Tanisia Moore and Robert Paul Jr.

  

   

   
 

As soon as I finished When Black Girls Dream Big I knew I wanted to review the book and get to know the author and illustrator. I absolutely loved it. Tanisia's story and Robert's illustrations are totally perfect together. "When I dream big, I can do anything!" the little girl says. She is "A descendant of African kings and queens. My crown shines bright in all its glory. My brown skin glows from the sun's touch. Magnificent and majestic, that's me."

Throughout the book we see this little girl meeting other famous Black women from today and the past, from Michelle Obama to Harriet Tubman, 12 in all.

Robert's illustrations are perfect; they fit each of Tanisia's pages flawlessly. 

"Magnificently compelling....Lets Black girls know each time they turn the page that all of their dreams are possible." Angela Bassett said.

Tanisia explains, "When Black Girls Dream Big is the book I needed when I was growing up in California. In fact, this book was/is healing for my inner child. Every time I read it, I find myself feeling empowered. It is my hope that this book will affirm young girls to take up space, to dream big, and not allow anyone to put them into a box. I love that I get to plant a seed for them to remember that greatness lies within them."

She learned about Robert's work from a friend. Her publisher Scholastic, tapped him to do the artwork for I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams and When Black Girls Dream Big. She said it's been wonderful working with him. 

Robert says he's been drawing since he was three years old. "Any job I did, from sweeping school buses to valeting cars, I was drawing and selling drawings on the job…."

"I went to the Savannah College of and Design and got my BFA in animation, but I’ve always had a love for Illustration and Character Design. While working as a character designer for television and Illustrator of self publish books, I got my first agent and seven years later the rest his history.  

I’d say always do the thing you want to do even if you’re doing it for yourself and the right people will notice."

So lets get to know this dream team a bit better.

Tell me about where you live and what about it you love. 

Tanisia:

I live about 15 minutes outside of Birmingham, Alabama. 

It gives me just enough city life while also being cute and quiet. One of the things I love about where I live is the community. We are Rocket proud!

Once my children started attending school, I was able to get more involved and meet people.

Robert:

I live in Houston, Texas, but strangely enough, I don’t know very much about it. 

I will say my favorite thing about Houston is the interesting people I’ve met. Surprisingly, it seems more of a cultural melting pot than many think. I’ve met people from many different ethnicities and racial backgrounds. It’s a great place to meet new and like-minded professionals.

Where were you living when you were 7 years old? Are they fond memories? 

Tanisia:

When I was 7, I was living in England. My dad was stationed at the Air Force Base there. I moved there when I was 3 years old. One of the things I remember most was the snow. It was beautiful. I remember going outside, all bundled up and playing with my friends. I also enjoyed being able to head into London.

Robert:

I was seven years old when I lived in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

I was raised there but was born on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.

I have so many memories, but one that I’ll highlight is catching feral chickens. They used to destroy plants and gardens in my great-grandmother’s neighborhood.

 

Do you have a favorite children’s book, and what about it makes it so?  

Tanisia:

My favorite children’s book is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. 

I first read this book while living overseas in England. And you guessed it… I read it on a snowy day.

Robert:

This is such a hard question to answer. I feel like I have a new favorite every week. I’ll tell you my favorite this week: Gracey Zhang’s When Rubin Plays.

Is there an adult book that changed the way you look at life? 

Tanisia:

This is such a tricky question to answer. But if I had to pick one that still resonates, it is Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.

In that book, she discusses how she said yes to the things that generally would scare her—like giving the commencement speech at her alma mater. Likewise, there are times that I have allowed fear or self-doubt to creep in and keep me from opportunities. I haven’t done my year of yes—yet. But I believe I am ready.

Robert:

Yes, there is The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. It profoundly changed the way I view great relationships and success.  

What are the funniest or most embarrassing stories your family tells about you?  

Tanisia:

Well… one time, I was on a date at the Cheesecake Factory. The weather was beautiful on that day. Which also meant that the bugs were outside. Anyone who knows me knows I'm not fond of critters—especially wasps and bees.

So, of course, we sat outside on the patio to eat. Everything was going fine until a bee flew up on me. I banged my knee on the table as I attempted to run away. The guy’s eyes grew wide at the entire scene. I don’t think he believed me when I told him I was terrified of bugs. He did not become my husband.

Robert:

My family doesn’t have to tell this story because I remember it as clearly as day—it happened when I was four years old.

One day, it was lightly raining, and my teacher and my entire preschool class went out to dance in the rain. I opened my mouth to let the pure rain waters quench my thirst. My open mouth was suddenly brimming with iguana urine, and Buddy, next to me, had a head saturated with iguana feces.

This was one of the worst experiences of my young life. My mouth was scoured with toothpaste, mouthwash, and a multitude of mints. To this day, I only look up into the sky after checking my surroundings.

How did you meet your beloved? How did your first date go? 

Tanisia:

I met my husband at Alabama A&M University when I was 20. Our first date was to a Greek unity dance—I am a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and he is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.— a dance that he has no recollection of. Lol! I transferred schools and finished my undergraduate degree at Clark Atlanta University. We kept in touch here and there. But it would be almost 6 years later, during my last year of law school, that we would reconnect. Our first official date was with my dad and my stepmom. The rest is history. 

