Crystal Everette - Mari and Mommy

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Crystal Everette

Crystal Everette considers herself to be both simple and complex. Born and raised in Kansas City, she shares her belief that her native city is part of who she is.

Crystal graduated from Lincoln College Preparatory Academy after attending schools in Kansas City Public Schools. Next, she attended Drake University, earning degrees in Public Relations and Sociology. Additionally, Crystal earned a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University. Since 2016, she has enjoyed being married to her husband Marquis; a union that produced their five-year-old daughter, Mari.

One thing that Crystal has found enjoyment in life, besides being a mother, wife, and business owner, is being a children’s book author. Published in September 2022, Mari and Mommy Move It!, is a book about the power of music and movement. “Meet Mari, the curly haired toodler who loves music and movement. She never hesitates to shake it as soon as the beat drops!”

In addition to being a children’s book author, Crystal is the founder and owner of Everett Consulting Group, LLC. With Everette Consulting, she offers consulting services in college and career planning, as well as how to support parents and families. “It was initially founded to support students and families pursuing post-secondary education options. While I still offer support in this area, my focus has shifted to work as a facilitator in parent and family advocacy and ensuring that parents have a voice and power,” Crystal shares.

My idea to publish a book was a passion project, turned into something much greater. I think we often tell ourselves all the reasons why we can’t do something instead of just trying it out. I think that sentiment is far too common with Black women who are also mothers as we try to find balance in caring for ourselves and our families.

In regard to being an author, Crystal says she has always considered herself a writer for as long as she can remember. “As a kid, journaling about my day was one of my favorite pastimes. I knew I wanted to be a journalist. I even had an opportunity to serve as a staff writer for Teen Star, the teen section of The Kansas City Star. Seeing my name on a byline was everything, especially to my 16-year-old self. My career plans changed once I began my college career, but writing continued to be a passion as I wrote for the campus newspaper. Now, I enjoy writing blog posts and contributing articles to other publications,” she explains.

Crystal’s love for writing has always been an intrinsic part of her identity. From her earliest memories, she fondly recalls the joy of journaling about her day, immersing herself in the world of words. As a young dreamer, she aspired to be a journalist, and her dreams took flight when she seized the opportunity to become a staff writer for Teen Star, the teen section of The Kansas City Star. “The moment I saw my name etched on a byline, it felt like an affirmation for my young 16-year-old self,” she says. In college, her career plans changed, but her writing continued, and she wrote compelling stories for the campus newspaper. Nowadays, she enjoys writing blog posts and sharing her thoughts through contributions to esteemed publications.

When asked what she loves most about being an author, is having the opportunity to share her story and help others. “I also love seeing the impact of my book on children. When I wrote the book, I had my daughter in mind, but I was also thinking about other children that would read the book and see themselves represented. I went to an early learning center to read the book a while ago, and each classroom got a copy. As I was leaving, I saw a little girl holding the class copy, and I heard her say, “I love this book so much!” It melted my heart and was a great reminder about impact, legacy, and how much what I do can affect others.”

Crystal shares that her husband and daughter are absolute inspirations for her. “My husband inspires me as I think about the life we have been intentional about creating. He is the smartest person I know, and his support is everything. My daughter’s ambition and confidence inspire me as well. I love her curiosity and how she moves about the world, full of life.”

There was a period in the production process of her book when Crystal felt like giving up. Gratefully she didn’t and because of her perseverance, the world has been blessed. She shares how the release date was delayed for nearly one year of the original publishing date. “It felt devastating. I wasn’t pleased with the artwork the illustrator created, and I didn’t feel good about putting the book out into the world knowing that. Finally, we were able to work through the illustration challenges and come up with a better solution. The artwork of Mari and Mommy Move It! infuses real photos with illustrations, so to me, there is an understanding that the story is about real people, but it also speaks to young children.”

Her advice to others who may follow a path similar to the one she has is to just go for it. “My idea to publish a book was a passion project, turned into something much greater. I think we often tell ourselves all the reasons why we can’t do something instead of just trying it out. I think that sentiment is far too common with Black women who are also mothers as we try to find balance in caring for ourselves and our families. I encourage anyone interested in writing a book to try it out. There are the technicalities of understanding publishing and which route to choose, but even if you touch one person with your words, you are doing great,” she shares.

Moving forward, Crystal says she plans to publish more children’s books. “I firmly believe in the power of representation, and I love that I can do that with stories that are true to me and my family,” she says. There are also plans to relaunch her podcast, Conversations with Crystal. “Previously, my content focused on education and highlighting voices in that space. I want to take the opportunity to share relatable content, capturing parts of my life that resonate with others.”

www.crystaleverette.com