Author Interview with Destiny Nakita Arnold of Pinky & Plum: Big Feelings, Little Bodies

Check out our website: Pinky & Plum 

When did you become a children’s book author?
I officially became a children’s book author in 2026 with the publication of Pinky & Plum: Big Feelings, Little Bodies, but my interest in children’s emotional development goes back much further.
 
As a parent, and later as a godmother to twin girls who inspired the characters Pinky and Plum, I’ve always been fascinated by the way children experience the world. One thing I often tell people is that children are not “just kids”—they are people with real thoughts, feelings, frustrations, fears, and joys. I believe it’s important to understand what children are feeling rather than dismissing those emotions as simply part of being a child.
 
Watching my own children grow up and then experiencing childhood again through my goddaughters gave me a completely different perspective. It reminded me how important it is for children to feel seen, heard, and understood. That passion ultimately inspired me to create Pinky & Plum and begin my journey as a children’s book author.
 
Do you have a writing background?
Yes. Writing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
 
As a child, I was always creating stories, keeping notebooks, and writing about the world around me. I was especially fascinated by people’s life stories. I remember sitting down with my grandmother one day with a notebook and simply asking her questions about her childhood and writing down her answers. It wasn’t a school project—I was genuinely interested in learning where she came from and how she experienced life.
 
As I got older, writing became an outlet for creativity, reflection, and storytelling. I wrote stories throughout middle school and continued journaling and documenting my thoughts for years. I’ve always believed that everyone has a story worth telling.
 
Later in life, while teaching at Savannah Technical College, one of my students—who was also an author—encouraged me to write my own story. The idea stayed with me for years. Between graduate school, raising children, career responsibilities, and life’s challenges, the timing never seemed quite right. But every experience was quietly adding another chapter to my own journey.
 
In 2026, everything finally came full circle. I felt a strong pull to begin writing seriously, and that decision led to the creation of Destiny Legacy: Becoming Her, followed by Cassandra’s Daughter, and ultimately Pinky & Plum: Big Feelings, Little Bodies.
 
Looking back, I realize I’ve always been a writer. Publishing simply gave me a way to share those stories with the world.
 
How did you come up with the story?
The idea for Pinky & Plum: Big Feelings, Little Bodies came to me while I was writing my memoir, Destiny Legacy: Becoming Her. As I reflected on my own life experiences and the emotions that shaped me, I began thinking about how children experience and process big feelings in their everyday lives.
 
At the same time, I was watching my twin goddaughters grow and develop their own unique personalities. They inspired the characters of Pinky and Plum and reminded me how differently children can respond to the same situations.
 
The specific events in the book are fictional, but they were inspired by real-life observations from raising my own children and spending time with my goddaughters. I wanted to create relatable situations that would help children understand their emotions while also giving parents and caregivers a way to start meaningful conversations about feelings.
 
The result was a story that combines everyday childhood experiences with lessons about empathy, friendship, inclusion, forgiveness, and emotional growth.
 
How did you come up with the characters?
The characters were inspired by my twin goddaughters, whom I met when they were about two months old.
 
Shortly before their first Christmas, I asked their mother if she had assigned a color to each twin. She told me she hadn’t really thought about it, but suggested pink for one and purple for the other. From that moment, I started calling one “Pinky” and began searching for a purple-inspired nickname for her sister. Eventually, I landed on “Plum,” and the names stuck.
 
As I spent more time with them, I naturally associated Pinky with pink and Plum with purple. When I bought gifts, clothing, blankets, and other items, I often selected those colors to help distinguish between the twins. Over time, the nicknames became part of their personalities and ultimately inspired the characters in the book.
 
The supporting characters were inspired by my own children. Daijah’s signature color is green, which is my daughter’s favorite color, and D’Sean’s signature color is blue, which is my son’s favorite color.
 
I also wanted each character to have distinguishing features beyond color. For example, Pinky wears two puffballs while Plum wears one. Even when the characters aren’t dressed in their signature colors, young readers can still recognize who is who. Creating those visual identities was important because individuality is one of the themes woven throughout the series.
 
How do you select names for your characters?
Many of my character names are inspired by real people in my life. Pinky and Plum were the nicknames I gave my twin goddaughters, while Daijah and D’Sean are inspired by my own children.
 
Because these characters were created from people I know and love, the names feel natural and authentic to me. Rather than choosing names first and building characters around them, the personalities came first, and the names followed naturally from those real-life connections.
 
