Blog Archives
This Book Was Born Of A Promise
When Mommy is in Heaven follows a little boy who prays to God each night that his mom in Heaven can visit and attend his Monther’s Day Tea Party. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for “When Mommy is in Heaven” was my dear friend, Lisa, who passed away after giving birth to her son. When she passed, I was also pregnant and I was devastated by the sudden loss of my friend. I made a posthumous promise to her that I would write a book for her son. This book was born of a promise.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Dan Drewes?
The collaboration with Dan was amazing! He was very patient with me, knowing that this was a very personal story, and I wanted everything to be perfect. More importantly his illustrations were a perfect depiction of my vision for this book and that was important to him!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
It was important for me to share that Micah’s life was a blessing from God. It was also important for me to address the issues of loss, grief and faith in a manner that a child could understand.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on the second book in Micah’s story ” When Micah Goes to First Grade”. In addition, I am working on another children’s book, “The Colors of Me” for my Grandson. Both are in the process of publication and I hope to have them both available by this summer.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
A Figment Of A Child’s Imagination
My Magical Bearded Friend follows a mysterious character who gradually appears when the sun starts to go down and disappears when the sun reappears in the morning. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story was inspired initially by a colleague at work who has a magnificent beard. I wrote it to thank him for the help he had given me with publishing my poetry books. The story then grew into a mystery as I collaborated with Patricia (the illustrator) and we shared ideas on where the bearded man came from and how he could be a figment of a child’s imagination.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Patricia Moffett?
The experience was as magical as the story. I found her on the Reedsy website and was instantly attracted to her style of imaginative imagery. Rather than just being “the illustrator”, Patricia soon became a huge part of the formation of the story and had some brilliant ideas of where the character should go and how he should evolve with the story. Working with Patricia was a delight from start to finish and I hope to do it again sometime soon.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The main idea we wanted to share was how things that can seem scary in the dark can actually be exciting and comforting. We wanted to show how a child can change the perspective of what they see, such as shadows and half-light, into something benign and even interesting – not at all frightening.
I wanted the text to be as interesting as the illustrations, and I wanted the words to be easy enough but maybe a little challenging in places to draw both the reader and the listener in and show them that reading can be enjoyable.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
There is no book currently in the pipeline, but I would love to produce another picture book – maybe even a follow up to the Magical Bearded Friend book.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
The magical bearded friend is a mysterious and dapper figure, with his “cane of pure walnut, and his hat as tall as a tree.’ Narrated by a little bird, passers by sometimes catch a hint of cologne, or the melodious timbre of his voice, but when they turn – poof! He’s disappeared.
Rhyming words and an engaging vocabulary will help even hesitant children work on their reading skills, while the amusing and whimsical tone and vivid, colourful illustrations will make ‘My Magical Bearded Friend’ a firm favourite at bedtime.
My Magical Bearded Friend is a mysterious character who gradually appears when the sun starts to go down and disappears when the sun reappears in the morning. The reader and listener are asked to question whether My Magical Bearded Friend is a real person or a trick of the eye. Is he tall or is he the shadow of the buildings and towers around the area at dusk? Can you smell his perfume or is it the scent of the flowers wafting on the breeze? Is he colourful and sparkling, or is he simply the reflection of the rising sun? You decide! Parents and children alike will love to read about My Magical Bearded Friend again and again.
Ruby Pi Adventure Series
Ruby Pi Adventure Series is a collection of short stories that takes readers on an adventure through history where they must use STEM skills to solve the mystery. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
When I came across the mystifying fact that there is a dramatic drop-off of female STEM students at age 14, this became my challenge. The idea was to write a handful of stories to capture in human terms the wonder of Bayes’ Rule, and the Pythagorean theorem, and the measurement of earth’s curvature. The fact that I know very little math has not stopped me.
It seemed natural to place the stories at critical moments in history – the end of the High Maya, the fall of the Maginot Line, Mao’s Great Leap Forward and subsequent Famine of 1957, Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech, the launch of Sputnik, George Soros’ assault on the Bank of England, etc.
The project gained momentum until it got out of hand. When I reached ten stories with nine different girl protagonists (Ruby appears twice), I cut the collection into two volumes.
