Meet the Author & Narrative Strategist!
Dr. Ebony Joy Wilkins discovered her lifelong passion for storytelling at an early age through an interactive writing game gifted by her parents. That spark ignited a career dedicated to the power of the written word. After starting as a news reporter for a daily newspaper, she transitioned into higher education and children's literature, earning a Ph.D. in Literacy, Language, and Culture from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
As an award-winning author of 15+ traditionally published works with major houses like Penguin Random House and Scholastic, Dr. Wilkins' acclaimed books—such as Zora, the Story Keeper and her award-winning picture books—celebrate identity, representation, and legacy.
Today, she brings that same master-level narrative architecture out of the literary world and into boardrooms, conference stages, and executive coaching sessions—helping leaders, teams, and organizations find their power and audience.
Sellout
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If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad
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Zora, the Story Keeper
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Beyonce
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Malcolm X
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Katherine Johnson
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Claudette Colvin Refuses to Move
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Sellout • If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad • Zora, the Story Keeper • Beyonce • Malcolm X • Katherine Johnson • Claudette Colvin Refuses to Move •
Read books by Dr. Ebony
As a child, Dr. Wilkins read every children's book that she could find with characters who looked like her and shared her life experiences. When she ran out of those stories, her mom challenged her to write her own. That early encouragement ignited a lifelong career dedicated to representation, identity, and the power of narrative. Today, as an award-winning author of over 15 traditionally published books with major houses like Penguin Random House and Scholastic, Dr. Wilkins crafts stories that celebrate legacy and connect us across shared human experiences. Explore her collection of acclaimed children's literature, biographies, and young adult novels below.
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Sellout
If there is ever a time when NaTasha feels like running away from something, now is it. But she doesn't. She stands her ground. And what she discovers surprises everyone, especially NaTasha.
“An excellent debut novel that takes a deeper look into finding yourself and finding what your roots really mean. It's not your cliche PoC-Overcoming-Prejudice story and is an excellent addition to the YA books” ~ John Jacobson, aka "R.J. Jacobs
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If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad
Vivid illustrations and question-and-answer text help children understand what it was like to live in another time. "The basic concept of history is made meaningful through well-chosen details of daily life."-SLJ
"Wilkins highlights the heroic achievements of conductors of African descent . . . A fiery and inspiring look at a pivotal period in U.S. history." ~ Kirkus
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Zora, the Story Keeper
A young Black girl and her aunt celebrate the wonder and magic of their family’s legacy through storytelling.
“Powerfully immersive.” Kirkus Reviews
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Beyonce: Queen of the Spotlight
Bring history home and meet some of the world’s greatest game-changers! Get inspired by the true story of one of the world’s most famous singers. This biography series is for kids who loved Who Was? and are ready for the next level.
“My daughter absolutely loves this book, and was so excited when it arrived!” ~ Jo Taylor
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Malcolm X Get to Know the Civil Rights Activist
Malcolm X is known as a leader of the civil rights movement. He faced racism, spent time in prison, became a minister, joined the Nation of Islam, left, took a pilgrimage to Mecca, traveled the world, and became a public figure before his assassination. Explore how his words shaped the civil rights movement and the people who called him a leader.
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DK Katherine Johnson
In this biography, discover the inspiring story of Katherine Johnson, famed NASA mathematician and one of the subjects of the award-winning 2016 film Hidden Figures.
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Perron Family Haunting
The Perron family received this advice from the previous homeowner of their Rhode Island farmhouse: "For the sake of your family, leave the lights on at night!" A ghostly witch named Bathsheba led the haunting of the Perron family, physically and psychologically tormenting them. This legendary ghost story eventually became the subject of the movie The Conjuring, and continued to haunt the Perron family for years to come.
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Claudette Colvin Refuses to Move
“Her bravery inspired Rosa Parks. This book should be read by teachers and students alike -- Rosa often overshadows Claudette, and one may not have happened without the other.” ~ Mima
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Simone Biles: 5-Minute Genius Stories
Fresh off of her summer of historic Olympic records, meet Simone Biles: the girl who loved gymnastics so much that she changed the sport for the better.
Simone wants to be the best at gymnastics, so she practices and practices and practices. Finally, her efforts pay off and she wins her first Olympic gold medal! But, she doesn't stop there. Simone keeps practicing and improving her skills, winning more and more Olympic medals. She even invents new skills, ones that are named after her that nobody else is able to accomplish.
Told over ten stories that readers will absolutely flip over, follow along as Simone redefines what it means to be an athlete and role model.
Have a High-Stakes Project or Team Goal in Mind? Let’s Connect.
Whether you are an executive scaling your thought leadership, an organization seeking custom training, or an event planner looking for a compelling keynote, effective communication is the foundation of lasting impact.
Let’s eliminate communication bottlenecks and elevate your organization's public voice. Share your goals with us, and let's begin the conversation.
