Blog Archives
These Are Wild Thing’s Tales To Tell
Wild Thing and The Bagel shares your family’s story about adopting two dogs and the challenges that people may face when rescuing an animal. What inspired you to share your story?
Wild Thing was 13 when I started the book a couple of years ago. His favorite human has always been Brady. When Brady went off to college, Wild Thing went through a horrible depression, missing his best friend so much. We had talked about getting another canine companion, but always wondered how Wild Thing would handle sharing his humans. We made the leap that first summer of Covid, when everything was just re-opening. The Bagel immediately made her way into our hearts and became friends immediately with Wild Thing. Wild Thing had always provided us with entertainment and tales to tell ever since the day we brought him home 14 years ago. When The Bagel joined the family, the stories more than doubled. I knew then I needed to put their stories in writing—and every single story in the book has happened. As Wild Thing is getting older, I knew putting this book together would be my little ‘love note’ to him.
One thing I loved about this children’s book is that it is told from the perspective of Wild Thing. Why did you choose to tell the story from his perspective rather than your own voice?
These are Wild Thing’s tales to tell…and for anyone who has had pets, you know you can just tell when they are ’telling’ you about their day or about the other family pets’ antics. Getting these stories out to everyone needed to be told from Wild Thing’s point of view to give it authenticity.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I hope children, and adults, see the love and bond between humans and pets, and that rescue pets are simply awesome. And, who knows, it might give someone the little push they need to make that leap to rescue a pet. My purpose was to write the book so that kids of all ages could enjoy the stories.
Are you working on more stories about Wild Thing and The Bagel?
Wild Thing and The Bagel give me new stories everyday—so, there is plenty of material. My hope is to be able to put some of them into another book…or to possibly do a theme book (such as a holiday book or a book about different adventures).
Author Links: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Passionate About Education
When You Are Curious is a picture book that explores some of the many different ways to be curious and encourages readers to expand their curiosity. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Johnny Plasil?
Johnny Plasil had a ‘free hand’ with the illustrations. We always sat down to think of some ideas but the whole process was very natural and rewarding.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I am passionate about Education and I was trying to encourage teachers, students, as well as the parents to try new things, explore their curious potential and discover their uniqueness, in order for them to grow.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am hoping my next book will be available before Christmas 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
They Were Just Fairy Tales
Tales from Brook Meadow: The Tale of the Fallen Eggs follows a group of forest animals who all work together to rescue four missing eggs. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration came from visits to Brook Meadow with my children, teaching them about the wildlife and mother nature. They were just fairy tales on paper for around 13/14 years until a good friend of mine suggested I pursue my authoring. A quick jiggle of words to bring them into the modern day, a call from Little Steps Publishing and ‘Tales From Brook Meadow’ was born.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Caroline Hazell?
I met Caroline by chance at a community gathering. I originally asked here to design something for a business card. I was taken aback by the end result. I asked if she might be interested in illustrating a book. I explained what I was after in terms of illustrations and as it turns out, watercolour is her speciality, Foxes are a big favorite of her’s and it was an ambition of hers to illustrate a book.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The most important points were for the characters in the book to look exactly as they would in real life for easy recognition for the children, hoping to draw them into nature. The other important point was to have the children learn valuable lessons from the story. I believe that good morals create a firm foundation for children as the grow.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
The second book in the series, ‘The Tale of the Summer Fair’ is out now. The animals of Brook Meadow get into some mischief, but all ends well.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram
Literary Titan Gold Book Award May 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
The Voice of God by Bill V. Lightsey
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award May 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award May 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
The Freeze
In the year 2064, humanity is reeling from the devastating effects of a deadly virus that has ravaged the global population. Despite valiant efforts by scientists to develop vaccines, the virus continues to take its toll, and the government is forced to take drastic action. With nearly a third of London’s citizens dead, the government divides the city into four zones and asserts that a naturally occurring temporal anomaly causes certain areas to freeze at specific intervals.
In this world of chaos and uncertainty, James is a young man trying to make sense of the new reality. His life changes when he meets Sasha, a passionate advocate for an organization called “The Thaw,” which seeks to free citizens and allow them to leave the confines of the city walls. Convinced that the government is behind the temporal freezes, James joins Sasha and the organization in their mission to overthrow the system. But can a group of teenagers really take on the might of the government and emerge victorious?
R. D. Steven’s fast-paced writing style immediately drew me into the story. Unlike many young adult dystopian novels that focus on the scenery, the author skillfully delves into James’ traumatized mind, creating a unique and emotionally engaging experience. The description of James’ feelings is relatable and realistic, making his character all the more compelling. As the story progresses, the latter half of the book focuses on James’ mental growth as he transforms from a broken and worn-down character to a stronger, more resilient person. Witnessing this transformation was deeply satisfying, and it gave me hope for the future of the world in the story. The novel’s conclusion is hopeful, leaving the reader with a sense of closure and the belief that change is possible. This book is a great read, with a storyline that feels eerily possible in our current global situation. It made me reflect on the lengths to which governments might go to contain a pandemic and the importance of individual agency in shaping the future.
The Freeze is an excellent young adult dystopian novel that expertly blends action, suspense, and emotional depth. The story’s plausibility and relevance to contemporary issues regarding disease control and government intervention serve as a warning about the potential consequences of government overreach. In short, this is a fantastic novel that will leave readers thoroughly entranced.
Pages: 347 | ASIN : B0BSH74BJY
LITERARY TITAN 