LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville children’s book author is gaining national attention. She represented Kentucky at the 2024 National Book Festival for the Library of Congress earlier this year.

“I write for children to know achieving their dreams is always possible. I love to write everything by hand first, which is why it takes me so long,” said Brittany J. Thurman, author. 

On a drizzly afternoon at Waterfront Park, Thurman creates the details and back story of her secondary character in her upcoming book.

“As a child, I wanted to write, and sometimes I would sit in math class in second grade, I remember, and I would write stories instead of doing math,” Thurman said.

It’s those memories that laid the foundation for a passion for reading.

However, she found herself not being able to connect to her childhood characters.

“I couldn’t articulate what that was at the time. But now I realize that that came out of a place of lack,” Thurman said. 

She found challenges entering the industry.

“Some of them that feature African-American characters aren’t necessarily written by African American or Black authors. So yes, there is still improvement that needs to take place,” Thurman said. 

Even facing rejections, until that one yes and she soared.

“My first book, Fly, received 11 rejections until the 12th one, where someone said yes. But in the beginning, I was adamant about not giving up,” Thurman said. 

She is incorporating the rich history of west Louisville in her books to show her love for the community.

“It’s frustrating and heartbreaking for me, when I see, that the West End doesn’t receive the positive recognition that it should,” Thurman said. 

In August, she had the opportunity to visit 13 libraries in 12 different counties across Kentucky thanks to the Library of Congress and Kentucky Humanities.