Local author fair gets the full Nelson

RIO RANCHO – It’s been a long journey for Vaunda Michaeux Nelson of Rio Rancho.

It began as a youngster, when she had an unmatched passion for reading.

It continues today, with her passion for writing — to the tune of 13 books.

Per her website, Nelson “grew up, the youngest of five children, in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. ‘My parents brought books into my life on the day I was born. My mother found my name in a novel she was reading,’”

Her love of books came from her parents, who faithfully read to her every night. Decades later as a writer, she endeavors to give youngsters what her parents gave her — opportunities to grow through story.

Her newest book, “Small Shoes, Great Strides,” was just released this month.

For all she’s done in the community, including working at Esther Bone Memorial Library as a children’s librarian, and all her books, most of them geared for children, it was appropriate Nelson delivered the keynote address at the Nov. 5 Author Fair at Loma Colorado Main Library.

What wasn’t “fair” was the low turnout for the trio of sessions that preceded Nelson’s 45-minute chat.

For example, at the first session, “Writing for Children,” at which Nelson and three other local authors told their experiences and answered questions, only eight attended.

The second session, “Becoming an author — how to tell your story,” had nine panelists and about a dozen attendees.

The third session had a half-dozen authors telling “The art of mystery writing” and had about as many attendees.

For Nelson’s keynote engagement, about 16 were seated.

At least there seemed to be significant interest when Nelson began to tell the background of yet another of her “under-told stories” in her writing portfolio.

“Small Shoes, Great Strides” is the poignant tale of what happened in New Orleans on Nov. 14, 1960, when first-graders Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost and Gail Etienne, escorted by U.S. Marshals, made history by bravely entering the previously all-white McDonogh 19 Elementary amidst ugly protests.

Called the McDonogh Three, they were the first to desegregate Louisiana schools, entering McDonogh Elementary 10 minutes prior to another Black girl making history, Ruby Bridges, at William Frantz Elementary, across town.

What’s most unusual about this tale of a trio of innocent 6-year-olds is that the rest of that classroom — as well as the rest of the school — emptied out for the rest of the school year and the teacher had just the three of them to teach.

“They were treated horribly,” Nelson said, “beaten, spat upon … It’s just incredible what these girls had to endure.”

“Why did I not know about this?” Nelson rhetorically asked, before elaborating on all the research that went into her book. Of course, that would be nothing new for Nelson, who came across a couple of other seemingly untold or under-told stories, about Black Deputy U.S. Marshall Bass Reeves (“Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves”) and “Let ‘Er Buck,” about Black cowboy and rodeo champion George Fletcher, who, in 1911 when he “lost“ to a white man, as declared by judges, outraged the audience at the famous Pendleton Round-Up.

She visited the school in New Orleans, spoke to one of the three girls and a marshal who’d been among the escorts, and had numerous documents she’d come across, which she described as “tons of research.”

Even as she told the audience how extensive her research had bene, just thinking in the back of her mind what those kids — and another youngster at another once-segregated school — had endured almost brought Nelson to tears.

Earlier, in the children’s book-writing panel discussion, Nelson had done some foreshadowing: “Do your homework.”

And that’s what those three little girls did every day they were secluded in that school, and obviously what Nelson has done in all her years as an author.

For more about Nelson and her books, visit vaundamicheauxnelson.com.