Local author inspires students of color to write their stories

Author J. Elle was on the verge of creating a new literary fantasy world that leaped on the page about a young heroine from a single parent home in an urban setting dealing with gods and magic.

“She was fresh she was new. And I just couldn’t get enough of it. And so the wheels started turning. Because I’m a former teacher. And I was like I wish somebody would’ve written stories about characters like this when I was younger,” said J. Elle.

The author is now working with local high school students in Yuma in hopes of putting diverse stories on the bookshelves.

J. Elle said, “I wanted to increase the amount of book by authors of color on the shelves. So I’m starting at the ground up to get kids writing.”
8 students participated in the author’s writing workshop and spent their spring break crafting their own short stories.

Anayah Dorman, one of the student writers in the workshop said, “From character building to scene building, plot points, everything. She pieced it out for us. In a way that it made the writing process simple.”

Allysia Dorman, Anayah’s mother said it’s important for readers to experience stories from all walks of life.

Dorman said, “All kinds of things that are going on in our society, they’re reflected in the voiced of kids. And so if the kids are able to express that whether it’s through fantasy or through non-fiction, fiction. Then they are introducing other readers, other generations to what life is like and that’s relevant.”

Kendra Lempke, a student who comes from two different cultures said it was an opportunity to see a character like her come to life.
“The characters are pretty much what make or break a book. And if I can relate to the character better it’s even great,” Lempke said.

All the short stories from the group of students will be available in an anthology online for everyone to read in the near future.