Brittany J. Thurman
Brittany J. Thurman is the author of FLY (Fall 2021, Atheneum/Simon and Schuster). FLY follows Africa, who wants to compete in an upcoming double Dutch competition. Problem is, Africa does not know how to double Dutch. While her friends teach her some winning moves, Africa realizes she's always known she can reach for her dreams.
Brittany is a former children children's specialist at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. During her time working with children across Pittsburgh, she read hundreds of stories to thousands of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Her focus has always been on representation and early literacy. Brittany is dedicated to ensuring children's literature truthfully reflects the world in which we live. She's spoken and presented at numerous conferences including: The Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Children’s Literature, Western PA’s SCBWI Conference, and the 13th Annual IBBY Regional Conference. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and Kingston University (London, England) she currently manages educational programming at The Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.
Twitter: @JaneEBrittany
Instagram: @britjanee
What’s your favorite comic strip or graphic novel?
Not too long ago, I was a children’s librarian at a library in Pittsburgh. During my downtime, I would read book after book, until a toddler would come up to the desk and ask for a story. I loved reading comics and graphic novels during my shift.
1. It was my job. You can’t work at the library without knowing what’s on the shelves.
2. As an author, I crave words by others so I can know how to craft the words I write.
3. Comics and graphic novels were quick reads. I could be interrupted, and easily come back to my spot.
One comic I discovered was Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur by Amy Reeder. I devoured these comics because deep down somewhere, somehow, I was Lunella Lafeyette. To have a Black girl who changes the world is what children’s literature needs more. But Lunella was more than just a Black girl in a comic. Lunella was normal. Lunella was human. Lunella wasn’t burdened by the trauma of her past. In these comics, her past does not dictate her current reality. That’s what I loved about the comics. Not every story that features a black child must encompass the trauma of our past.
Is your go to comfort food sweet or savory? Is it something you make yourself? Does food inspire your writing?
I don’t typically eat while I write, but occasionally I’m tempted to have a snack. I love things that are crunchy. Chips and salsa. Lemonheads. Caramel rice cakes. It it’s crunchy, sour or sweet, give it to me! Please! While I don’t really think food actually inspires my writing, I know it helps to soothe me in the moment. Writing can be frustrating, daunting, scary, especially when the story you have in your mind does not match what’s happening on the page. For that moment while I’m soothing my belly and chomping on something I love, I’m also soothing my soul to know what I write will be enough.
Is there a work of art that you love. Why? Have you ever visited it in person?
I work at an art museum. There are so many pieces to love, but one that always comes to mind is Portrait of Mary Daniel by Edward Fisk. Mary Daniel was Edward Fisk’s housekeeper, depicted in this portrait. I have an abstract copy of this in my office, while the original sits on a different floor of the museum. Each time I look at this portrait of Mary Daniel, I think: What are you thinking? How did you feel in the moment you were painted? No, how did you really feel? Why? What does it mean for a Black woman to become the subject of a known well-known artwork? What does it mean when that same Black woman doesn’t get the recognition she deserves? I wish I had these answers, they travel through my mind each time I look at this portrait. I can’t help but think, “What does Mary think?”
Is there another profession you would like to try?
As a kid, I was (and still am) fascinated by space. I grew up in the city, but on nights that were just right, above my house I could see the stars. This fascinated me. I wanted to know more. What’s there? What hasn’t been discovered? How can I change what the world knows about space? We are such a small dot in a larger than large universe. When I read books about astronomers and watched video of space launches, I wanted to be an astronaut. I wish I had tried to pursue this passion, but there was no one to tell me what avenue to take in order to make that dream a reality. Just as we need more representation in children’s literature, we need this representation in other fields, too. Perhaps if there was a Black astronaut to visit my school, or a person to whisper, that dream can be yours, maybe, just maybe I would be floating around a space station right now.
What brings you great joy?
I’ve lived away from my hometown most of my life. From Germany as a toddler, to North Carolina during middle and high school. I spend undergrad in London, England, and later, almost a decade in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nothing brings me more joy than being home with my family. I’m from Louisville, Kentucky and my family means the world to me. Being able to go over my grandmother’s house without getting on a plane and seeing my aunts without it taking four + hours is the biggest blessing. I love being home because occasionally I remember things that I would never have thought of if I were away. There are certain feelings I get when I walk down certain streets or smell a scent in the air. All of it brings me comfort. Home and family = unlimited joy. My smiles are much brighter since moving back here.
