Steven C. Thedford

Steven Thedford began his writing career by winning a writing contest at Build Academy in Buffalo, New York for a book about an Easter egg in elementary school. His talents always amazed his fellow students. For instance, during the reading of a poem in a high school English class, he began a poem by saying, “I have the taste of the past in my mouth.” But before he could continue, a fellow classmate hollered out, “You didn’t write that.”

With guidance from Dawn Scotland, a professor at Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University, Thedford polished his skills and won third place in a national essay contest honoring Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr., during his freshman year of college. He further used his abilities as a graduate student to write articles for a school newsletter. Moreover, during this time at North Carolina State University he published his own newsletter, African Expressions, a publication of poems.

Thedford published his first book, Inquiry Based Science Activities and Internet Lessons. New World Press, Inc. published Thedford’s second book, The Kwanzaa Coloring Book (Games and Puzzles), which introduces children to the principles and symbols of the African American holiday of Kwanzaa. Moreover, New World Press, Inc., published Thedford’s poetry book Nobody Told Me It Was Like This, “poetry you can understand.”

Furthermore, in 2019 Thedford released Kwanzaa Gets an A, a picture book about the history of Kwanzaa and why the name has two a’s. Thedford released his second book of poetry in December of 2020, Kwansabas and Other Poems, an art form based on the South African praise poem. In the fall of 2021 New World Press, Inc. published Steven Thedford’s second picture book, Rosco Run. Rosco Fun., a book about a neighborhood dog that knows how to relax. in the spring of 2022 Steven C. Thedford published his first Young Adult Novel, Eastside Story, about the students he has taught during his teaching career. . In addition, New World Press, Inc. published Morning Haiku from the Pandemic, Thedford’s fourth poetry in 2024. Finally, in 2025 Thedford released his third book on Kwanzaa, The First Fruits Festival of Kwanzaa (A Zulu Celebration).

Steven C. Thedford resides in Ellenwood, Georgia, with his daughters, Kennedy Isis, and Landyn Imani, and his wife, Yolanda Thedford.