Cleverly, I have surrounded myself with very talented people like Sandra Uve (foreword), Mai Nguyen (illustrator), and book designer Ben Kelley. I think the resulting two volumes give readers good value.
An underlying reason for my tackling STEM topics is that I don’t understand them, and I want to.
What is your background and experience in writing and in math, and how did it help you write the Ruby Pi Adventure Series?
I’m an English teacher, with an interest in history, pulp fiction, and critical thinking, and no aptitude in math. I am therefore the perfect person to tackle these adventure stories.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I felt that, if I could craft an honest story about a girl coming of age — and using math to carve a place in the world for herself and her family — it would be timelessly relevant. Tying my so-so writing talent to a universal set of rules is a positive.
As to specific topics, I wanted to find powerful math concepts that would hook a 14-year- old girl. Bayes’ Rule jumped out because it is such a universal tool for decision-making. Battlefield math is an easy call, and the curvature of sniper fire was a big topic at Valley Forge Military College, where I taught. Forecasting is something that all of our students need to know. The examination of volumes really grew out of the kiln story. I love the legend of Yuri Knorosov and the Maya codex and wanted to place my heroine in the middle of that. Again, that math grew out of the story.
I do not have enough real mathematics in the stories. I am working on a free-to-readers booklet by math teachers as a companion to these stories, to bridge that gap between my fiction and teaching in a classroom.
Will there be a third book in the series, if so, when will it be available?
Yes!! I have mapped out subsequent collections of historical adventures of Botany Girls, Chemistry Girls, Science Girls, Aviation Girls, and more. A Ruby story will end each collection. I hope to collaborate with other writers on these, with me editing some and writing some.
As I look at the history of each discipline, key moments jump out, so there are lots of possibilities.
This is my way of narrativizing science. This is what I have to offer.
I am currently working on “Aviation Girls.” The aim is to post this collection in December, 2023. I hope the next year will also see the completion of an epic, dark sequel to my Suez novella, “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter.”
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
Websites:
http://www.boatmansdaughter.com
Acceptance And Self-worth
Nature Study Buddies follows three children who want to study animals in their backyard but need to find a way to help their friend, who is in a wheelchair, participate in the educational adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My stories have been inspired by the experiences of my late son, Leigh, who used a wheelchair for mobility from a very early age. Each story is designed to shed light on an issue faced by children using wheelchairs, both physically and emotionally. Nature Study Buddies serves as a good example of one aspect children in wheelchairs may find challenging. In this story, Leigh’s friends offer their assistance with the issue at hand (climbing a tree). It is, however, Leigh who discovers that doing things a little differently are more appropriate and rewarding for him.
What was a key message you wanted young readers to learn from this book?
Nature Study Buddies Book 3’s message is acceptance and self-worth and rediscovering alternative ways around a seemingly potential problem for a disabled child.
What is the best way for parents and educators to utilize your book so they get the most out of it?
The underlying message will resonate with children who associate with Leigh, and who may have at some time felt left out while their friends were having fun.
It is my hope that parents and educators will engage in an informative discussion about inclusivity after reading this book.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Not sure if there will be a book 4 in Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures series at this stage. However, there may be a sequel to “The Mysterious Pool”, a chapter book for the older reader.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | YouTube
Awarded a Bronze Medal in the Moonbeams 2022 Children’s Book Awards for Best Picture Book Series.
Leigh, Tara, and Cosmo decide to study nocturnal animals living in trees for their school project.
However, Leigh is in a wheelchair, so how will he climb a tall tree?
An uplifting story of friendship, fun, and self-awareness.
*QR Code on back cover to watch the full video and read along*
Clumsy Nelson
Clumsy Nelson by Serena Lane Ferrari follows an adorable yet clumsy little seal. Nelson has a terrible week, full of accidents and needing help at every turn, whether it be swimming in the ocean or moseying along the beach. His fellow aquatic friends shame him for all his mishaps, but are these mishaps his fault? Or are they created by something Nelson has no control over?
