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#ItsPersonal III 95. Tami Charles talks new math, York and raising a Black son
8 Plays4 years ago
Tami Charles is the New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter, and many other books for children and young adults. On this podcast she stops by to talk all things personal. She starts with live and times during the pandemic, new math, educational influences and writing during covid-19.
Later Tami shares some important insights on raising a Black son, and her steps in how to make this work in todays world. All in connection to her New York Times best selling book All Because You Matter. Find out how this book came about.
Tami is apparently an UNO master and enjoys beating her family during game night, and order Thai take out. These are some of the little things that make Tami so awesome. Though she is a magnificent writer (and singer) she loves many of the same things we do.
Tami thanks for kicking it with Its Personal Podcast.
Website: https://tamiwrites.com/about
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TamiWritesStuff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamiwrites/
Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/r95hwt6t
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Transcript
Introduction to Tammy Charles
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of It's Personal. The last book I wrote is heavy. All right. Hey, Gary. This is DVD to boy. My name is Randy Rebine. My name is Jared Krizovska. I don't think I'm a person that curses a little hard to stuff out to anybody. I'm excited. Hi. Hi, everyone, to another episode of It's Personal. Today, I have an amazing person, very versatile. Do you mind introducing yourself?
00:00:30
Speaker
Sure. My name is Tammy Charles, and I write things. Tammy, what is going on? How are things going? And I know that's a little bit of a loaded question based on the state of the world. But I always want to ask, just to check in, because I hear you, I feel you, I see you. I know it's really tough right now, but I do want to check in just to see how you're doing.
00:01:00
Speaker
I'm doing, surprisingly I'm doing okay. I've done a few interviews so far and they've asked, so what are you working on? Or what's next? And I'm like.
00:01:13
Speaker
It's a whole pandemic. I'm not
Coping with Pandemic Challenges
00:01:15
Speaker
writing. Why are you asking me that? I have been, you know, we talked a little bit. I'm a former teacher, but once a teacher, always a teacher. So when the pandemic hit and my son had to shift to virtual school, I literally became his personal assistant, you know, teacher's aide, teacher, teacher in many cases. So I've just been,
00:01:41
Speaker
So busy with assisting him with his academics because that wasn't an easy transition. And then I had a few books come out that published during the pandemic. And there was man that that all had to be shifted. I was supposed to be zipping around the country promoting the book.
00:02:02
Speaker
And all of a sudden now I had to like do all of this virtually so that that did hinder my writing for a while, but I'm back. I'm back in the game. Look at you. I love that. And you know, I, I feel for parents like I can't even, we've been online since we came back to school and um, this country has been pretty much locked down since we got here in September and
00:02:31
Speaker
I know it's hard. I think some of us are lucky to have the educational background to assist our kids, but if you don't have that and you're still working, I feel for you. And I think me as an educator, I 100% get it. If your kid needs to not be online that day, it's okay. They need to take that personal day.
00:02:55
Speaker
you can't help them with that reading assessment or that reading assignment. Like, I think that's so normal because we need to really just listen during these times and see our kids for what it's worth. And I think, yeah, God bless you for doing that because I can only imagine how hard that that has been
Finding Inspiration and Balance
00:03:15
Speaker
for you. Yeah. I let go. I let go a little bit this past week. I actually, I told my husband, I was like, listen, I need to write.
00:03:23
Speaker
You got it, I'm out. I'm actually in Chehola, Pennsylvania right now, which is where muted takes place. I'm in the house, in the basement where my character does her. Yeah, I had to come here to like really recenter, I guess.
00:03:51
Speaker
So that's what I mean when I say I started writing again and it's been over a year. Like I have all these starts and stops, but I would stop because the kid has a project and he doesn't understand fractions and you know. We're doing fractions right now. And I taught fifth grade. My son is in fifth grade. I taught fifth grade and I'm looking at this new math like what is happening?
