Edgar Allan Know and His Big Busy Brain follows an intelligent young boy with an active mind who must find a way to focus to learn to ride his bike. What was the inspiration for your story?

I am a mom and a family therapist. My son was the kind of kid who was always asking questions, experimenting and loved to tell people about all the great things he knew. As a therapist, I have had many brilliant child clients who are articulate, inquisitive, and sometimes a little impulsive. They often are chastised for blurting out answers in class etc. These are my people, and I love them, so I developed a mindfulness exercise that I use with my son and my clients. I was inspired to write this story by these wonderful children, and I hope it speaks to children and adults everywhere.

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Barbara Owczarek?

This was by far my favorite part of the book process. I looked for an illustrator for over a year before I found Barbara. At our first meeting, I knew we were a great fit. I had a specific look I wanted for the book, a little bit gothic, a little bit rock n roll, and a lot cozy. I told her I wanted the main character to look like a combination of a young Jack White(musician) and Edgar Allan Poe. She totally got it, and Edgar came to life. We discussed each page with a free-flowing exchange of ideas, and she was amazing.

I find something to delight in every time I look at the illustrations. Barbara really understood the story and had the same aesthetic that I wanted for it.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

I wanted children to be excited to explore science and history through reading, which is why Edgar has so many different types of books in his room. I also hoped readers would learn about the power of mindfulness and how being different can be a positive trait.

Will this children’s book be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?

I am working on another Edgar Allan Know book, hoping to make it into a series. I am also working on other stories on different subjects.

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