I’m a mum of two adult children living in Southeast London with my hubby Michael and our fur baby – Neko. I love reading and writing children’s books and if I visits a book shop you will definitely find me in the picture book section. Probably embarrassing myself laughing out loud.
\nI’ve had the privilege of working in a primary school for more than 20 years. It always saddens me though, that there weren’t many books that represent myself, my children, or the culturally diverse children I work with. If my passion for books, in some small way, encourages a child to pick up a book and read – then I’ve done my job! The challenge of a child telling me they don’t like books or reading is one I can’t resist – I’m then determined to find a book they cannot put down.
\n‘I’m Going to be a Princess’ is based on my experiences with my Goddaughter Maya, our conversations and yes - even though she had just turned 5 - very considered debates. Some might say arguments but whatever you call them, they are always great fun! With some embellishment this is one of the many conversations we’ve had.
\nWriting “I’m Going to be a Princess’ has taught me many things but what I really wanted it to do was inspire young readers. If they can see themselves in the pages of my book then maybe they will be inspired to turn their dreams into reality.
\nI hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
\nLearn more below:
\nBreaking Down Barriers - a guest post from Stephanie Taylor - Nosy Crow
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We believe there's a need to ","awardUrl":"https://www.thediversebookawards.co.uk/","authorId":3681,"listOrder":2,"id":2377,"createdOn":"2024-12-24T18:48:33.7158032","createdOnDisplay":"Tuesday, 24 Dec 2024","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"24 Dec 2024 18:48","createdBy":"stephanie66mai@gmail.com","modifiedOn":null,"modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]}],"paymentUpToDate":true,"books":[{"title":"I'm Going to be a Princess","titleAsUrl":"i'm-going-to-be-a-princess","blurb":"A warm and witty celebration of the lives of amazing Black women.\r\n\r\nWhat will Maya be when she grows up? A rocket scientist like Annie Easley? An Olympic athlete like Alice Coachman? A brain surgeon like Alexa Canady? In this heart-warming and funny story, Maya discovers the achievements of some incredible Black women . . . but it’s a brave Nigerian princess who really captures her imagination!\r\n\r\nThis uplifting and empowering picture book is the perfect gift for any young reader.","isbn":"9781839944727","cleanIsbn":"9781839944727","asin":"","cleanAsin":"","authorId":3681,"listOrder":0,"bookTypeId":13,"bookType":{"text":"Alphabet","listOrder":1,"id":13,"createdOn":"2018-02-18T16:51:51.747691","createdOnDisplay":"Sunday, 18 Feb 2018","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"18 Feb 2018 16:51","createdBy":"Seed Method","modifiedOn":null,"modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},"bookTypeDisplay":"Alphabet","image":"/images/books/16-05-23-35-5744-book-.jpg","imageDisplay":"/images/books/16-05-23-35-5744-book-.jpg","imageOnExternalSite":false,"imageWithoutFilePath":"16-05-23-35-5744-book-.jpg","authorsLink":null,"quantityAvailable":0.00,"allowDecimalQuantityAvailable":false,"price":0.00,"priceDisplay":"£0.00","retailPrice":0.00,"retailPriceDisplay":"£0.00","showRetailPrice":false,"weight":0.00,"taxable":false,"ableToBuy":false,"redirectUrl":"https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781839944727","publisher":null,"publishedYear":0,"pages":0,"language":null,"coAuthors":null,"id":5744,"createdOn":null,"createdOnDisplay":"","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"","createdBy":null,"modifiedOn":null,"modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]}],"bookTypesDisplay":"Alphabet","organisations":[],"engagements":[{"authorId":3681,"date":"2025-11-29T00:00:00","fullName":"Lewis Kelly","fullNameAndDate":"Lewis Kelly : Saturday, 29 Nov 2025","fullNameAndOrganisation":"Lewis Kelly (Kids Inc Nurseries)","firstNameAndOrganisation":"Lewis (Kids Inc Nurseries)","organisation":"Kids Inc Nurseries","organisationOrNameIfNull":"Kids Inc Nurseries","email":"lewis@kidsincnurseries.co.uk","address":"116 Palmerston Road, Buckhurst Hill","postcode":"IG9 5LQ","fullAddress":"IG9 5LQ","fullAddressOrEmailIfPresent":"lewis@kidsincnurseries.co.uk","phone":"07856382340","contactDetails":"e: lewis@kidsincnurseries.co.uk