Author Spotlight: Get To Know Aaliyah Cunningham & Alexis Cadwell

Author Spotlight: Turning Disappointment into Purpose with Brownie Blues

For this week's Author Spotlight, we’re excited to feature Aaliyah Cunningham who writes with her mother, Alexis Cadwell. 

Pictured: Aaliyah Cunningham, co-author of Brownie Blues.

For mother-daughter duo Alexis Cadwell and Aaliyah Cunningham, storytelling doesn’t just happen at a desk — it happens at the kitchen table, in car rides, and in everyday moments.

The spark? Aaliyah wanted to see more kids like her in the books she read. So instead of waiting for someone else to write those stories… she helped create them.

Together, Alexis and Aaliyah are on a mission to write books that help kids feel confident, seen, and brave enough to chase their dreams — even when things don’t go exactly as planned.

Alexis’ own love of reading began with cozy childhood favorites like The Berenstain Bears. Those warm, relatable stories showed her just how powerful a simple book can be. Now, she gets to pass that magic on — alongside her daughter.

These days, inspiration comes straight from real life. School challenges. Big goals. Friendship ups and downs. The little things that feel like very big things when you’re a kid.

And that’s exactly where Brownie Blues was born.

About the Book: Brownie Blues

At its heart, Brownie Blues is about one very important truth: disappointment isn’t the end of the story. Sometimes, it’s just the beginning.

Inspired by Aaliyah’s own big dreams (and determination!), the book shows young readers how to turn setbacks into purpose. It’s for the kids who try their best… don’t win… and wonder what comes next.

Spoiler alert: what comes next might be even better.

Alexis shares that she sees so much of herself in the main character. Like many of us, she once needed reassurance to take on challenges that felt bigger than she was. That real-life connection makes the story especially heartfelt.

Their hope? That every child who finishes the book closes it feeling encouraged, capable, and ready to try again.

Behind the Scenes

One of the most fun parts of writing Brownie Blues was watching the characters grow — giving them personalities, feelings, and moments kids could truly understand.

The biggest challenge? Keeping the lesson meaningful while still making the story fun (because nobody wants a boring lesson!).

And then came the illustrations — the ultimate “wow” moment. Seeing the artwork bring extra emotion and life to the story was magical. The pictures added layers that words alone simply couldn’t.

From idea to finished book, the journey took about six months — a team effort full of creativity, coordination, and care.

And it all started with one young girl who believed her story mattered. 💛

To learn more about Aaliyah and Alexis visit @AllThingsAaliyah.