Q&A: Aar-Yana Willis talks first children’s book, using AI and familial inspiration 

Local writer Aar-Yana Willis published her first book a little less than a year ago, and since then it’s been featured on shelves at Ujamaa Community Bookstore, Midwest Leak and even in the BUTTER 5 shop. 

The Recorder sat down with Willis to learn more about her debut children’s book, “I Love You This Much and All,” and what inspired her to take the leap into self-publishing.  

Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity. 

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background? How did you get into writing? 

Aar-Yana Willis: I had the pleasure of working with youth over the years, and with that, I found that I used to journal as a child and do a lot of different journaling about how I was feeling or what’s going on in life, and did a lot of poetry. So, taking two loves — working with youth and poetry — putting them together, and that’s how the book came about. Also being able to speak wisdom and insight into our youth today, which is something I feel is very important to carry with them as they get older, and also speaking to our inner child — for those of us who are adults. 

Why did you decide to add ‘children’s book author’ and ‘poet’ to your repertoire? 

Willis: Initially, I didn’t know that I was going to add it. It felt like it came overnight. Sitting down and thinking about the stuff that I have written in the past, and with a book that I actually put out …I think that went hand in hand. Then trying to write a little bit more to see if that’s more of my feel, and I believe that it is. So that’s why I chose to put the two together. 

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Tell me about “I Love You This Much and All;” what shaped this story? 

Willis: My life and my life experiences overall. So, although it’s a children’s book that speaks to the youth today, it also speaks to the inner child, and it talks really about my life and what I’ve gone through so far and (what I’m) currently going through as well. It’s more like a constant reminder of the things that were instilled in me as a child, as well as the things that I love to instill in the youth that I work with. 

Some of your family and community show up throughout the book, and you’ve also dedicated it to your grandparents. What does this story mean to you? 

Willis: It’s amazing, and it feels surreal. I never thought that I would be an author in general. I just know that I love writing and being able to be a self-published author as well as a children’s author and being able to hold my book in my hands is amazing. My family and friends have been very supportive of me and my journey, and some people I’ve met along the way. I love that I’m making them proud and inspiring others. That actually warms my heart. 

You used AI to create the artwork for this book. Can you walk me through that experience and how you chose to use it to elevate this story? 

Willis: Since my story is talking about every child in general, I wanted to have it be diverse, so I looked at different families I’ve worked with over the years, as well as my friends and other family members, and kind of pulled them in a bit. My grandfather and grandmother are shown in the book, but they’re tweaked a little bit. Even though it’s AI, it’s pictures I actually have taken with them. 

Some of the AI pictures are completely different. It doesn’t really pinpoint anybody in particular, but it does highlight different experiences I’ve gone through in my younger years. … The book does not touch on that, but every picture has its own individual story. 

What did you learn from your experience in using AI for the art and self-publishing through Amazon? Did you receive any pushback or face any challenges? 

Willis: I’ve had a mixture of both. I’ve had some people who love the AI artwork that I chose, and some people have different views. I understand both. I think some people prefer me to … draw it out, or partner with other people, and other people that love it, like, ‘I love the story and the way that you went about utilizing set images.’ If I were to do something else in the future, I would do a mixture of both to help bring the story that I’m trying to convey to the reader to life. 

I ran into some snags here and there, where I initially thought my book was going to be smaller — like smaller font size-wise. … Even though it’s larger, I love it, but I think I will make it a little bit smaller next time. … As far as after publishing it, I learned that it’s more about how you promote it, versus if you’re going to drive them to be able to purchase it over Amazon, or you’re bringing the book to the audience themselves — being able to go and sit down with them, going to different festivals, or even pop-ups. 

The book has been out barely a year now. How has this impacted your life?  

Willis: It’s impacted me in a positive way. Whereas I said before, I was a quiet child, it’s pushed me more to the forefront, to utilize my voice. Being able to meet new people and say, ‘Hey, this is like my baby I’ve created, and I want to share (it) with you,’ and seeing how other people have gravitated towards it. Initially, when I wrote the book, I didn’t have any big expectations. But as far as being able to go read to students in schools, that was something that was amazing. I was like, ‘Yes, I can connect with the target market audience there and see how they feel.’  

“I Love You This Much and All” is available at Midwest Leak Reading Room, Ujamaa Community Bookstore, Half Price Books, Amazon, and the Indianapolis Public Library. For more information or to connect with the author visit www.iloveyouthismuchandall.com or follow @callmeaary on Instagram. 

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.