p: 07856382340","engagementClientType":null,"engagementType":{"text":"Reading","listOrder":3,"active":true,"id":13,"createdOn":"2018-02-18T17:16:23.228581","createdOnDisplay":"Sunday, 18 Feb 2018","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"18 Feb 2018 17:16","createdBy":"Seed Method","modifiedOn":"2020-04-22T10:12:34.5868731","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"22 Apr 2020 10:12","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},"curriculum":null,"message":"Hi Stephanie, \r\n\r\nI was curious to see if there would be a possibility to book yourself for an upcoming event we have in November. \r\n\r\nKids Inc Nurseries will be having a Christmas themed evening to celebrate the launch of our new Buckhurst Hill nursery, and we would absolutely love for you to cut the ribbon on the day and possibly do a reading to our children? \r\n\r\nThe event is taking place on Saturday 29th November in Essex. The event will include a free Christmas market, a large snow globe, and other various attractions. \r\n\r\nWe expect this event to attract a lot of the local community and potentially press. \r\n\r\nPlease let me know if this is a possibility, I'm more than happy to arrange a call to discuss booking prices etc.","enquiryOnly":true,"engagementConfirmedDisplay":"unconfirmed","oppositeEngagementConfirmedDisplay":"confirmed","ipAddress":"82.146.154.246","responseDateTime":"2025-10-29T11:43:18.0687912","feedback":"","feedbackFromClientOn":null,"bookingConfirmationFromClientOn":"2025-11-05T09:09:14.7603749","showFeedbackOnWebsite":false,"showFeedbackOnAuthorsProfile":false,"organisationUrl":null,"hideFromAuthor":false,"id":10665,"createdOn":"2025-10-29T11:43:09.6157462","createdOnDisplay":"Wednesday, 29 Oct 2025","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"29 Oct 2025 11:43","createdBy":"9f6112f9-e1ae-4d75-adf9-ba24e2ee6f51","modifiedOn":"2025-10-24T10:07:00.1090317","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"24 Oct 2025 10:07","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},{"authorId":3681,"date":"2026-03-06T00:00:00","fullName":"Klevisa Molla","fullNameAndDate":"Klevisa Molla : Friday, 06 Mar 2026","fullNameAndOrganisation":"Klevisa Molla (Selborne Primary School)","firstNameAndOrganisation":"Klevisa (Selborne Primary School)","organisation":"Selborne Primary School","organisationOrNameIfNull":"Selborne Primary School","email":"kmolla@selborne.ealing.sch.uk","address":"Conway Crescent","postcode":"UB6 8JG","fullAddress":"UB6 8JG","fullAddressOrEmailIfPresent":"kmolla@selborne.ealing.sch.uk","phone":null,"contactDetails":"e: kmolla@selborne.ealing.sch.uk ","engagementClientType":null,"engagementType":{"text":"Workshop","listOrder":0,"active":true,"id":4,"createdOn":"2018-02-18T17:16:23.228582","createdOnDisplay":"Sunday, 18 Feb 2018","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"18 Feb 2018 17:16","createdBy":"Seed Method","modifiedOn":"2020-04-22T10:12:34.5868731","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"22 Apr 2020 10:12","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},"curriculum":null,"message":"It would be great to hold a workshop with KS1 and KS2/whole school assembly, however we are open to ideas about the day.","enquiryOnly":true,"engagementConfirmedDisplay":"unconfirmed","oppositeEngagementConfirmedDisplay":"confirmed","ipAddress":"2.220.247.128","responseDateTime":"2025-11-04T17:43:41.6596149","feedback":"","feedbackFromClientOn":null,"bookingConfirmationFromClientOn":null,"showFeedbackOnWebsite":false,"showFeedbackOnAuthorsProfile":false,"organisationUrl":null,"hideFromAuthor":false,"id":10687,"createdOn":"2025-11-04T17:43:38.0463553","createdOnDisplay":"Tuesday, 04 Nov 2025","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"04 Nov 2025 17:43","createdBy":"b7f7d62e-1247-4bb6-bf04-2ffcf64ada0d","modifiedOn":"2025-11-03T22:20:59.5651119","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"03 Nov 2025 22:20","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},{"authorId":3681,"date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00","fullName":"Lisa Macdonald","fullNameAndDate":"Lisa Macdonald : Tuesday, 03 Mar 2026","fullNameAndOrganisation":"Lisa Macdonald (Goodrich Community School)","firstNameAndOrganisation":"Lisa (Goodrich Community School)","organisation":"Goodrich Community School","organisationOrNameIfNull":"Goodrich Community School","email":"lisamacster@googlemail.com","address":"15 