TUCSON, Ariz. — As we round out Black History Month, we're checking in with the woman in Tucson who holds the title of being the first Black author in residence for the Pima County Libraries.
We first met Adiba Nelson in 2025, as she was launching her children's book, Oshún and Me: A Story of Love and Braids.
Now in March, she's launching another children's book, Hazel's Best Day: a Story of Community, Accessibility and Pride in Being Yourself.
Nelson says it came as a surprise to her that there hadn't been a Black author in residence for the library system before her, but she was honored to be the first one. She says her work as a writer is largely rooted in her heritage. As the author in residence, she worked with aspiring writers, leading workshops and sharing her own success to give others a foot in the door.
Nelson is still working on a novel, so look for that in the future. You can pre-order Hazel and Me right now on Amazon or wherever you get your books.
Claire Graham is an anchor and reporter for Good Morning Tucson on KGUN 9. She grew up in Tucson and graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in musical theatre. Claire spent a decade in Washington state, but she's thrilled to be back home in the beautiful southwest with her husband, two young sons and two rescued dogs. Share your story ideas and important issues with Claire by emailing claire.graham@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook and X.
