Meet our Authors & Illustrators
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Alexzandria Batey
is a new author. She states, “Being a single mother with an autoimmune disease has taught me that every day is a day for which to be grateful and make a difference.” Alexzandria contributes to making a difference by writing children’s books. Through them, she endeavors to help not only her four-year-old son, Aaron, but other children. She wants to give them opportunities to learn and grow through literature tailored to their need for encouragement.
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Michael Chambers
Michael Chambers has an extensive resume, including many acting credits on TV and the “Big Screen”. Most notable was his iconic lead role in the film “Breakin’” and “Breakin’ 2”. While he still dances and acts, he’s have recently joined HDP in collaborating on a series of books for children. Check out his debut title in the HDP Bookstore! “Lil Boogaloo Shrimp and the Clean Sweep.
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Marcel Gamble
is a Grand Rapids native and Calvin College graduate. Over the course of his life, he has picked up a pen for newspaper publications, entertainment magazines, to write screenplays, poetry, music, books, and more. Although writing is his passion, nothing gives him more joy than to be able to father his beautiful children!
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Amanda Greenhoe
writes enthusiastically and thanks God for the opportunity to do so. She lives with her husband and two beautiful children in West Michigan. Greenhoe currently works as a marketer and executive speechwriter when she’s not exploring the woods, kayaking a lake, or catching a day at the beach with the whole family.
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Chris "Dud" Dudley
is a valued author and illustrator based in Grand Rapids, MI. He has created art professionally for nearly 30 years. He enjoys illustrating authors throughout the States but has recently begun writing. He released his debut children’s book in May 2023.
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Tawana Dudley
is a native of Grand Rapids, MI. She is a wife and mother of three girls. She enjoys spending time with her family. Her family has provided much of the source material from which she writes. Pregnancies to high school graduations, traveling and almost 25 years of marriage, gives Tawana a lot to write about!
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Cynthia Hughes
is a native of West Michigan, a wife, mother of four, and a grandmother of eleven. With a teaching degree and a Master’s in Health Education, Alzheimer’s was a health lesson she taught for over twenty-five years as a middle school and high school teacher.
Yet it wasn’t until her mother started showing signs of Alzheimer's, did she realize the value of helping her grandchildren understand what their great-grandmother (GG to them) was experiencing. The understanding, love, and kindness these great-grandchildren showed their GG provided the foundation for this real-life writing.
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Janaya Jones
is the owner of Naya’s Learning Corner. As an Early Childhood Educator, she believes that children are the future.
She states, “I strive to provide educational information to help families create an environment where every child is excited to learn! Who our children are tomorrow is essentially the outcome of how they are raised and nurtured today.”
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Keisha McDonald
is a Grand Rapids, Michigan native, a mother of four, and Banena (Grandmother) to one. She holds a double Master’s degree in Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a practicing Limited Licensed Professional counselor.
She has fostered children for over 10 years and adopted one. Combined, her passion for helping kids through fostering and receiving an education and training in mental health has prompted her to help children in foster care know they are not alone through her cultural children’s books.
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Tawngela Reynolds
was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI but now resides in Chandler, AZ. As a proud graduate of Florida A&M University, she has always had a passion to help and teach others. Her passion led to her years of service in the Criminal Justice field and in Public Education. She is a new author who enjoys putting her thoughts and ideas on paper based on her life experiences. Her goal is to continue creating children’s books for special needs and general education students.
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Danielle Walls
Natural-born philanthropist, mother, and author, Danielle Sierra founded Make It A Village on an important principle instilled by her beloved father. "We is better than me." Her passion is sharing positive messages with the families of our communities. Danielle Sierra's first book is available on her website! This enlightening book shines a light on the beauty of a father-son relationship.