About Frances Marie

 

Frances Marie, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, brings warmth, connection, and a sense of community to every story she creates. Through her books, she offers children who look like her a gentle sense of security and the reassurance of being seen. Just as a skilled chef diversifies their talents in the kitchen, Frances thoughtfully expands the stories she shares from her diaspora, breaking negative stereotypes while celebrating the positive structures, traditions, and ways of life within her community—illuminating spaces where light and hope thrive.

In 2023, Frances released her first children’s book, Spending Time with Mommy, which encourages children and parents to enjoy healthy living together. The book highlights the joys of cooking and eating nutritious meals, as well as caring for houseplants and growing a green thumb, fostering connection, wellness, and curiosity in young readers.

Her upcoming book, Shades Beneath the Oak Tree, set to release in 2026, continues her mission of celebrating diversity, self-love, and the beauty of childhood curiosity. Frances hopes to one day become a full-time, traditionally published children’s book author, inspired by trailblazing writers such as Kelly Lyons, Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, Faith Ringgold, and Tonya Bolden, whose work has paved the way for stories that honor Black children and their communities.

Outside of writing, Frances enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring new restaurants, shopping for stylish clothing, watching any show featuring Chef Gordon Ramsay, and expressing her creativity through home décor. Through her stories, music, and community engagement, Frances Marie strives to inspire young readers, nurture curiosity, and give back to the community that shaped her.