Dr. Kanini Z. Rodney-Phillips
Kanini Z. Rodney-Phillips is a physician by day and a writer by night. Her stories are infused with flavors of her Caribbean culture, having spent most of her formative years in the region. Kanini has also lived in Africa, Canada, and the U.S., and her writings are influenced by her personal and professional life experiences.
Kanini inherited her love for the written word from her father, a prolific writer and storyteller. She credits “paper and pen” for saving her sanity after her father’s death at age eleven, when poetry became a way to process her emotions. As an adult, Kanini delved into the art of children’s book writing to expose her son to his Caribbean heritage.
Kanini later joined SCBWI, Southern Breeze on the recommendation of one of her patients (a published children’s book author) and actively worked on her craft through conferences, competitions, and critique groups. In 2021, she joined the 12x12 writing community. She has been a two-time contest winner (2021 SCBWI Southern Breeze Writing Contest and 2021 Spring Fling Kid Lit Contest) and has an upcoming publication (Highlights, 2022).
Kanini is supported by wonderful writing partners in her InKredibles and MyStory critique groups. She is married to a talented visual artist and has become an avid soccer mom thanks to her incredible son.