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In the background of our phone interview, I heard the usual rumblings of a busy parent. I heard D.M. Whitaker guide her children to their lost items and guide her boys into their daily routine with stern, motherly admonition. The rumblings had been calmed and the silence was my sign to start the interview. My first question to the author: “How can we, as adults, be more childlike?”
“To truly live out our dreams as adults, we need to exercise our imagination,” she answered without hesitation. “We put all these limitations on ourselves. Children have no limitations. As adults, when we have aspirations, we need to do whatever it is we can do to make it happen and don’t limit yourself to barriers you think you have.”
Her book series, “The Grand Adventures of Jade and Grace” and the “The Scary Dinosaur and Stinky Skunk,” published by Water Rocks Publishing (owned and operated by Whitaker), focus on social-emotional learning skills. Parents can use these to guide their children into developing a practice in daily life and challenging social settings.
Crystal Swain-Bates, CEO of Goldest Karat Publishing, is Whitaker’s mentor and was more than happy to take time to speak with me while at the 4th Annual Black History Makers event.
“Her background as a social worker and an educator shines through in her writing and execution of her goals,” Swain-Bates said. “Her books are more than just a mother writing parables. Other facets of herself allowed her to know what types of books were missing in the market and what kind of stories would be engaging.”
Whitaker’s many roles should remind us of our strength in this world. We will all be remembered in many ways, not just as a mother, a son, or an occupation. All these roles, lessons, and skills guide us to exactly where we’re supposed to be.
“I’m always challenging myself by asking, ‘what can I apologize for?’ in business and with my children,” Whitaker said. “One of the books in ‘The Scary Dinosaur and Stinky Skunk’ series is about apologizing, which is taking responsibility for your behavior and actions. I wanted to change the narrative of parents never apologizing to their children. My son, Duce, and I wrote the story together, because apologies need to be extended on both sides.”
“Once [Whitaker] learned what I had to teach her, she kept investing in herself. Every new program I offered, she would take the class and then go do it,” Swain-Bates said. “Even still, my classes start at 8 pm or 10 pm—that’s family time. She sacrifices a little of that time to make sure she is learning so she can continue to grow. This isn’t easy for any parent.”
Booking Whitaker for an author visit or a talk, one need not worry about lack of presentation or content. We talked about the purpose and intention of the “Jade and Grace” series.
“The books delve into trauma, insecurities, and bullying from the perspective of the child, which can open up a dialogue,” she explained. “It’s a meaningful experience for parents to open the doors of communication with their children. The ‘Jade and Grace’ series is for adults and children.”
Swain-Bates’ admiration for her student-turned-peer is expressed in her voice. Their shared success is her mission: a world where every author’s voice can be heard, where they can be discovered, where they can succeed. She has worked tirelessly toward that goal, and Whitaker is proof that the dream can become reality.
“What people call excuses are what motivates D.M.,” she said. “She’s definitely one of my success stories. I know that she does a lot, which makes me hope that she’s focused on self care. When she comes in town for my two-day in-person events, those could be seen as a little retreat for her, but she was still focusing on her business; she wasn’t up here taking a spa day.”
Coming up on an hour of conversation, I called forth my midwesterner manners and pledged no longer to take up any more of her time. I asked my last question: “What do you want people to know?”
“As a mother, wife, and a friend,” Whitaker said, “I must be able to reach out and accept people where they’re at and to care for them and love them. That’s important to me as a Christian and an author.”
To learn more, visit dmwhitaker.com and goldestkarat.com.
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
