Derrick Barnes Books In Order

Publication Order of Ruby and the Booker Boys Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Picture Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Derrick Barnes is a published author.

When Derrick was younger, he was not familiar with any African-American authors that male and did not meet an author until college. When he was younger, he wanted to either be a football player or a rapper or celebrity. He wanted to be anything that could get him a lot of money and help him move his mother into a nicer home His mother raised Derrick and his older brother Anthony as a single mother in Kansas City, Missouri.

He says that the first time that he tried to write a story of his own was when he was in elementary school, the story being centered around some stray dogs that were making their way across the country. Their goal was to track down an item, perhaps a magical bone. The author says that when he finished the story and read it back to himself, he recalls the “powerful” feeling of being able to come up with stories and create places and characters that would begin and conclude the way that he desired.

Derrick kept on writing and started to compose short stories, plays, poems, and songs, all the while reading constantly. He remembers that he would go to his closet and hang a flashlight down from the bar so that he could read inside the closet. His book of choice at the time was an encyclopedia. While his brother may have considered him strange, Derrick loved doing this because reading in the closet allowed him to travel, fly, and dream.

After graduating high school, Derrick attended the community college close to home while working different part-time jobs. He would graduate with his Associate of Arts degree in the field of Business Administration. He would then enroll in the historically black college Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. There he studied marketing, graduating with his B.A. degree in marketing.

The author went through many different experiences and events while attending Jackson State University, some of which would change the course of his life forever. He would meet his college sweetheart Tinka Barnes, who is now his wife and a doctor. He met some close friends that have become pals for life. He worked as an advice columnist writing for the campus newspaper, and his column helped him to hone his writing but also to compose with purpose.

Upon graduating college, Derrick decided to move. He relocated to Kansas City and did not have any desire to take his degree in marketing and immediately translate it into a job working for corporate. Derrick’s wife encouraged him to send his writing portfolio over to the Hallmark Card Company. They liked his work and the author was hired on to be a staff copywriter in 1999, the first African-American man to work for the company. He would stay for three years while meeting many artists and his literary agent Regina Brooks through the position, also learning quite a bit about how to edit, to receive and utilize constructive criticism, and the writing process.

His meeting with Ms. Brooks, who worked for Serendipity Literary Agency, did indeed prove to be serendipitous. Derrick was signed to have a two book deal within the course of just one month with Scholastic. He also had more great news shortly after when he had a baby with his wife, a son that they named Ezra. The family would relocate to Louisiana to live in New Orleans so his wife would be able to complete a medical residency in 2003, and they would also have their son Solomon while there.

Derrick would next get a deal from Simon Pulse for “The Making of Dr. Truelove”, what would prove to be his first full novel. The family would continue living in New Orleans until they had to contend with the history-making Hurricane Katrina and moved back to Kansas City to live. His wife became a doctor after completing her residency and would give birth to Silas, their third son. Derrick would also sign his “Ruby and the Booker Boys” series in a four book deal with Scholastic.

Derrick loves going to schools and reading to the children there or just spending time with his sons and a book. He hopes to inspire children to become authors and motivate them to write having met an author in real life for themselves!

Derrick Barnes is the author of Ruby and the Booker Boys series, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. The first book in this series for children came out in 2008 and is titled Brand New School, Brave New Ruby. The stories feature main character Ruby, a young girl that is just doing her best to fit in.

Brand New School, Brave New Ruby is the first book in the popular kids series Ruby and the Booker Boys by Derrick Barnes. The main character in this book is Ruby Marigold Booker, an eight year old that is nothing short of fabulous.

Ruby is the younger sister, and has her older brothers Marcellus, Roosevelt, and Tyner to look after her. But they’re always busy, since they’re really popular. Ruby spends time with her friend Theresa, but when she isn’t busy with that she is busy discovering what her brothers are up to.

Sassy and tough from having older brothers, Ruby also has a sweet side. She also loves to sing, enjoys grape jelly purple as her favorite color, has an iguana, and wants to be an animal doctor and famous for it when she grows up. Check out this book and witness Ruby’s spunky individuality for yourself!

Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme is the second book in the Ruby and the Booker Boys series by author Derrick Barnes. Ruby Marigold Booker is back again in yet another adventure from the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Honor writer!

Ruby loves hanging out with her friends and is now ready to take the spotlight with her school’s animal trivia contest. Ruby is super into animals and knows she has what it takes to compete.

Whoever wins will get seasonal passes to go to the zoo for themselves and all the students in their grade. Can she win the contest and get those zoo passes? Read this book to find out!