Dovedale Road","postcode":"SE22 0EP","fullAddress":"SE22 0EP","fullAddressOrEmailIfPresent":"lisamacster@googlemail.com","phone":"07880716187","contactDetails":"e: lisamacster@googlemail.com p: 07880716187","engagementClientType":null,"engagementType":{"text":"Workshop","listOrder":0,"active":true,"id":4,"createdOn":"2018-02-18T17:16:23.228582","createdOnDisplay":"Sunday, 18 Feb 2018","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"18 Feb 2018 17:16","createdBy":"Seed Method","modifiedOn":"2020-04-22T10:12:34.5868731","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"22 Apr 2020 10:12","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},"curriculum":null,"message":"Hi there, I am from Goodrich PTA. Each year near to world book day I coordinate visits from authors to our school. We'd love to welcome you Stephanie, please let me know if of interest. Our dates are pretty flexible. Thanks","enquiryOnly":true,"engagementConfirmedDisplay":"unconfirmed","oppositeEngagementConfirmedDisplay":"confirmed","ipAddress":"195.213.43.13","responseDateTime":"2025-11-10T13:10:48.1579128","feedback":"","feedbackFromClientOn":null,"bookingConfirmationFromClientOn":null,"showFeedbackOnWebsite":false,"showFeedbackOnAuthorsProfile":false,"organisationUrl":null,"hideFromAuthor":false,"id":10706,"createdOn":"2025-11-10T13:10:40.3987125","createdOnDisplay":"Monday, 10 Nov 2025","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"10 Nov 2025 13:10","createdBy":"90fdb582-6dc4-4e22-9fc4-27f344acbd12","modifiedOn":"2025-11-06T12:13:00.4656316","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"06 Nov 2025 12:13","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},{"authorId":3681,"date":"2026-03-01T00:00:00","fullName":"Louise Jenkinson","fullNameAndDate":"Louise Jenkinson : Sunday, 01 Mar 2026","fullNameAndOrganisation":"Louise Jenkinson (Grange Park School)","firstNameAndOrganisation":"Louise (Grange Park School)","organisation":"Grange Park School","organisationOrNameIfNull":"Grange Park School","email":"ljenkinson@gpin.school","address":"Lansbury Drive Hayes","postcode":"UB4 8SF","fullAddress":"UB4 8SF","fullAddressOrEmailIfPresent":"ljenkinson@gpin.school","phone":null,"contactDetails":"e: ljenkinson@gpin.school ","engagementClientType":null,"engagementType":{"text":"Reading","listOrder":3,"active":true,"id":13,"createdOn":"2018-02-18T17:16:23.228581","createdOnDisplay":"Sunday, 18 Feb 2018","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"18 Feb 2018 17:16","createdBy":"Seed Method","modifiedOn":"2020-04-22T10:12:34.5868731","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"22 Apr 2020 10:12","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]},"curriculum":null,"message":"We would love as many of our primary school children as possible to be involved in some kind of event. We are flexible regarding the type of event you could offer and the date the week beginning 2/3/26. Thank you","enquiryOnly":true,"engagementConfirmedDisplay":"unconfirmed","oppositeEngagementConfirmedDisplay":"confirmed","ipAddress":"31.94.64.51","responseDateTime":"2026-01-13T08:48:29.9342324","feedback":"","feedbackFromClientOn":null,"bookingConfirmationFromClientOn":null,"showFeedbackOnWebsite":false,"showFeedbackOnAuthorsProfile":false,"organisationUrl":null,"hideFromAuthor":false,"id":10848,"createdOn":"2026-01-13T07:34:22.6030907","createdOnDisplay":"Tuesday, 13 Jan 2026","createdOnAndTimeDisplay":"13 Jan 2026 07:34","createdBy":"1b9592cf-eab8-4b36-a2f5-0d771708f6bf","modifiedOn":"2026-01-12T15:11:12.701756","modifiedOnAndTimeDisplay":"12 Jan 2026 15:11","modifiedBy":null,"brokenRules":[]}],"authorInShortList":false,"booksIntroduction":"What will Maya be when she grows up? A rocket scientist like Annie Easley? An Olympic athlete like Alice Coachman? A brain surgeon like Alexa Canady? In this heart-warming and funny story, Maya discovers the achievements of some incredible Black women . . . but it’s a brave Nigerian princess who really captures her imagination!\r\n\r\nThis uplifting and empowering picture book is the perfect gift for any young reader.","twitterName":"","facebookName":"","instagramName":"https://www.instagram.com/steph_twrites/","blueskyName":null,"amazonName":null,"waterstonesName":null,"publicEmail":"stephanie66mai@gmail.com","publicPhone":"07958725700","media":[],"calendarEvents":[],"ourInterviewUrl":null,"showBooksAsList":false,"bookedForWorldBookDay":false,"inactive":false}