Meet Simisayo Brownstone of Feyi Fay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Simisayo Brownstone.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, I spent a good chunk of my spare time daydreaming. I’d daydream about going on magical adventures, visiting different lands, escaping assassins, fighting crime, and more. Anything that helped me escape reality, even for a moment. I knew I wanted to turn my daydreams into a book or a movie script one day, but I didn’t take it seriously until I had children.

I now have two daughters who are one of a hand full of black children in their schools. As my first daughter got older, she started to notice how different she was from her friends. Her skin was darker, and her hair was puffier. I wanted to reassure her that she was beautiful just the way she is, so I began to be more deliberate about the things I bought for her. I wanted to buy products like books, backpacks, shoes and other things that represented her, but there weren’t a lot of options available and they often weren’t easily accessible. That’s when I decided to start something on my own.

In 2017, I began working on adapting one of my many daydreams into a character for a children’s book that would represent my daughters both ethnically and culturally (we are Nigerian). At the same time, I wanted the story behind the character to be one that any child from any ethnicity or culture could relate to. I also wanted the character to play a role that you don’t typically see Africans or black people in general playing in mainstream media. With all these things in mind, the concept of Feyi Fay was born.

Feyi Fay is a Nigerian superhero fairy who travels the world helping kids solve their everyday problems from bullying to making friends. The books use Nigerian folktales and legends to guide kids through their issues and are full of fun, humor, mystery, magic, and suspense. The story of Feyi Fay is now a children’s chapter book series written under my pen name, Simisayo Brownstone, with two books currently released and more to come. There is also a range of complementary products featuring Feyi Fay available such as backpacks, hoodies, puzzles and more.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has been far from smooth. My books are chapter books ideal for kids aged 6 to 12. But not too long before I published the first book, I read an article that said that of all books to write, across all ages, categories and genres, chapter books for my age group are the most difficult to sell. Just my luck! Now that my books have launched, I understand firsthand what the author of the article was trying to communicate. It has made the journey much harder, but not impossible. I also made a few financial mistakes in the beginning and invested money on things I shouldn’t have. But from those mistakes I’ve learned a lot and have built an even stronger brand because of it.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
At its core, we are in the business of selling joy with a drizzle of African magic.

We make books and accessories, such as backpacks, pencil cases, and more, featuring Feyi Fay, a Nigerian superhero fairy. From the colorful patterns to the cute quotes and smiling faces, every product is designed with happiness in mind. And each Feyi Fay book is packed with humor and life lessons that will keep the readers wanting more.

Our hope is that when kids engage with the Feyi Fay brand it not only brings joy to their hearts and smiles to their faces, but it also gives them a deeper appreciation for the world we live in and the diverse cultures within it. We hope that little girls from all over the world feel empowered and know that they too can be the heroes of their own story. And we hope that little black girls see Feyi Fay and feel proud of their natural beauty, kinks, coils, curls and all.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I think LA is a great place. LA has such a culturally diverse group of people who are interested in seeing something new and fresh, which makes it a great place for a business like ours to thrive in.

Pricing:

• Books – $7.99
• Book & Puzzle Gift Bundle – $19.99
• Book & Mini Backpack Gift Bundle – $29.99
• Hoodies – $29.99
• Large Backpack – $64.99

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.feyifay.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feyifay/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feyifayadventures

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