WV alum publishes first graphic novel, will be at upcoming Warwick Children's Book fest

Maya Henderson’s debut graphic novel, Brainbow, arrived on bookstore shelves on September 22, marking a major milestone in the illustrator and author’s career! Maya is also a member of the Warwick Valley Class of 2018 and is currently in her second full year as a teacher aide at Warwick Valley Middle School.

Brainbow represents the culmination of Maya’s years-long journey to bring a unique story to life—one inspired by her own middle school experiences and her fascination with synesthesia, a neurological trait that blends the senses. Maya recalls the evening she watched the game show Jeopardy when she first learned about synesthesia, which causes some people to see numbers as colors or even taste words. For Maya, discovering synesthesia wasn’t merely an intriguing scientific factoid; it was deeply personal.

“I thought everyone saw numbers as colors,” she said with a shrug, describing how she went straight to her parents with all kinds of new questions. “I asked them, ‘What color is the number three?’, and they were, like, ‘We don’t even know what that means.’”

That’s when Maya suddenly realized she experienced the world differently. She had… a superpower! Her childhood revelation sparked a lifelong curiosity, fueling science projects as a kid and, eventually, the idea for Brainbow, which was actually her senior thesis as a BFA student. Her pathway to the collegiate writing program at MICA — Maryland Institute College of Art — began formally with the creative foundation she built at Warwick Valley, where art and English classes were her favorites.

Having written and drawn throughout elementary and middle school, Maya enrolled in honors English classes when she got to high school. Although she never took a formal creative writing class, she found herself drawn to literature and storytelling through her coursework. Maya fondly remembers her English teachers—Ms. DiBella, Ms. Brozicki, and Mr. Ogden—who each encouraged her creative expression.

Art was equally important, and Maya took the Portfolio & Art Careers class twice with teacher Kristen Spano, which played a pivotal role in her development as an artist. Maya also remembers the verve with which Ms. Spano advocated for her during college application and acceptance times.

“She was on the phone with their admissions counselors, talking to them, like, ‘you should give her more money to go to your school,” Maya remembers gratefully. “Both writing and art are so well supported at Warwick Valley. I had great teachers in both subjects.”

While Maya always loved to write, her passion for drawing first led her toward a creative career. She initially imagined herself as a storyboard artist for cartoons, but a college class on children’s books opened her eyes to the possibilities of combining her writing and art. From there, her interest in sequential art blossomed, leading to her current work as both an accomplished illustrator and, now, a published author.

Turning her college thesis into Brainbow was a three-year endeavor that began at MICA. There, Maya met the agent who would champion her work, and she dedicated herself to researching both the science of synesthesia and the emotional realities of growing up as a quiet, creative kid. Like her protagonist Rosie, Maya describes herself as shy and introspective in middle school.

“You know, the quiet weird girl,” she laughed.

Maya poured her authentic experiences into her storytelling. Brainbow follows protagonist Rosie’s journey as she embraces her uniqueness, navigates friendships, and learns that what sets her apart is also her greatest strength. The book's importance goes beyond the plot; it celebrates neurodiversity and the power of self-acceptance.

“It’s about her discovering this cool, unique thing about herself, and embracing that uniqueness,” Maya said. “Rosie is simultaneously dealing with some difficult friendships, as well as some dynamics that arise because of [her synesthesia].”

She hopes her novel will help young readers who may feel different see themselves reflected in a positive light and feel proud and confident in themselves.

Prior to publishing Brainbow, Maya illustrated a chapter book series called Neecy and Nay Nay, about the ideas and adventures of the titular twin sisters. Real-life twins Simone Dankenbring and Syrone Harvey write the series. Maya’s next major project is illustrating a graphic novel about the Underground Railroad. Francesca Lyn, an assistant professor, comics editor, and scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University, is authoring the book, which will be published as part of the Macmillan Publishing History Comics series.

Maya loves interacting with readers, so she is looking forward to appearing at the upcoming Warwick Children's Book Festival on Sunday, October 11, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm in the Warwick Valley Middle School gym. She’ll be there signing copies of Brainbow and handing out themed goodie bags, and “maybe even some fresh cookies” she said. Maya also embraces opportunities like the festival to encourage young artists and writers.

There’s no doubt that many of the young Warwick readers who will be at the fair will recognize Maya, who is a familiar presence at the middle school. In her second full year as a teacher aide, Maya enjoys working with students, and finds lots of inspiration in their creativity and humor.

“I think these kids are just so funny, and they’re so much fun,” Maya smiled. “Some of the things I see them do or hear them say get turned into personal doodles, like single-panel cartoons in my diaries.”

Maya hopes to make the district rounds and provide writing and illustration workshops for students at Park Avenue and Sanfordville. She is also currently working with the middle school librarian on some possible events there this year. When she gets the opportunity to work with young writers, she said she encourages them to start small and just keep going.  

“If you have a story idea, write it down, even if it’s just a sentence or a bullet point, because you never know how it could inspire you later,” Maya advised. “Even if, right now, you thinkit’s just something silly, or that it’s not that interesting, it might be in the future. So, any good ideas you have, or not-so-good good ideas, just write them down. Keep them somewhere.”

She also emphasizes the importance of consistency and practice.

“Just keep working at it,” She said. “People think, ‘Oh, I’m no good at this yet,’ but it takes practice. Often, people don’t want to necessarily wait too long to get good. It’s like [they’ve] got to be good now. But if you start now, in the time that’s going to pass anyway, you’re going to be so much better. Imagine how much better you’ll be in a week, a month, a year; you’ll be fantastic!”

Maya’s journey from a quiet, creative student to a published author and illustrator is proof that embracing your individuality can lead to extraordinary stories—and help others discover their own. We appreciate the positive impact this Warwick Valley alum is making, both as an author/illustrator and as a member of the school community.