As the Pinky & Plum universe continues to grow, I expect future character names will be selected in much the same way—drawing inspiration from meaningful relationships, experiences, and the people who have impacted my life.
 
Did you hire an illustrator or do the illustrations yourself?
I did not hire a traditional illustrator. Instead, I personally developed the visual direction for the book and oversaw every aspect of the characters and illustrations.
 
From the beginning, I had a very clear vision for Pinky, Plum, Daijah, and D’Sean, including their personalities, hairstyles, clothing, colors, expressions, and overall appearance. I also directed the environments, scenes, and visual details throughout the book to ensure they aligned with the story I wanted to tell.
 
Creating the illustrations was a collaborative creative process that required extensive planning, refinement, and attention to detail. My goal was to create a colorful and engaging world that would resonate with young readers while staying true to the personalities of the characters.
 
Because the characters are central to the Pinky & Plum series, maintaining their visual identity was one of the most important parts of the production process.
 
Are you self-published or published through a publishing company?
I am independently published through my own publishing brand, Destiny Legacy Publishing.
 
Creating my own publishing imprint has allowed me to maintain creative control over my projects while building a platform for the stories and brands I am passionate about. Through Destiny Legacy Publishing, I oversee every stage of the publishing process, from concept development and production to branding, marketing, and distribution.
 
For me, publishing is about more than releasing books—it’s about creating meaningful stories and building a lasting legacy that can inspire readers of all ages.
 
From the day you came up with the idea for the story until you were holding your published book in your hand, how long did it take you to complete this book?
From concept to publication, the process took approximately two and a half months.
While the story itself came together relatively quickly, much of the time was spent refining the visual and production elements of the book. Because Pinky & Plum is a character-driven series, I devoted significant attention to ensuring consistency in the characters’ appearances, personalities, environments, and overall presentation.
 
Every detail mattered—from hairstyles and clothing colors to room layouts, character expressions, and background elements. I wanted young readers to immediately recognize the characters from page to page and feel fully immersed in their world.
 
In addition to developing the story and illustrations, I also navigated the publishing process, including formatting, revisions, production requirements, and preparing the book for release. It was an intensive but rewarding experience, and seeing the finished project come together made every hour worthwhile.
 
What made you want to publish a children’s book?
I wanted to publish a children’s book because I believe children’s feelings deserve to be taken seriously.
 
Throughout my life as a parent and later as a godmother, I have seen how often children experience big emotions but struggle to find the words to express them. At the same time, adults sometimes overlook those feelings or dismiss them as simply part of childhood. I wanted to create stories that help bridge that gap.
 
My goal with Pinky & Plum was to create relatable situations that encourage conversations about emotions, empathy, friendship, inclusion, and self-expression. I wanted children to see themselves in the characters and understand that all feelings are welcome, while also giving parents and caregivers tools to guide those conversations.
 
Publishing a children’s book felt like a natural extension of my passion for storytelling and my desire to create resources that support both children and the adults who care for them.
 
What is one thing you wish you knew before beginning your book publishing journey?
I wish I had known that writing the book would be the easiest part.
 
Before becoming an author, I assumed that once the manuscript was finished, the hard work was mostly over. What I quickly discovered is that publishing requires an entirely different set of skills. Beyond writing, there are formatting requirements, cover design considerations, file preparation, production specifications, printing requirements, and distribution processes that many new authors don’t fully anticipate.
 
Each book presented its own unique challenges. My memoir required learning how to properly format a manuscript for publication, while Pinky & Plum introduced an entirely different production process because picture books rely heavily on visual layout, illustration placement, and page design.
 
I also learned that creating a book and preparing it for publication are two very different things. The publishing process requires patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn new skills along the way.
 
Looking back, I wouldn’t change the journey, but I would have appreciated knowing just how much work happens after the writing is finished.
 
Any tips for future children’s book authors?
One piece of advice I would give future children’s book authors is to remember that you’re writing for two audiences: the child and the adult who is sharing the book with them.
 
Children are the primary readers, so it’s important to create stories that are engaging, relatable, and age-appropriate. At the same time, parents, caregivers, teachers, and guardians are often the ones purchasing the books, reading them aloud, and helping children process the lessons within the story.
 
When I created Pinky & Plum, I wanted the book to do more than entertain. I wanted it to spark meaningful conversations between children and the adults in their lives. That’s why I included a section for parents and caregivers at the end of the book with discussion questions and practical tips.
 
