Indy's Young Authors Shine: Published Works on Display at Literacy Fair

On February 8, Young Authors Day in Indianapolis is celebrated with a community literacy fair showcasing the work of dozens of newly published local authors.

Tevin Studdard, a community advocate and literacy leader, created the Literacy Entrepreneurship and Dreams program (LEAD) to teach people of all ages how to publish their own books. For high school athletes, he offers after-school or practice sessions throughout the week to learn the bookmaking process, including creating a sellable product on Amazon and managing profits.

For adults, Studdard provides a three-day intensive workshop in the evenings, focusing on book concept, content, formatting, and publishing. He said, "They write about food, write about marriage, everything, sports, careers... It's amazing to see all of these talented individuals just come out and support."

One young author is Chelsea Yeakey, who at just eight years old can already claim the title "#1 Amazon Selling Author" on her resume. She said, "It helps me express myself out to other people."

Her book, "Exercise Time with Rosie", is a true expression of her love for dance, paint, and piano. It's one of hundreds of books Studdard has helped publish in the last few years, many on display at the fair.

Author Trace McMillian, who is also a realtor, wrote "Little Landlords: Real Estate 101 for Kids!". He said, "Oh, this book is so important... This starts all the way from teaching them how to buy, how to sell real estate, what real estate is, what a landlord is, different types of real estate... This is what you can do with and for the community, not just be involved, but also to support and give an opportunity, which is a tool to elevate our community and elevate our youth. I feel like now's the time and there's no better time than now."

Studdard looks forward to continuing his mission of increasing literacy rates around the city.