Meet Abena Bosia | Author & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abena Bosia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abena, why did you pursue a creative career?
I decided to pursue a creative career because it allows me to express myself in a unique and meaningful way. As someone who is passionate about teaching, I wanted to find a way to share my knowledge and insights with young children in a way that would capture their attention and engage their imaginations. By writing a children’s book, I felt that I could create a fun and engaging story that would help children learn about important concepts like expressing their feelings and setting boundaries.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I have been an elementary school educator for 13+ years. I have a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a Masters in Developmental Disabilities. I lived and taught in Shanghai, China at an International School where I began using the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program to teach young children how to become self-aware, kind and an advocate for themselves in any situation with respect.

I’m most proud of completing and publishing my children’s book, Yana, Not Today and a Coloring& Activity Book to go along with it. It was a dream of mine for years, and I’m thrilled that I saw it through to the end. There were many challenges along the way, especially in finding an agency or publisher that would take on my work. But even after facing countless rejections, I refused to give up. In the end, I decided to take matters into my own hands and self-publish the book. It was scary to put myself out there like that, but I’m glad I did. Holding the finished product in my hands was an amazing feeling, and knowing that it’s out there in the world for kids to read and enjoy is incredibly satisfying.

Throughout my journey as an entrepreneur, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to trust in myself and my talents. It’s easy to doubt yourself when you’re starting out, but I’ve learned that believing in yourself and your abilities can take you far. Another important lesson is to not let rejection stop you. It’s inevitable that you’ll face rejection and setbacks, but it’s important to use those experiences as fuel to keep pushing forward.

When it comes to my brand, Bee Book US LLC, I want the world to know that there are more stories to be told and a lot more children to reach. Our mission is to create books that inspire and empower children, and we believe that there is so much potential to make a positive impact.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Sure, here’s a one-week itinerary in Atlanta to visit black-owned restaurants, bars, lounges, popular attractions, or hangout locations:

Day 1:
– Breakfast at Le Petit Marche
– Visit Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
– Lunch at Busy Bee Cafe
– Explore the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail
– Dinner at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours

Day 2:
– Breakfast at Westview Corner Grocery
– Visit the Center for Civil and Human Rights
– Lunch at The Real Milk & Honey
– Explore the Atlanta University Center
– Dinner at Roc South Cuisine

Day 3:
– Breakfast at Highland Bakery
– Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture
– Lunch at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
– Explore the Atlanta History Center
– Dinner at Greens and Gravy

Day 4:
– Breakfast at Breadwinner Cafe & Bakery
– Visit the African American Panoramic Experience Museum
– Lunch at Paschal’s Restaurant
– Explore the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
– Dinner at Tassili’s Raw Reality Cafe

Day 5:
– Breakfast at BQE Restaurant and Lounge
– Visit the Apex Museum
– Lunch at J.R. Crickets
– Explore the Oakland Cemetery
– Dinner at Atlanta Breakfast Club

Day 6:
– Breakfast at Ria’s Bluebird
– Visit the Hammonds House Museum
– Lunch at Slutty Vegan
– Explore the Westside Provisions District
– Dinner at The Sound Table

Day 7:
– Breakfast at Buttermilk Kitchen
– Visit the Museum of Design Atlanta
– Lunch at Waffle House
– Explore the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
– Dinner at Paschal’s Restaurant.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a big support to Zollyann Howell, a fellow author who has been so helping and supportive during and after my process of publishing my book.

Website: www.beebooksus.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/beebooksus?igshid=MTIyMzRjYmRlZg==

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abena-bosia-m-s-8b408581

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeeBooksUS?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Kendrick Sims took only the personal photo