Board of directors

Harrison J. Martin is the CEO of Books with Color, Inc. and author of The Bacon Tree. He first joined the board in 2024 and stepped into the CEO role in 2025, bringing both creative vision and organizational leadership to the Authors Alliance. With a passion for amplifying diverse voices in children’s literature, Harrison leads Books with Color’s national expansion efforts, working to connect indie authors with classrooms across the country. His dual perspective as an author and executive strengthens the organization’s mission to ensure every child has access to inclusive, inspiring stories.

Kristi Cruise is an award-winning literacy advocate, children’s author, and nonprofit leader based in Charlotte, NC. She is the Founder and CEO of Living Libraries® and Co-Founder of Books with Color, Inc., with 15 years of experience in early literacy innovation. Kristi is the creator of LiYo Literacy Yoga Fusion® and author of 12 diverse and bilingual children’s books.  Serving on the Books with Color board reflects her deep commitment to ensuring every child sees themselves in the stories they read.

Crystel Patterson is an award-winning children’s author and proud mother from Sacramento, CA. She created the Inspired to Be... series, which amplifies positive narratives of Black people while fostering social-emotional learning and growth mindset in kids. Inspired by her own children, Crystel writes stories that encourage all kids to dream big and embrace their uniqueness. Serving on the Books with Color board aligns perfectly with her mission to champion diversity in literature and ensure these stories reach children everywhere.

Asha Barua is a Nurse Practitioner with over 2 decades of experience in medicine. She has been married for 12 years and is the proud mother of a daughter who inspires her daily. Outside of work, Asha enjoys fitness, travel, and embracing life to the fullest.

She joined the Books with Color board because she deeply believes in its mission to promote diversity, increase cultural awareness, and foster a love of reading in young people. Asha is passionate about ensuring every child can see themselves represented in the stories they read, and she is honored to support a nonprofit that makes that vision a reality.

Ashley Kile is a senior finance and accounting executive with deep expertise in regulatory reporting, audit, and risk management. He serves as Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Officer in Accounting Policy at Truist Financial Corporation, where he leads governance frameworks and provides regulatory expertise on complex financial matters. Ashley is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with additional certifications including CMA, CIA, CRMA, and CFE, and holds both a B.B.A. in Finance and an M.S. in Accounting.

 Inspired by his own family and the importance of children seeing themselves reflected in the stories they read, he is passionate about advancing the organization’s mission of representation and belonging in literature. 

Desiree is a senior HR and Corporate Responsibility leader with extensive experience in inclusion, belonging, and workforce development. She has successfully led initiatives in mentoring, women’s leadership, and employee engagement while influencing senior executives to align people strategies with business goals. Her career spans industries including financial services, media, and financial technology, and she is passionate about leveraging corporate partnerships and volunteerism to drive meaningful change in the community.