Is there a song, person, or group that you listen to when you are feeling a bit down? 

Tanisia:

When I am feeling down, I tap into my faith. I will put on Kirk Franklin 

 or Mary Mary to lift my spirits.

Something about going into a place of worship fuels me and gives me what I need to keep believing that a change will come.

Robert:

I love listening to 90's music if I’m feeling down. It activates nostalgia and lightens the soul. A lot of the time, I’ll listen to Backstreet Boys 

or NSYNC.

How are you different now than you were in your 20s? 

Tanisia:

I was a little dumb in my 20s. Lol! At 40 years old, I have matured a lot. I don’t view things as if it’s the end of the world. Instead, I know that things will work themselves out. Also, having kids can force you to deal with your shortcomings. I have learned so much about myself since becoming a parent. In my 20s, I didn’t have the tools I now have to navigate life.

Robert:

I’m so much more thoughtful and considerate of others. I felt like I was in survival mode during my 20s, so I often concentrated on my own personal progression. Now, it’s about pouring into others' lives. I’ve been more blessed by that than anything else. 

Is there a question no one has ever asked you that you wish they would? Something, perhaps, that people would be surprised to know about you? 

Tanisia:

There’s not a question I want someone to ask me per se. However, most people don't know I had a student radio show at Clark Atlanta University. The name of my show was The Midday Flight with Nisia Skyy. This is why I have a podcast. It allows me to tap into my radio roots.

Robert:

Yes! I’d always like to be asked if I could do voiceovers for animated content. One of my hidden talents is the ability to do voice acting. I can also do tons of impressions. Ranging from SpongeBob SquarePants

to Arnold Schwarzenegger 

How do you feel about “Independent Bookstores” and their role in your success? 

Tanisia:

Before becoming an author, I wasn’t familiar with independent bookstores. However, that changed when I became an author. Then, I understood how vital they are to publishing and the communities they serve. Quite honestly, my books would not be where they are today without independent bookstores.

Robert:

Independent bookstores are a staple in many communities. The first bookstore to ever include me in a presentation was Blue Willow in Houston, Texas. They have a special place in my heart.

Can you remember a particular random act of kindness from a stranger? 

Tanisia:

One day, my mother and I were at Sam’s Club. We were getting some things for my children. I think some jackets and possibly some toys. The guy before us turned and asked if it was everything we needed. My mom was like, yeah. He then turned to the cashier and told her to ring up our stuff, too. I’m so grateful for that man’s kindness he showed my babies.

Robert:

I’ve had a particularly blessed and serendipitous life, so there have been many random acts of kindness that have molded me into a person who enjoys performing random acts of kindness. One act of kindness changed the way I viewed money forever. In my mid-20s, I dealt with a financial crisis when a company I worked for went bankrupt and let all the employees go without any notice or pay. Needless to say, I was in a bad spot financially. I called a particular friend for help. He gave me some advice and told me he’s got me. Later that day, he gave me a check that was almost the same amount as the money this company owed me. He told me that I earned it.

I was always generous, but that sent my generosity to a whole other level. He’s one of my best friends and confidants to this day.

What is your biggest joy and hardest challenge? 

Tanisia:

My biggest joy are my children. I know that sounds cliché. But my little loves have shown me so much about me and who I want to be. Which happens to be the hardest challenge for me… trying to heal my inner child while parenting. Whew… 0/10 would not recommend.

Robert:

My biggest joy is being a parent, and my hardest challenge is being a parent. Sometimes, it’s hard to know if I’m doing it right, and I often doubt myself, but when my little daughter grabs my face, gives a big kiss on the cheek, and says, ‘I love you, Daddy, you’re a good man,’ it reminds me that I’m not doing such a bad job after all.  

AND.......The famous Time Travel Question:

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME

to any period from before recorded history to yesterday,

be safe from harm, be rich, poor or in-between, if appropriate to your choice,

actually, experience what it was like to live in that time, anywhere at all,

meet anyone, if you desire, speak with them, listen to them, be with them.

When would you go?

Where would you go?

Who would you want to meet?

And most importantly, why do you think you chose this time?

Tanisia:

If I could return in time, I would travel back to 1999. It was the start of my freshman year of high school. I’d go back to where things started getting a bit tricky for me and make some different decisions—especially regarding my studies. There’s no one I would want to meet, but I would love to have some more conversations with my grandparents. High school was tough for me. I attended four different ones over four years. I wish I understood how better grades gave me more options regarding the colleges I applied to. I would have asked for help with the subjects I struggled with—hello, math— because my mother was financially able. She would get me the best tutor to help me get through those four years. And I would have never left California to move down south.

Robert:

I would go to 1990. I would go to Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. I would want to meet Keenan Ivory Wayans.

Things were simpler during that time. I’d want to discuss his approach to writing great comedy on In Living Color. 

I’m working on becoming a better comedic writer, and learning from him during that time would’ve been a fantastic boost to my career. I’d offer to design the sets of the show to learn as much as possible.

Thank you both for creating such a wonderful book, it is so inspiring.

Readers, be sure to pick up a copy at your closest independent bookstore.