00:04:21
Speaker
So yeah, I just started like I dove all the way in and I'm back. I got some stuff for you. You know what the crazy part is? You say that you're back, but like even the work that you put out before the pandemic, during the pandemic, like, Tammy, you are special. Like the stuff that you do, honestly, like,
00:04:45
Speaker
I appreciate it so much. And I'm an educator, I'm a teacher, and I like to use your work in the classroom because of where it comes from and what you're about. And then on top of that, you are so consistent. I can tell that you put your foot in everything that you do, which is
00:05:04
Speaker
amazing. And I and I love that you the other part is like I love that you were you're saying right now that you had to take time away because I think oftentimes I hear that people are forced to like what's what's the next thing or they're forced into writing when they're not in the boot for writing and I do find a lot of authors coming out and saying now that like they're taking time which I love to hear because it's that's what's that's what's needed right so yeah I appreciate you saying that I do thank
Tammy's Upbringing and Influence
00:05:34
Speaker
you
00:05:34
Speaker
I took a while, about a year, but I'm ready. And I'm grateful for that. Yeah. Of course. I did all the pandemic things. I learned how to bake banana bread. You know, I had a little garden. For the first time ever, I grew peppers. You know, so it's good. I love it. I got some good quality memories.
00:05:58
Speaker
And I've been following you for a while. So I also noticed that you'd like to get your workout on. So we could we could talk about that as well because I. I do something to keep sane. Mental health and like your like just against being active is just so important, even if it's just a little bit every day. I do strongly believe that for sure. I want to go back. I've been doing like this year. Good. That's existing, not the writing, though.
00:06:28
Speaker
Now it is. Good. Good. Tim, I want to go back just a little bit because I know bits and pieces of your story. Um, because like for me, someone who's just like a book junkie, um, I love just like finding stuff out about authors. Um, I don't know a lot about your past in regards to like your childhood. And I always ask this question because I think that's a lot that doesn't show up, um, or it doesn't fully show up in the back of the book or even in the book. Like I think in the book there's bits and pieces,
00:06:58
Speaker
but you don't know the full story. So I guess what I'm asking is like, what did your childhood look like growing up as a kid? My childhood looked a little lonely for the first 11 years. I was an only child. Um, I begged my parents to give me a sibling. Uh, and then that happened when I was 11. So, um, we,
00:07:26
Speaker
You know, we didn't have it. I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I was born in Newark, educated there my whole life, you know, from kindergarten to high school. My mom was the teacher at my elementary school. Wow. And then, yeah. And then she was the vice principal and then she became the principal. So imagine that childhood.
00:07:54
Speaker
having your mom in your face all the time. No, I joke, but it was pretty special. My mom is why I love reading. As a daughter of an educator, I didn't have a choice but to read. And I was lonely, so I didn't have a sibling. So these books were like my companions and my toys.
00:08:19
Speaker
Um, but again, like came from humble beginnings.
From Singing to Writing 'Muted'
00:08:23
Speaker
My, my dad is a technician, um, educated in Newark all my life. Finally, I got a sibling and as my mother advanced in her career, you know, we reaped the benefit, uh, and we were able to move and we got a bigger house. And, but we still stayed in Newark. I was educated in Newark my whole life, even though at some point we moved.
00:08:49
Speaker
Yeah, you know, like when I became a teenager, I really wanted to be a singer.
00:08:55
Speaker
So I thought, so I was like, I loved books. I loved reading books and I loved writing stories, but I think this is the case with a lot of authors is like, I just didn't think I could be that because that's wasn't, you know, that the books that I read, those kids didn't look like me. They didn't look like my friends. They definitely weren't from Newark.
00:09:20
Speaker
you know, everybody seemed perfect. So I was like, okay, maybe I can't be an author. So, oh, I like to sing. I can do that. Let me try that. And, um, but we, you know, we had these tiny brushes of like small, small brushes of fame, but it didn't quite happen for us. It was still fun. Um,
Parenting and Writing 'All Because You Matter'
00:09:41
Speaker
but you know, I channeled some of those experiences into muted to write about a girl.
