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Edgar Allan Know and his Big Busy Brain
If you want to know it, ask young Edgar Allan Know. There is nothing he cannot figure out or explain. He is an expert on virtually everything. From paleontology to the length of time it would take to bike to Australia, Edgar is the expert of all experts. His young mind is always thinking, processing, and questioning. Edgar is both learning and sharing knowledge every minute of his day–so much so that he has neglected to figure out how to properly navigate riding a bike on his own. With a little help from his mother, Edgar is able to conquer the one bit of knowledge that has eluded him.
Edgar Allan Know and His Big Busy Brain, written by Rahni Varieur-Davies and illustrated by Barbara Owczarek, is the story of a little boy with an exceptionally adept mind. Edgar Allan Know represents every awkward elementary student who manages to wow everyone with book knowledge and an innate understanding of the world around him, but lacks the ability to conquer simple fears. As I read this book, I could definitely picture it as a wonderful resource for school guidance counselors as they plan units to teach young students empathy.
While the focus of Edgar Allan Know and His Big Busy Brain is mindfulness, I can see the lovable and relatable main character as an excellent one for further books all with different lessons in tolerance, respect, responsibility, and integrity. Owczarek’s illustrations are stunning; Edgar Allan Know is a fantastic representation of a child mesmerized by the world around him and an appealing blend of the man himself. I enjoyed watching for all of the nods to Poe throughout the book.
I recommend this incredible author/ illustrator team to any teacher or parent looking for a book that addresses how to master mindfulness, overcome fears, and learn to help others fighting their own internal battles.
Pages: 39 | ASIN : B0BXQ2J52L
The Agony Of My Own Life
Simon Rumney Author Interview
Another Self throws us into the life of a girl who has been broken of all spirit and self-esteem, but by her wits and grit she becomes the richest person in ancient Rome. What was the inspiration behind this fascinating novel?
The sad truth is, this story is inspired by my own life. Because of undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD I left school at a young age with no qualifications and, more importantly, ‘no’ self-esteem. Like Julia in Another Self I became successful while believing myself undeserving, even deceitful.
The writing in your story is creative and filled with twists. Was it a conscious effort to create a story in this fashion or is this style of writing reflective of your writing style in general?
From the age of 5 until a complete mental breakdown in my late 40’s, I was too ashamed to write anything down. After a psychiatrist diagnosed my dyslexia I started to write spontaneously. This story quite literally poured out of me and took its own course. The character may be a woman and the story set in ancient Rome, but Julia is experiencing the real agony of my own life.
Julia’s character is like none other I’ve read this year. What were some of the trials that you felt were important to highlight the Julia’s development?
Writing Another Self was like therapy for me. Searching for the words that sent Julia on her journey of discovery helped me understand how I could achieve so much while believing myself so completely worthless. Now, I’m a little in love with Julia because she and I have been through so much together.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Julia and the direction of the second book in the Our Eternal Curse series?
In book two, Another Tribe, Julia’s character is forced to confront racism in the southern states of America during the civil war. In book three, Another War, she must come to grips with her guileless part in causing The First World War. At the end of book three we learn why Julia has been Eternally Cursed, but I won’t spoil it for your readers.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
Julia, brilliant yet humbled by cruelty and abuse, overcomes great disadvantage to become the richest person in ancient Rome. Living a double life, she wields power from behind the scenes to bring vengeance down upon those who wronged her. When her schemes ensnare Rome’s two greatest generals, Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Gaius Marius, Julia provokes civil war and condemns herself to suffer for the sins of her past.
