At 17, Daija Thompson was deeply concerned in her religion and had a household full of affection and care.
And, nonetheless, she despaired over the alternatives different 17-year-olds have been making.
What adopted was “Discovering Your Id: Affirmation, Declaration & Imaginative and prescient,” a guide that made the Washington Heights resident a rarity – a teen creator.
Thompson, now 19, grew up taking part within the Higher Religion Outreach Ministries and, from there, the first-generation creator mentioned she was capable of uncover her personal id and publish her guide at 17 in July 2020.
Her quest started along with her personal confusion throughout her highschool years when suicidal folks got here to her for assist. “I come from a house of affection and affection. I by no means needed to expertise neglect, ache or psychological abuse,” Thompson mentioned.
Thompson wrote the guide so, she mentioned, readers may let God’s affirmations in Scripture assist outline their identities as an alternative of their circumstances. The 107-page guide is a information to discovering id by way of God’s phrase.
So how does an adolescent write a guide?
Thompson wrote hers in 4 months. She felt it was pressing for her to publish it shortly as COVID-19 surged and other people have been remoted at residence stewing in what have been, for a lot of, demanding conditions.
She mentioned she needed one thing revealed so folks may retrieve phrases which may assist any time they wanted it.
“This phrase that God is giving me to talk may finally change their lives,” Thompson mentioned.
Her mom, Monae Ellis, helped conduct surveys asking folks, “Who’re you?” Responses contained basic solutions they weren’t searching for corresponding to being a mom, entrepreneur, and many others.
“That’s not who you’re, that’s what you do,” Ellis mentioned.
Individuals aren’t outlined by that, Thompson mentioned.
“The issues God says that you’re, then that’s what we’re. You’re stunning. You’re royalty, You’re good!” she mentioned.
Thompson makes use of Scripture to again up the affirmations within the guide. Affirmations are phrases that have an effect on your life in constructive methods.
Thompson aspired to attend Spelman Faculty, a traditionally Black liberal arts faculty for girls in Atlanta, Georgia.
She gave up that dream, spending weary nights typing 5 pages a day into Google Docs and researching publishing corporations.
There was an issue, nonetheless. Nobody she knew had information about how one can publish books.
Her analysis led Thompson to the self-publishing platform, Amazon Kindle Direct. In line with its web site, authors can rise up to 70% of royalties.
The platform took care of publishing and transport the paperback books, so Thompson didn’t have to fret about that.
To have interaction readers, Thompson spent $500 on pens, customized bookmarks and shirts with the affirmations within the guide on it.
She used family and friends in picture shoots to mannequin her attire for the guide. Her readers may order instantly from her by way of Instagram and Fb. Then she would ship it out herself.
Writer copies have been $3.18 every from Amazon Kindle Direct, so, Thompson, by this time a Marquette College pupil, purchased 150 copies to promote herself. She took journeys to hair care companies and malls to advertise the guide.
For skilled enhancing, her grandmother, Yolonda Thompson, pitched in by directing her granddaughter to a studying intervention specialist at Chicago Public Faculties, Shalonda Johnson.
Johnson mentioned she thought Daija was properly forward of her time and was coachable.
“I’ve met with and browse many books from many various authors, most of which have been a lot older than Daija, however she was totally different. Her guide was totally different. I appreciated her knowledge,” Johnson mentioned.
At one level, Johnson was conducting Zoom and FaceTime calls with Thompson from the hospital as a result of she was giving delivery to a fragile child at 24 weeks. They managed, nonetheless, to make the fixes they needed within the guide.
In line with Thompson, the guide has bought in 11 states and in Jamaica.
“I used to be very thrilled that she had the foresight to acknowledge the issues that younger girls must be attuned to, to make themselves constructive younger girls,” mentioned the creator’s grandmother, Yolanda Thompson.
Ellis mentioned she feels blessed that she was capable of assist her daughter turn out to be an creator.
Daija Thompson used yet another occasion in her life for inspiration. Within the Pentecostal Church buildings of the Apostolic Religion group, she as soon as sang behind gospel singer Marvin Sapp and met gospel artists Kierra Sheard and Todd Dulaney, who was her greatest inspiration.
Dulaney informed her how he gave up his baseball profession to do God’s work. Thompson felt she was in an identical scenario and that it was her second to remain in Milwaukee to assist her neighborhood. And so she did.
Thompson is now a monetary advocate for the Mental Health Emergency Center, a county facility at 1525 N. twelfth St. set to open in September. She mentioned she intends on publishing one other guide, “Monetary Wellness 101,” within the fall and retiring at 30.
“Work now and luxuriate in later.” That’s what Thompson mentioned she must execute to attain a number of streams of earnings to be a millionaire.
In June, Thompson attained her license to be an actual property agent. By the tip of the yr, she hopes to start out an Airbnb enterprise.
She is now serving to three different ladies write their very own books.
“I knew folks have been impressed by that,” Thompson mentioned.
For extra info
You’ll be able to order copies of Thompson’s guide on Amazon.
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