00:09:48
Speaker
in a singer group who falls down the rabbit hole. Why? Because it's very easy to do so. So I'm just rambling now, but that's just like a snapshot of what my childhood was like. I love that. You know, writing, performing. And then when I graduated from college, it was like, okay, you got to pay the bills. So what you gonna do? And I kind of fell into teaching. Yeah. I didn't even go to school to become a teacher.
00:10:18
Speaker
I fell into it and then I got hooked. Wow. And what was it that, was it, was it that your mom was an educator? Like what was the thing that really hooked you into the classroom? Well, you know, I'd always kind of worked with children, mentored children, volunteered with all kinds of, you know, different organizations. And when I graduated from college, my mom told me, I'm going to give you one year to figure out your life.
00:10:46
Speaker
because things weren't popping off with the singing anymore. I had a degree in communications journalism. I thought I wanted to be a news reporter. I didn't want that anymore. So she goes, but you gotta make some money. So, you know, substitute teach so that you can have something coming in. There's no commitment. And at least you got some money in your pocket while you figure your life out.
00:11:12
Speaker
So that's what I did. And it was just like, oh man, I like this. And then that was it. You know, like within six months of subbing, they hired me permanently. Wow. Wow. Yeah. Wow. I love hearing the stories about family members taking on what their other cousins, parents, grandparents have done because
00:11:40
Speaker
just I do truly believe that it just kind of sets a path as well and like books as well like you see people in those books that look like you when you see people in those professions that look like you like that is something that can carry on yeah like I can do it yeah exactly exactly exactly so you have
00:12:02
Speaker
One kid or two? I'm one. Well, two if you count my husband, but I'm giving birth to one. Just one. Sorry, bro. It is what it is. It's going on. You know it's going on the internet, right? OK, it'll be fine. He's never going to hear this.
00:12:28
Speaker
I want to ask this question and then again I do I ask it and I know I'm asking and it's a little bit of an unfair question to be honest but I do wonder how you feel about it because I've been talking to people about just like raising black boys in general nowadays and I'm wondering not necessarily how you feel about it but I probably can get a sense of that but I guess what are the
00:12:57
Speaker
What are the words we use to help our little black boys walk around and still be confident, courageous, brave in a world like today? What are some of those, I guess, what are the things you do? What are the words you say? Yeah, that's a really good question. And honestly, all of the words that I had trapped
00:13:28
Speaker
you know, for a while, I poured them into All Because You Matter. My picture book, which is a tribute to my son, it's a tribute to children of color and really a conversation starter for all children, especially during these times right now. You know, I just want my son to know that whatever challenges
00:13:57
Speaker
he faces because he will face some and he already has faced some in school, seeing things on television. I want him to know a few things. I want him to know that he comes from resilient, extraordinary people. No matter what he sees on the news, no matter if he sees a high ranking political
00:14:26
Speaker
a figure tell him that his country, that his people in that country are a crap hole country, although the word crap wasn't used. I want him to know that when he stumbles on that on the internet, because I can't watch his every move, I want him to be honored with the confidence that that's a lie.
00:14:53
Speaker
That's not true. Look at all of these things that my people have done for me, but also for you. The talents that our people have contributed to the world, we all have enjoyed them. So I want him to know that he matters. And I mean, of course,
00:15:21
Speaker
Others matter too, but I need him to know that he matters because someday there's going to come a time and it already has happened a few times where he'll question his worth. Um, so yeah, I just kind of, I poured it all into all because you matter and it's been great because it's given my son a safe space. Now when he stumbles on something, he doesn't have to be afraid to come and tell me about it.
