Nationwide — Dr. Linda J.M. Holloway, a Counselor Educator and multi-award-winning children’s book author, has a children’s book entitled Little Miss Linda Speaks Out About Sickle Cell Disease that explores Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). When asked what motivated and led her to write this book, she stated, “I had a very dear friend who suffered tremendously from this illness and died.”
He would often share with her how he felt this was one illness that never really got the attention it needed. He also spoke about the many challenges he encountered throughout his life as a result of having to live with SCD. Thus, this prompted Dr. Holloway to first write a spoken word about SCD. Then, she later wrote and published an academic journal article, which inspired her to write a children’s book. She wanted to shed some light on this very devastating, dreadful, and debilitating illness.
Sickle Cell Disease is very prevalent among the Black community. It has been reported that 100,000 people in the United States are impacted by this disease, and 90% of those are Black and African Americans. 1 in 13 babies are more likely to be born with the Sickle Cell Trait (SCT). This is when a person inherits a sickle cell gene from one parent, resulting in 1 in every 365 babies being born with SCD. This is when a person inherits sickle cell genes from both parents. People who suffer from SCD are said to have a life expectancy of 20 years shorter than the average life expectancy, while living a life of persistent pain and being viewed as someone who is addicted to opioids for the excruciating pain they often experience.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and Dr. Holloway wanted to make people aware of her children’s book, Little Miss Linda Speaks Out About Sickle Cell Disease. This is a story about a little girl named Sally who hides her illness from her best friend, Little Miss Linda until one day she becomes sick at school and has to be rushed to the hospital. Little Miss Linda encourages her to speak more openly and educate others about her illness. Together, they launch a worldwide campaign to increase awareness about her illness and involve others as well.
Though this can be a challenging topic to introduce to children, Dr. Holloway made it lighthearted by educating children about what exactly Sickle Cell Disease is and how children can spread the word in a positive way to support children around the world who suffer from this dreaded disease. The book also has a treasure hunt where children are given the opportunity to locate hidden sickle cells throughout the book. Additionally, there is a pledge to support people with Sickle Cell Disease, and LOL questions, which are Learning Out Loud questions that allow children to retain information not only about the book but the disease itself.
You can support Dr. Holloway in her call to action against speaking out about Sickle Cell disease by purchasing her book on Amazon
Book Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0InRLqIYQk
About the Author
Dr. Linda J. M. Holloway is an Associate Professor at Alabama State University, where she has been teaching for the past seven years. Her research interests include the intersections of Black women and mental health, as well as Black women and career counseling.
She is an award-winning author of 8 children’s books, a storyactivist, and a social justice poet. Additionally, she retired from the military after serving 27 years and successfully completing 4 combat tours as a Colonel from the United States Army Reserve’s Medical Services Corps. She lives by her own two philosophies, “Always Willing Serve” and “Dream Your Own Dreams.”
She is also well known around the world for her curriculum study guides: “Curriculum Study Guide for Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime performance, “Black Fathers Matter: Unpacking the Kirk Franklin Story,” and “Curriculum Study Guide about the Montgomery Riverboat Brawl.”
In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, catching a good movie, reading a good book, and doing absolutely nothing.
For press inquiries, contact lindahollowayspeak@gmail.com