good night's sleep. An occasional nap is always welcomed as well.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
I plan to publish three more children's books in the next six months! I also plan to continue writing more books. I have so many ideas in my head and on paper (I love to write my stories on paper first) that I want to finish them. My goal is to have at least two more stories on paper and off to the editor in the next six months.
How can our readers connect with you?
You can find me at Hello Legendary Press on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and our website is www.hellolegendarypress.com.