For me, the most impactful children’s books are the ones that continue the conversation long after the last page has been turned.
 
What is the best reaction from a reader, so far?
Because Pinky & Plum: Big Feelings, Little Bodies is a new release, I am still in the early stages of receiving reader feedback. However, one of the most meaningful reactions so far came from a reviewer who recognized the value of the character introductions and the parent/caregiver section at the end of the book.
 
Those sections were intentionally included to help extend the conversation beyond the story itself. My goal was not only to create an engaging book for children, but also to provide parents, caregivers, and educators with tools to discuss emotions, empathy, and self-regulation with young readers.
 
Seeing someone independently recognize and appreciate that aspect of the book was especially rewarding because it confirmed that the message and purpose behind the book were coming across as intended.
 
What is something you’d like people to take away from your book(s)?
I would like readers to take away the importance of emotional intelligence and emotional responsibility.
 
While Pinky & Plum was written for children, I believe the lessons apply to adults as well. Children are not the only ones who experience big feelings. Adults experience disappointment, frustration, jealousy, excitement, pride, and countless other emotions every day. The difference is that we have had more time to learn how to manage them.
 
My hope is that children will learn that all feelings are valid and that there are healthy ways to express and work through those emotions. At the same time, I hope parents, caregivers, and educators are reminded of the importance of listening, communicating, and helping children navigate those feelings with patience and understanding.
 
If the book encourages even one meaningful conversation about emotions, empathy, or personal responsibility, then I consider it a success.
 
Where do you get ideas for your stories?
Most of my story ideas come from observing people and everyday life.
 
I find inspiration in conversations, relationships, personal experiences, and the way people respond to different situations and emotions. Sometimes an idea comes from something I have experienced myself, while other times it comes from watching how others navigate challenges, celebrations, disappointments, or personal growth.
 
As a writer, I am naturally curious about people and their stories. I enjoy exploring what motivates them, how they think, and how their experiences shape who they become. That curiosity influences everything I write, whether it is a memoir, a children’s book, or fiction.
 
For Pinky & Plum, many of the ideas were inspired by real-life observations of children, family dynamics, and the everyday moments that create opportunities for learning, growth, and connection.
 
What’s your writing process like?
I usually start with a concept or message I want to explore. From there, I build the characters, think through the emotions and lessons I want readers to take away, and then develop the story around those ideas. Once the story is written, I spend a great deal of time refining, editing, and making sure every detail supports the overall vision.
 
Do you have any other books in the works?
Absolutely. Writing has become a major part of my creative journey, and I currently have several projects in various stages of development.
 
My memoir, Destiny Legacy: Becoming Her, was released on May 29, 2026. I also have Cassandra’s Daughter: The Story They Didn’t Tell, which is scheduled for release on August 8, 2026. While Pinky & Plum: Big Feelings, Little Bodies launches on June 6, 2026, it is only the beginning of the series. Additional Pinky & Plum books are already planned, with future releases scheduled throughout 2026 and beyond.
 
I am also developing a fiction series that begins with Secrets at Sea, the first book in the At Sea series, scheduled for release later this year. In addition, I have a workbook planned for release in December 2026.
 
My goal is to build a diverse catalog of books that inspire, educate, entertain, and encourage meaningful conversations across multiple genres and age groups.
 
What does literary success look like to you?
Of course, I would love to see my books reach bestseller lists and achieve commercial success. However, literary success means something much bigger to me than sales numbers alone.
 
My vision is to build a multi-genre publishing house that creates meaningful stories for readers at every stage of life—from young children to adults. Whether through children’s books, memoirs, fiction, workbooks, or future projects, I want the stories published through Destiny Legacy Publishing to educate, inspire, encourage, and create lasting impact.
 
Literary success also means building a legacy that extends beyond me. I want to create something that benefits my children, future generations, and the communities my books serve. If my work inspires someone to pursue their own dreams, share their story, heal from a difficult experience, or see themselves differently, then I consider that a meaningful measure of success.
 
Ultimately, literary success is about creating stories that outlive me and continue making a positive difference long after they are written.
 
Do you read all of the book reviews you receive?
I do. As a new author, I appreciate feedback and enjoy hearing how readers connect with my work.
 
What was the hardest thing about getting your book published?
Publishing logistics, formatting, production, and cover preparation.