00:15:51
Speaker
He can ask me about it. He saw George Floyd. He was here in Shohola, by the way, when that happened. I wasn't even with him. He called me in the middle of the night to ask me, who is George Floyd, mom? Why did they do that to him? So now we have these conversations, and I don't want to preach or whatever. Every parent is going to,
00:16:16
Speaker
say the words that they feel are best for their children. I just know for me and mine, we have these conversations because if I don't do that, if my husband doesn't do that, who will?
Family Life and Hobbies
00:16:34
Speaker
Yeah, I love hearing that. And I think it's, how do we build, how do we help kids think critically about the stuff that's around them, right?
00:16:44
Speaker
How do we help them find their own voice in all of the work and the things that they're suffocated with in regards to the media, in regards to the stuff that they are in school being talked about. Like there's so much that they are being suffocated with. How do they think for themselves? I think that is so important. I think that's so important. Tammy, because you've been in
00:17:11
Speaker
We've all been in this like COVID times. What did the household look like for you guys in regards to like, I know there's family time as well. So what did that look like? Was it board games? Was it movies? Was it exercise? Like what did you guys do? I've been killing these guys in UNO. They don't stand a chance. So we play UNO. I recently purchased Trouble.
00:17:40
Speaker
Oh, my trouble. Yeah, that's caused a lot of fights in the house. I purchased Sorry. We did some puzzles. So those kind of things have brought us together. We don't have the same Netflix and Hulu tastes, like the shows. We don't really watch much together, but board games, we're all in. Let's hear it.
00:18:11
Speaker
What's your Netflix case in comparison to your son and your husband? Okay.
00:18:18
Speaker
Don't judge, okay? No judge, no judge. Listen, so I do not really watch television mostly during the day. I need television to go to sleep at night. And I already told you, I go to bed quite early. So I'm a creature of habit. I basically just watched the same two things on repeat. And it's usually forensic files, don't judge.
00:18:44
Speaker
I think the narrator's voice is very soothing. It lulls me to sleep, even though he's talking about murder. And I like HGTV, like anything on HGTV. I like property brothers, stuff like that. But my son is all into, you know, anime, manga. I don't even know if I'm saying that, pronouncing that correctly, is it manga?
00:19:08
Speaker
And then my husband, he watches even less television than I do. Actually, yeah, I'm going to put him at like 0%. He just looks at stocks all day. Like that's, he does that for him to take. So we just, we are not cut from the same cloth, the three of us.
Creative Inspirations
00:19:32
Speaker
But I love that there in moments, I love that you know that. And then you also have four kids. I love that.
00:19:39
Speaker
I love that. I love that. And you say cook, you say cooking, you know, you said eating. Eating? Well, lots of cooking. I did a lot of cooking during the pandemic. But at some point, I kind of took a backseat and discovered Uber Eats. So that's been fun. That's been really fun. I think we all have. Yeah.
00:20:04
Speaker
Yeah, a lot of Uber eats, a lot of Peruvian food, and a lot of Thai food when Uber eats. And we agree on those. I'm here for it. No one has. I don't know. You go through the phase of like, oh, you have so much time. I can do this recipe. And then it's like, you think about it, you're like, this is taking all day. Yeah.
00:20:31
Speaker
I'm working like between, you know, maintaining the house and doing stuff like this, promoting my books. Man, I've got like 12, 14 hour days. So by the time I'm done and you're like stuck in the house, basically, by the time I'm done, I'm just exhausted. So yeah, I do Uber Eats like a couple of times a week. I don't hate. I feel sick. We do the exact same thing.
