Blog Archives
I Care Deeply About the Environment
Gary The Go-Cart tells two stories that inspire conversation on the environment in children and adults. What was the inspiration for the idea behind Gary the Go-cart?
I care deeply about the environment. So much so that I began working in environmental science. I started out believing in “clean energy” and thinking that the oil and gas industry needed cleaning up. Then as I worked in the industry and went to a lot of conferences and heard a lot of presentations, I finally had to admit I was wrong. I started getting really frustrated with how things were portrayed in the media. I felt like the problem was that the information is so complex, it would be hard to explain. I kept finding myself saying, “someone needs to make this simple enough for a child to understand”. Usually, when I have a brilliant idea, someone else does too. I kept waiting for someone to write a kids book about it. When no one ever did, I finally took it upon myself. I knew people were going to not just disagree with the concept, but vilify me for saying these things. That is why I titled the second book the way I did, because I knew I was “coming out of the closet” to admit that I didn’t believe in man-made catastrophic climate change.
I enjoyed the adorable art in the book. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Sidnei Marques?
Sidnei had a limited understanding of English. I would send him sketches of characters and say things like, I want the character to dress something like this character, and I want him to have an expression like this character, and I want them standing like this character. So our exchanges had few words, but lots of art. He was a brilliant artist. Unfortunately, he had cancer the whole time he was working on the books. He used the money I paid him to pay for his cancer treatments. I felt like we were destined to work together. He lived until a couple of days after we finished Carbon Comes out of the Closet. I think he purposely made himself hang on until we finished it.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun creating?
The final scene in each of the books were probably my favorites in each one. It was fun to have animated cupcakes in Wind Blows, and I was tickled when Sidnei came up with the idea of top hats on the cucumbers for the final scene in Carbon Comes out of the Closet.
Do you have plans to write more books starring Gary the Go-cart?
Unfortunately, I don’t think I could ever do any more Gary the Go-Cart books, not without Sidnei.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
The Gary the Go-Cart books give a different perspective on energy and the environment from the one that is normally heard. Wind Energy is actually horrible for the environment, and climate change is really all about power and money and has nothing to do with the environment. This perspective is shared by large numbers of experts who are not having their voices heard. It is written as a fun story, with poetry, rhyme, and cadence.
Gary the Go-Cart tackles Wind Energy, Climate Change, and Fake News in a manner that is simple enough that even a child can enjoy it. The intention is to educate the adult reading it.
There is a page at the end of each story entitled, “For the Adults in the Room.” These pages give information and quotes showing the problems with wind energy and carbon capture.
Get it for your high schooler to read! They need to hear this before they get to college and are totally indoctrinated!
It is 68 pages of full-color illustrations. It is illustrated by the late, award-winning Sidnei Marques.
People Still Fall For It
Beneficial Accomplishments of Joe Biden provides readers with satirical conservative commentary on President Biden’s lack of achievement in office. What inspired you to write this book?
I had been feeling helpless as I have been watching what has been happening to our country. I didn’t want my grandkids to someday say, “Why didn’t you try to do anything?”.
What was the creative process like to bring this book together?
As your review stated, the concept of basically an empty book isn’t a new idea. One of my daughters had given me a book titled “Husbands I have known and liked”. That book kept catching my eye and making me laugh. I felt like so many of us are so upset about what is happening these days that we all needed something to make us laugh a little.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about U.S. politics?
Some people seem to think when they are watching the news, they are finding out what is happening in the world. The truth is, the news media presents not just the stories they want people to hear, but from the point of view they want them to have. If one point of view is all you hear, it is hard to think any other way.
It is hard for people to change, especially as they get older. Older people that have been liberals their whole lives, sometimes don’t realize how much liberal policy has changed over the years. People may have been liberal when they were young for example, because they wanted to make sure all people were being treated fairly. These days, liberal policy is the opposite of treating people fairly.
Young people that are liberal don’t seem to know anything else, since that is what the schools have been teaching them.
And when I hear talk about “Man-made, catastrophic climate change”, it reminds me of the ancient stories of rulers telling their people that they need to make sacrifices to them in order to make it rain. It is a tale as old as time, “Give me your money and I will give you good weather”. It is amazing to me that people still fall for it.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
No idea. But when I wrote each of my books, I didn’t plan on writing any of them until the day I got the idea, and then I couldn’t quit until I had it done, so I expect that if I write another, that is likely to be the way it happens.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
https: //internationalimpactbookawards.com/october-winners/
The emperor is wearing no clothes. Someone had to point it out.
There is a bit of satirical conservative commentary about the following:
1.) Reduced Healthcare Costs 2.) Advancement of Education 3.) Improved Race Relations 4.) Encouraged Free Speech 5.) Safer Cities 6.) Strengthened the US Military 7.) Protected US Intellectual Property from China 8.) Brought Manufacturing Jobs Back to the USA 9.) United the Country 10.) Made the USA a More Prosperous Country 11.) Ensured Free and Fair Elections 12.) Made Americans Proud of the USA Again
Buy one for each of your liberal friends!
LITERARY TITAN 