Young Shelburne author releases second book

May 28, 2026 · 0 Comments

Written By JOSHUA DRAKES

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

Amaya James is marking a new milestone in her young writing career at age 13 with the release of Emmie’s Next Chapter, her second self-written and self-illustrated book.

Centred on the character Emmie, the story follows a journey that begins as a simple trip and grows into something far more challenging, forcing its protagonist to confront change, uncertainty and the search for a sense of home.

The book is rooted in James’ own experience of transitioning from in-person school to online learning. That move, and the emotional upheaval around it, prompted her to explore change from a child’s perspective.

“I wanted to write about change because I moved to online school, and that was a big step for me, a different environment, and so I really was inspired to write about change,” she said. “I was trying to write a story like what I was going through at the time, but kind of differently, because I know a lot of people go through change, and so this could be a book, not only about my story, but somebody else who’s dealing with change.”

Through travel, new environments, and shifting circumstances, Emmie learns that home is less about a fixed place and more about the people and connections that ground her.

While Emmie is not a direct stand-in for the author, the character carries elements of James’ own life, allowing her to translate personal upheaval into a story that resonates with any young reader navigating their own transitions.

A key message in Emmie’s Next Chapter is the inevitability of change and the importance of allowing change to occur, even when life feels comfortable as it is. James aims to reassure readers that difficult shifts are survivable, and that it is possible to adapt, grow and eventually find something that feels like home again.

She uses humour and expressive illustration to make those ideas accessible, especially for younger children who may struggle with heavier or more serious narratives.

“Emmie has to learn wherever she is, she’ll always find somewhere like home if she’s with the people that feel like home,” James said. “That’s a really big lesson in this book. Another lesson is that we should let new chapters be written in our lives, because sometimes things feel good how it is, and you just want it to stay like that, but there’s always going to be more change in life.”

“I feel like when something is funny, you take it better, or at least that’s true for me. I feel like that really helps younger kids, to kind of get the meaning of the book if there’s humour in it,” she added.

James’ path into writing grew out of a long-standing love of art. As a kindergarten student, she was drawn first to drawing, later discovering a passion for reading and writing as classroom assignments became more complex.

“I remember in kindergarten, I would love to draw, and I loved art class, but I never liked writing or reading until I kind of grew,” she said. “With the new grades that I took, we did more writing and reading exercises, and I started to really like writing and reading, and so I thought it would be really cool to write and illustrate my own stories.”

The combination of illustration and storytelling offered a natural way to bring her own ideas to life. Her approach is informed by the work of authors known for blending humour and life lessons, whose stories showed her how serious themes can be delivered in playful, engaging ways.

Behind the scenes, James credits her family’s steady encouragement.

Her parents and sisters have supported school visits, book talks and presentations, helping her share both her process and her stories with other students as she continues to develop the Emmie series.

Emmie’s Next Chapter follows James’ first book, Afro, No!, published in 2022 and later becoming an Amazon bestseller. The book explores embracing and celebrating natural hair, focusing on the joys and challenges young Black girls can experience through that relationship.

With two books now under her belt, James has no plans of stopping here. More books and more stories are likely to follow.

To buy Emmie’s Next Chapter, go to :thejameses.ca/amaya