Meet Charnetta Williams | Mom, Physician & Children’s Book Author
We had the good fortune of connecting with Charnetta Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Charnetta, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important lesson my career has taught me is that the journey rarely unfolds exactly as you envision—but if you trust yourself, you’ll realize you’ve been moving in the right direction all along. Fulfilling my lifelong dream of becoming a physician was a tremendous accomplishment, and for many years, I found deep fulfillment as a full-time ObGyn. However, life had more in store for me than I initially imagined. Transitioning from clinical medicine to public health, then dividing my time between both, and later adding motherhood and writing children’s books to the mix, taught me the power of pivoting with humility and grace.
Through these transitions, I’ve learned to maintain a learner’s mindset. I love learning from and with others, and I never feel as though I’ve reached a point where there’s nothing left to discover. Change is a constant in life, and I’ve come to see it not as a disruption, but as an opportunity to course-correct and begin anew.
This mindset has served me well both personally and professionally. Whether in medicine, public health, or writing, the ability to adapt, embrace growth, and remain open to new possibilities has been the foundation of my success.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Getting to where I am today has been an incredible journey filled with twists, challenges, and bold decisions. I dreamed of becoming an ObGyn at age 10, drawn to the miracle of life. That dream led to a fulfilling career, including providing care to incarcerated women in a maximum-security prison. But I knew I could make an even bigger impact.
At a conference, I snuck into a fully booked session on public health for ObGyns. That decision changed everything—I learned about an epidemiology fellowship, took a leap of faith, and transitioned from individual patient care to making a national impact. Later, I returned to clinical medicine part-time, finding a balance that worked for me.
Motherhood sparked another shift. Struggling to find books with diverse main characters for my daughter, I decided to write my own. That’s how Penelope and the Power of Positivity and my company, Picture Perfect Reads, were born. The book teaches kids how to turn “I can’t” into “I can,” a message close to my heart. Today, I write stories that empower children, families, and educators, blending fun, life lessons, and diversity.
Through it all, I’ve learned to trust myself, embrace change, and follow my passions. Visit pictureperfectreads.com to see my work and download a free science eBook for kids!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit, they’d be a fellow parent and we’d bring off of our kids (and the noise) along! We’d kick things off with family-friendly spots like the High Museum (hello, kids’ section!), the Children’s Museum, the Georgia Aquarium, and the Atlanta Zoo. We’d also explore the Atlanta BeltLine, hunting for Tiny Doors ATL, and spend time at Atlantic Station and wouldn’t leave without visiting The Sistah Shop. We would also spend some time at Piedmont Park enjoying some music, and relaxing on the green.
For a grown-up break, we’d enjoy a luxurious spa day to recharge, followed by tea at Just Add Honey Tea Company. We’d balance relaxation with culture by visiting Miami Circle galleries, taking in street art at Krog Street Market, and catching a show at City Winery.
When it’s time to eat, we’d indulge in everything from sushi at Sukoshi, vegan eats from Slutty Vegan, southern comfort food at South City Kitchen, and cupcakes from CamiCakes. Of course, no visit would be complete without pastries from Little Tart and flowers from JJ’s Flower Shop.
We’d wrap things up by taking the kids to Brave and Kind bookshop to pick up some diverse children’s books and then take a little drive out to The Book Worm for some additional reads.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my husband, my partner since we were 18 and 19 years old. I won’t mention how old we are now—that’s classified—but let’s just say we’ve been together long enough to share quite a ride. He’s been there for every milestone: medical school, residency, passing my boards, deciding to pursue a public health fellowship, delaying starting a family (and then starting one), and most recently, pivoting to writing children’s books.
Now, I won’t pretend there hasn’t been the occasional grumble. But even when he complains, he always shows up—whether it’s helping me haul books to pop-up events or braving a freezing outdoor market with hand warmers to keep me comfortable.. More importantly, he constantly reminds me that I’m capable of anything I set my mind to. It’s truly a gift to have someone like him in my corner, cheering me on and supporting me through all of life’s twists and turns.
I don’t say it nearly enough, but I couldn’t do this without him—and honestly, I wouldn’t want to.
Website: https://pictureperfectreads.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pictureperfectreads?igsh=NGU3dXhwcWthbG1i&utm_source=qr
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