00:21:00
Speaker
Timmy, I just have a few more questions for you. Sure. And I think that was one of the main questions I wanted to ask, just again, based on some of the other authors that I've talked to. I guess my second or third question would be, how do you develop your ideas for your books? Because I think part of what I see, and I don't want to speak for you, but is that when you
00:21:24
Speaker
When you produce things, when I listen to you and talk about them, you mentioned that there's like always a huge purpose behind them. I guess my thing is, my question is how do you get to that purpose? Like in the brainstorming, the talking to other people, what does that process look like? You know, there's never one solid process that I use for across, you know, all of my work
00:21:54
Speaker
There, like I could see something on social media and literally get an idea from it. My purpose will always remain the same. My purpose for writing is, of course I'm writing for children, but selfishly, oh, and I'm writing for my son, but selfishly I'm writing for 12 year old me who would have loved to see
00:22:21
Speaker
the wider canon of diverse literature that we now have today, which still isn't wide enough. So like my purpose is always like I want to show the fullness of who we are as people of color, as Black people. So I want to show us, you know, joyful,
00:22:42
Speaker
We have sad moments too and everything in between and you know the different layers of who we are and what we can be So that remains for every single book. So you'll see You know, I may write about a biracial girl who does ballet and hates it but then I might see a picture on social media for women's history month
00:23:05
Speaker
of a black woman perched on a horse who I thought that was Harriet Tubman when I saw her, but lo and behold, it wasn't. It was Mary Fields and oh my goodness, she's the first woman to deliver mail in the United States during a dangerous time when they didn't let women do that job. It was the highest paid job and they certainly didn't let ex slaves do that job.
00:23:31
Speaker
It's like, oh, I got to write that. You know, it's 2021. When we want something delivered, we pick up our phones. You know, we go to Uber Eats, we go to Amazon and it's on our porch like that. But if life wasn't like that in the 1800s, you have people like Mary Fields breaking barriers. I got to write that story. So, you know, the inspiration really just comes from anywhere. But then you have
00:23:59
Speaker
Well, then I have, you know, certain stories that are like burning inside me, but I don't want to write them and I keep them buried. All Because You Matter was one of those stories. I didn't want to talk to my child about racial injustice and, you know, things that he would see on the news. Like I didn't want to talk to him about that stuff.
00:24:25
Speaker
It just kept bubbling up, bubbling up, and he reached a certain age, and I'm like, oh, dang it, we gotta have the talk, right?
Completing 'Muted' and Final Thoughts
00:24:34
Speaker
So every story that I write, there's always some kind of spark behind it. Even with muted, again, muted seems like I just wrote it, but I actually started working on this story in like 2014, but I wasn't getting it right. So I kept shelving it.
00:24:56
Speaker
And then, you know, an editor had rejected me for a different project. And then she goes on my website and she sees, oh, fun fact, you were in a singing group. If you ever write a novel about that, get at me. So of course my agent is like, Tammy, you got to write that story. Wow. Wow. I don't know about that. But yeah, but the Me Too movement, you know,
00:25:24
Speaker
these abusive men in power popping up in headlines. That did it for me. I was like, okay, let me change course here. I was in a singing group. I know what it's about. Wow. Wow. I love hearing your process because it's different for everybody, but I love that you just get inspiration from a lot of different things, but your purpose remains the same. I love
00:25:53
Speaker
I love hearing that so much. And again, and I say that because me reading your work and seeing it like, again, you produce very high quality writing. So I appreciate you. I appreciate you. Tammy, where can people find you online? So on Twitter, I am Tammy writes stuff.
00:26:18
Speaker
And on Instagram, I'm Tami Rights, and my website is TamiRights.com. And if you don't know, you should know, but what are some of your titles most currently? Sure. So my most recent title is Muted, YA vs Novel.
00:26:37
Speaker
about a girl in a singing group who thinks she knows it all and it goes left real quick. I have another title with Scholastic, a picture book, All Because You Matter. So yeah, those are my two books with Scholastic and I'm writing again. So that means maybe if the literary gods will have me again, maybe I'll have another book
00:27:05
Speaker
coming out. You will, you will. Yeah, I literally just finished. I want to thank you so much for just spending time and just again, it felt like just catching up with an old friend. So this is exactly what I wanted and I appreciate it. So thank you so much.