Meet Jacquitta A. McManus: Creating Fantasy Adventures for Young Heroes

I had the chance to share my story with ShoutOut Atlanta. In this feature, I talk about why I create fantasy and sci-fi stories with Black girls at the center, what keeps me going, and how Worlds To Discover came to be.

When I started writing, I had one goal in mind. I wanted my daughter and girls who looked like her to see themselves in the kinds of stories I grew up loving. Fantasy adventures. The kind that shaped my imagination but never showed anyone who looked like me as the hero. That stayed with me. I created Worlds To Discover to change that. Every story I write is a step toward a world where our daughters see themselves in every kind of magic.

In my ShoutOut Atlanta interview, I talk about why representation matters, what inspired Anyia – Dream of a Warrior, and how I stay grounded while running a business rooted in heart and creativity.

“I create diverse and empowering stories for children, featuring Black female protagonists in fantasy adventure and science fiction.” — Me, in the interview

These stories aren’t just books to me. They’re tools. They’re mirrors. They’re the stories I wish I had growing up—and the ones I know our kids need today.

In the interview, I also shared a few behind-the-scenes thoughts:

• Why I believe fantasy is the perfect place to explore identity and courage
• What keeps me motivated even when the journey gets hard
• How I balance being a writer, designer, and publisher all at once

If you're curious about how this all started—or you’re building something of your own—I hope my story encourages you to keep going.

💬 Read the full interview here: ShoutOut Atlanta – Meet Jacquitta McManus

Thanks again to ShoutOut Atlanta for the opportunity!