In Her Words: Young Author Promotes the Joy of Reading and Writing

By TONYA WARREN | Photo courtesy of SHAWN GOLDEN

Vivacious, motivated and friendly are just a few words that can describe Killeen’s young writer Ja’Nay Ratcliff. Wearing adorable eyeglasses and a smile as wide as Texas, she loves the written and spoken word.

Shawn Golden, Ratcliff’s mom, says, “Ja’Nay has always been interested in books, even as an infant she loved to be read to aloud.” Golden says they visited Scholastic Book Fairs where she always allowed her daughter to buy a few books.

“Even before I could read words, I’d make up my own stories just by looking at illustrations,” Ratcliff says. Her baby dolls and stuffed animals made for a captive audience.

Thanks to a Facebook ad, Golden enrolled her budding bibliophile in a publishing class at Central Texas College’s College for Kids summer camp. “We were given a class assignment where we had to write our own book,” Ratcliff says. “I wrote my first book, The Book Club, and when it came time to publish it, my mom said yes!” This self-revealing work details her conquering personal anxiety when asked to join a book club. This petite, happy girl was just 6 when she became a published author.

Her second book, Travels with Nay, chronicles a road trip taken to visit family in different states. The next book she wrote honored her dad being a sanitation worker. My Dad is an Essential Worker stresses the importance of essential workers doing their part to keep our nation running during the pandemic. Children enjoy her books for the relatable themes of personal growth and family. Illustrated by different artists, these books offer warm, familiar and engaging pictures.

Ratcliff always has pen and paper ready to jot down thoughts about projects, and while she does most writing on her computer, she admits that’s not always feasible. Currently, she is writing her debut chapter book, and while she declines to give specifics, she says it’s a mystery.

In addition to reading and writing, she also promotes the joy of reading through her website, justlovereading.club. The young author also likes to go to church, ride bikes and play with her brother. Also add playing African drums and martial arts (she’s earned her yellow belt) to her list of accomplishments. “My mom definitely allows me to be a child,” Ratcliff says, “and she sometimes turns down events to give me a break, which I appreciate.”

Ratcliff has advice for students who may be struggling with reading or writing. “Don’t overthink it,” she says. “Use school websites that help with these things for at least five minutes a day, and lastly, don’t be ashamed of it.”