You’ve Got To Believe

Kwame Alexander wrote a manuscript in 2008.

He believed in it.

Kwame worked on it with mentors.

He believed in it.

When his agent submitted it, it was rejected more than twenty times.

He believed in it.

“no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” “no.” …

He believed in it.

Kwame decided he would go ahead and self-publish it.

He believed in it.

A week after making that decision, Editor Margaret Raymo said “YES!”

He believed in it.

“The Crossover” was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2014.

He believed in it.

In January 2015, Kwame won the Newbery Award for it – and the book was hailed as “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”

He believed in it.

And it came true.

A true story from the 2015 SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City. 

Visit Kwame's website here.