Today we’d like to introduce you to India Cooper.
Hi India, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story, has it been easy, whew-No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I think that’s part of what gives my writing its heart.
I come from a broken home. My mother struggled with substance use, and some of my earliest memories are of instability. There was a time when my mother, my sister, and I experienced homelessness. We lived in a van and moved from one family member’s house to another, never really knowing what came next. My father was serving in the Air Force overseas when I was born, so he wasn’t a part of my early early childhood. When I was eight years old, my grandmother adopted me, and she, along with my father, became the foundation that helped raise me.
Looking back, I realize I come from two very different worlds. My mother was incredibly intelligent—she was the valedictorian of her graduating class—but addiction changed the course of her life. That taught me something I’ll never forget: a person’s potential and their circumstances are not always the same. You can be gifted and still struggle. You can come from difficult circumstances and still build something extraordinary.
I’ve lived through seasons where we had very little, and I’ve lived through seasons where I’ve been blessed with opportunities I once only dreamed about. Today, I work for the federal government in Human Resources, I’m pursuing my master’s degree, I’m raising my children, helping raise my niece, and building Voyage Studios one book at a time.
Through all of those experiences, writing has been the one place where I’ve always felt at home. It helped me process grief, celebrate joy, and make sense of everything in between. My stories are filled with flawed, resilient people because those are the kinds of people I’ve known and loved my entire life.
My journey has taught me that where you start doesn’t have to determine where you finish. If anything, it’s given me a deeper appreciation for the power of stories to heal, educate, and remind people that their past doesn’t have to define their future.
There are still stories from my life that I haven’t told yet. Some of them may find their way into future books. But if there’s one thing I hope people take away from my journey, it’s this: you don’t have to come from perfect circumstances to build an extraordinary life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think every obstacle has prepared me for the work I’m doing today.
I grew up with a lot of instability. My mother struggled with addiction, and there was a time when my family experienced homelessness. My grandmother eventually adopted me and, along with my father, became the foundation that gave me the stability to dream bigger than my circumstances.
Even as an adult, life hasn’t slowed down. I’ve balanced a demanding career with the federal government, and that used to be something worth bragging about. In this climate where all of my civil rights as a employee are questioned, multiple furloughs and a forced reassignment while raising my children, helping care for my family, pursuing graduate school, and now building a publishing company from the ground up. There have been moments where I questioned whether I had enough time, enough resources, or enough knowledge to make this dream work.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning the business side of publishing. Writing the books is the part I love. Learning about ISBNs, formatting, cover design, distribution, audiobooks, marketing, and building a company has been an entirely different education. There wasn’t a blueprint—I had to figure it out one step at a time.
Another challenge has been overcoming fear. For years, I wrote for myself. Sharing my work with the world meant opening myself up to criticism and rejection. Eventually, I realized that if my stories were helping even one person, then they deserved to be shared.
Today, I don’t see those struggles as setbacks. I see them as part of the foundation of Voyage Studios. Every challenge has made me a better writer, a better businesswoman, and a better storyteller. I’m still learning every day, but that’s one of the things I love most about this journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
By day, I work in Human Resources for the Social Security Administration. My career with the federal government actually began when I was in the 11th and 12th grade through a work-study program at Overlea High School. If you graduated early and maintained your grades, you could leave school for part of the day to work. I was fortunate enough to be selected, and that’s where my journey began.
What I’m most proud of professionally is that I earned everything one step at a time. I started as a GS-1 student intern and worked my way through every grade level until I reached a GS-12. As a Black woman who came from very humble beginnings, that journey represents years of persistence, learning, and refusing to give up.
Outside of my government career, I’m the founder of Voyage Studios, where I write across multiple genres. I’m probably best known for refusing to stay in one lane. I write urban romance and suspense, but I also write children’s educational books focused on history, civic education, and culture. Some people think those worlds are completely different, but to me they’re connected. Every story I tell is about people, growth, and leaving the next generation with something meaningful.
What sets me apart is that I don’t believe creativity has to fit into one category. I can write a graphic romance novel one day and a children’s history book the next. I don’t think those things contradict each other—they reflect who I am.
I’m also becoming more interested in writing stories that reflect the realities of everyday people. Working in Human Resources has given me a front-row seat to how policy, leadership, and life-changing decisions affect employees and their families. Those experiences have made me think more deeply about the human side of government and how our work impacts real people. I hope to explore those themes in future projects as well.
More than anything, I’m proud that I started with nothing more than a pen, a notebook, and an idea. Today, those ideas have grown into published books, a publishing company, and a vision that continues to expand. My goal isn’t just to publish books—it’s to build a body of work that entertains, educates, and starts conversations for generations to come.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I always joke that I was a perfect little princess—but honestly, I was a quiet, shy, stubborn, and incredibly observant child.
I wasn’t the kid who wanted to be the center of attention. I was the kid sitting in the corner, watching everyone else. I’ve always been fascinated by people—how they move, why they make the decisions they do, and how those decisions shape their lives. Even as a little girl, I was constantly studying human behavior without realizing it. Looking back, I think that’s where the writer in me began.
One of my family’s favorite stories sums me up perfectly. My grandmother used to tell it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. We were at a big family gathering, and everyone wanted me to come out, speak to people, and be social. I was the oldest grandchild, everyone was looking at me, and I was absolutely terrified. My grandmother finally gave me an ultimatum: “You can either come out here, say hello to everyone, or you can go sit in the room by yourself and talk to yourself.”
Without hesitation, I chose the room.
To everyone else, it probably looked like I was being stubborn. Looking back, I realize I was overwhelmed. Large crowds made me anxious, and I felt much more comfortable in my own little world. In a way, that little girl sitting alone was already creating stories in her head.
I grew up between two very different worlds. My grandmother raised me in Baltimore City, while my father lived in the county. One side of my life taught me resilience and survival. The other emphasized education, discipline, and striving for excellence. I’ve had friends who had every opportunity, and I’ve had friends who had almost nothing. Because of that, I never felt like I belonged to just one group.
Even today, I’m naturally reserved. I still get nervous in big crowds, and when I’m anxious, I sometimes stutter. But give me a keyboard, a notebook, or a blank page, and it’s like someone flips a switch. Everything I struggle to say out loud comes naturally through my writing.
I think that’s why my books span so many different genres. I’m not just one thing. I’m a government employee, a mother, a business owner, a lover of history, a romance writer, a children’s author, and, at heart, a nerd who genuinely loves learning. I’ve stopped trying to fit into one box because that’s never been who I am.
Writing is where all those different pieces of me finally make sense.
Pricing:
- I try to keep my books affordable because I believe stories should be accessible. While writing is my business and I want Voyage Studios to be successful, I never want price to be the reason someone can’t enjoy one of my books. Most of my books are priced at $25 or less, and many are even lower. For special releases, I sometimes choose prices that have meaning. For example, my For Us: History Retold book was released on Juneteenth and priced at $18.65 to honor the year 1865, when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States learned they were free. As Voyage Studios grows, my goal is to continue offering quality books at fair prices while making them accessible to as many readers as possible. I believe great stories should be something people can enjoy without breaking the bank.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.indiacooperauthor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thee.storyteller_?igsh=dzl4b3Jmbm5mZzVl&utm_source=qr
