An Interview with Benjamin Ingram Jr.

Benjamin Ingram Jr., who began writing at just seventeen, introduces his debut children’s book Quentin and the New Friend, a heartfelt story inspired by real-life experiences that highlights kindness, friendship, inclusion, and emotional growth.

The book follows Quentin, a young boy who experiences a familiar childhood moment—meeting someone new and navigating uncertainty. Through a simple act of kindness, Quentin discovers how connection can turn hesitation into meaningful friendship. The story is designed to help children build confidence in social situations while learning empathy, respect, and inclusion.

 In addition to its focus on friendship and social development, Quentin and the New Friend also brings awareness to fragile X and neurodiversity, encouraging understanding that every child experiences and interacts with the world differently.

Written and published at just seventeen years old, Benjamin Ingram Jr. draws from authentic personal experiences to create storytelling that is emotionally grounded and relatable. His mission with the All About Quentin series is to build stories that not only entertain but also teach meaningful life lessons rooted in real experiences.

The debut has already seen early recognition, reaching number twenty-eight on Amazon’s Top 100 and number eighteen on the Children’s Book Classics chart, marking a strong early milestone for the growing series.

The book is currently available through major retailers including Amazon and Walmart, with continued plans to expand into additional bookstores, schools, and retail partners.

Looking ahead, Benjamin Ingram Jr. aims to grow Quentin and the New Friend and the broader All About Quentin series into a full-scale children’s entertainment brand. His vision includes expansion into television development, merchandise, apparel, backpacks, and educational products, with the long-term goal of partnering with a major network or streaming platform to bring Quentin’s world to life on screen and build a globally recognized franchise centered on storytelling, learning, and inclusion.

At its core, Quentin and the New Friend represents the beginning of a larger creative universe built from real experiences, emotional truth, and a mission to positively impact children through storytelling.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

I was inspired to write Quentin and The New Friend three years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, after experiencing a real-life situation that stayed with me my freshman summer. It opened my eyes to how important kindness, empathy, and understanding differences truly are, especially for children at a young age.

That experience inspired me to create a story that could help kids better understand and include others while also bringing awareness to fragile X syndrome in a positive and age-appropriate way.

As a young Black author, representation and diversity were also very important to me throughout the process. I wanted to create something meaningful that families, classrooms, and caregivers could use to start important conversations about inclusion and compassion.

Seeing the book debut at number forty-three on Amazon’s Top 100 and number eighteen in Children’s Classics New Releases has made the journey even more meaningful and showed me how powerful stories with purpose can be.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title Quentin and the New Friend actually came together pretty naturally. I always knew I wanted the story to feel warm, welcoming, and centered around friendship, so I wanted a title that was simple, memorable, and easy for children and families to connect with.

Because the story is rooted in inclusion and understanding differences, the phrase ‘the new friend’ felt like the perfect representation of the book’s message. I also knew early on that I wanted Quentin to become a recurring character, which is why the title fits so well into the larger All About Quentin series.

While parts of writing and developing the book took time, the title itself was one of the easier decisions because it captured the heart of the story so clearly.

Describe your dream book cover.

My dream book cover would feel warm, emotional, and instantly inviting to both children and families. I imagine Quentin front and center with a bright, welcoming expression that immediately makes readers feel connected to him. Around him would be a colorful and uplifting setting that represents friendship, inclusion, and imagination.

I’d want the artwork to feel modern and high-quality while still keeping the heart of a classic children’s book. Diversity and representation would be important visually, with characters that feel authentic and relatable. I also love covers that tell part of the story before you even open the book, so I’d want subtle details in the background that hint at the journey and message inside.

The overall look would be clean, memorable, and emotionally powerful—something that stands out on Amazon shelves but also feels timeless enough for classrooms, libraries, and family bookshelves for years to come.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

If Quentin and the New Friend had a soundtrack, one song that would definitely be on it is Happy Feelin’s by Maze and Frankie Beverly. That song has such a warm, uplifting, soulful feeling that really matches the heart of the book.

The story is about kindness, inclusion, friendship, and understanding differences, and Happy Feelin’s gives off the exact type of energy I’d want readers to feel after finishing the book—hopeful, joyful, connected, and inspired.

I’d want the soundtrack overall to feel soulful, positive, timeless, and full of love, just like the message behind Quentin and the New Friend.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

As I continue writing, I’ve really been drawn to books that are both meaningful and emotionally impactful. For research and inspiration, I pay attention to children’s books that focus on kindness, inclusion, confidence, and representation because I want my stories to leave a lasting message while still feeling fun and relatable for kids.

I also look at books that create strong emotional connections with families and classrooms, especially stories that encourage important conversations in a simple and approachable way.

For comfort and motivation, I enjoy reading stories and creative projects that remind me why representation and storytelling matter so much. As a young Black author building the All About Quentin series, I’m inspired by books and creators that make people feel seen, understood, and uplifted.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

What really made me want to write was realizing how powerful stories can be, especially for children. During my sophomore year of high school, after a real-life experience from my freshman summer stayed with me, I started thinking deeply about how books can help kids understand differences, kindness, and empathy at an early age.

I was also influenced by the importance of representation. Growing up, I understood how meaningful it was for children to see themselves reflected positively in stories, and that inspired me to create something that felt genuine, uplifting, and impactful.

Beyond books, I’m inspired by art forms that tell emotional stories and bring people together—music, television, interviews, and visual storytelling all influence how I approach writing. I love projects that feel heartfelt, memorable, and bigger than just entertainment.

More than anything, I wanted to create stories that make children and families feel something positive while also opening the door to important conversations about inclusion, understanding, and compassion.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is somewhere quiet where I can really focus, usually at my desk or in a calm space with no distractions. I like having a peaceful environment so I can fully imagine the characters and bring their world to life.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

I’d tell my past self to stop doubting and just begin. Your voice matters, even when it feels small. Keep writing, keep learning, and trust that every page is bringing you closer to the story you’re meant to tell.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope readers walk away remembering that kindness and friendship can come from unexpected places, and that one new connection can make a big difference in someone’s life.

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Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.