An Interview with Dana Bradford-Majors

Dana Bradford-Majors is a prolific author known for her contributions to the acclaimed Black Boy Joy series, including titles such as “Humans Can’t Fly,” “Because Big Boys Aren’t Afraid of Outer Space,” and “Hey New Kid!” Collaborating with her sons and co-authors, Pheldon J. Majors III and Atreyu Majors, Dana brings a unique blend of creativity and family bonding to her storytelling.

Born and raised in Mississippi, Dana’s roots in the South and her frequent visits to New Orleans, Louisiana, have deeply influenced her work, reflecting her rich cultural heritage. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language Arts from the University of Southern Mississippi, with a minor in Business Technology Education, as well as a dual Master of Arts degree in Workforce Educational Leadership with Advanced Technologies from Alcorn State University.

In addition to her academic achievements, Dana recently received a Specialization in Social Emotional Learning from the University of Colorado. She implemented the You Can Initiative, a program designed to help teachers, students, and families navigate social and emotional competencies in their daily lives.

Dana’s books have garnered attention, being featured on local news stations and acclaimed worldwide celebrity Tabitha Brown ‘s “Very Good Mondays” platform.

While Dana has recently dedicated herself to children’s book publishing through her own venture, B. Majors Publishing, she continues to make an impact with her literary and academic contributions. She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she enjoys the company of her five children, talented drummer husband, and their dog, Titan.

You can purchase her books here:

www.bmajorspublishing.com

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

I started writing stories in the 4th grade due to my love of reading! Every week, I would give my teacher a story that I wrote so that she could give me pointers on what to correct and how I could make it better. The first story I wrote was “The Intergalactic Space Bears and the Search for YENOH.”

What inspired you to start writing this book?

Humans Can’t Fly! was inspired by my son P3 and a conversation we had one morning while he was jumping on the bed.

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

When I asked P3 to stop jumping on the bed, he looked at me so innocently and said “Mommy, I was trying to fly!” I responded with, “Humans can’t fly, honey!” And it went from there!

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

Definitely the song from the movie Up!

“God Push Me ” by Tank and the Bangas

“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC

Describe your dream book cover.

One that has “Best Seller” on it.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have tried so many things in my life! I used to be a stylist for a local production company, I’ve modeled, and I was once a blackjack dealer!

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I read Dr. Myles Monroe’s leadership books as well as Kobe Bryant’s The Mamba Mentality to keep me focused and disciplined.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

My hope is that they can see themselves in my stories with my children and become writers if they choose to, but the biggest takeaway is to continue to do what they love! The perfect reader is just someone who reads. Whether it’s for fun or to study, just continue to be a lifelong learner and reader!

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