In this charmingly illustrated children’s book, we are given bits of information about the main character, Nelson, that at first seems to be causing himself grief, but soon we realize he is the story’s victim. This story is exceptionally well written and was obviously thought out to its fullest extent. It succeeded in telling children about the importance of keeping our oceans and beaches pollution-free and the entire earth. It sheds light in a way that young minds, on a fundamental level, can discuss these issues clearly and start conversations about what can be done to help keep the world clean. I feel that kids can grasp serious scenarios such as this when displayed in such a manner as this author has done.
I loved this story right off the bat. Nelson is such a cute and loveable character. You can’t help but be attached and sympathize with him when his friends are not so nice. This picture book would be a great addition to anyone’s library or classroom. Highlighting critical environmental issues and promoting self-esteem, this children’s book will entertain and educate readers for years to come.
Pages: 37 | ASIN : B08HX52P45
Vivian’s Perfectly Imperfect Adventure
Vivian needs some treasure to make today’s adventure a success. Her mother’s necklace will work perfectly. Now, the first quest is to get it out of her mom’s jewelry box without her noticing. She plans on bringing it back when she’s done playing, but when she loses one of the stones during her fun-filled adventure, she and her brother search for the stone until the sun sets. Will she find the stone? Will her mother forgive her?
Author Brandy Clark has written a fun-filled adventure that is built upon something most children will be able to relate to. Taking something that is not theirs. Vivian is a lively character that exudes a passion for life and the lesson she learns through the story is vividly portrayed thanks to the fantastic artwork by illustrator Jade Fang.
I enjoyed how the valuable life lessons are delivered in this wonderful children’s book. I did not even notice it until near the end of the story. How Vivian’s brother gave up his time to help his sister. I liked how subtly this was handled in the story. When Vivian comes to the realization in the story that she made a lifelong ally, so does the reader, and this sudden awareness is so much more impactful.
Vivian’s Perfectly Imperfect Adventure is a delightful picture book that teaches young readers an important lesson while entertaining them with vivid artwork and an enjoyable story.
Pages: 32 | ASIN: B0B9RDPRK2
Novo the Space Robot: How to Solve the Mystery of Crying
Novo The Space Robot: How to Solve the Mystery of Crying, written by Charly Froh, is a whimsical story about a robot named Novo that lives on planet Infinita. It is a usual Monday morning when he goes about shopping and when he arrives home, his beautiful venus-bot flowers are ruined by a storm. Novo is so upset he begins to cry and cannot make the tears stop flowing, which makes matters even worse for Novo. So what will Novo do to make the tears stop before he rusts?
This charming children’s book is incredibly sweet from front to back. The illustrations are incredibly captivating and playful. The story is written with young readers in mind, given the simplicity of the verbiage, and is easy to follow along. I loved the message of expressing one’s emotions and being able to verbalize them as well, especially to our friends or family. It shows the importance of communication and how healing it can be. Demonstrating talking our feelings out is the best remedy. There is also a message of having confidantes and being a part of a community that comes together to help one another through difficult times.
Novo The Space Robot: How to Solve the Mystery of Crying is a well-written children’s book with fun characters and a meaningful message. I believe this would make an excellent addition to any reader’s library, especially families with young kids learning about emotions and how to express themselves positively.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0BNVKL6KQ
The Little Regenerative Farmer and The Dairy Farm
Lina is happily gardening and playing outside when her father tells her some sad news. They’re moving. At their new home, Lina makes a new friend in the old farmer across the road. They share their love of farm animals, educate one another, and help implement a regenerative agricultural practice.
Lina is a hardworking and inquisitive child whose passion for life is evident from the first page of this vibrant children’s book. There is a variety of lessons young readers will pick up throughout the story, but the one that stood out to me the most was Lina’s determination. When Lina hears some disheartening information from her friends at school, she works for months to prove them wrong. There are many children’s books where a lesson is learned quickly, but I appreciated how the lesson learned in this book is achieved over a long period of time, and through the child’s own hard work. This is a fantastic message to send to kids. Young readers will also learn about farming, sharing information with others, and being adaptable.
The artwork by illustrator Yana Gorbatiyk is rich and brilliant and makes each character look adorable. Lina’s chicken was very cute and I loved seeing it on the page every time. Young kids will be drawn to all of the bright imagery in the book.
The Little Regenerative Farmer and The Dairy Farm is an educational picture book that shares several valuable life lessons, some of which are rarely seen in other children’s books. This is a heartwarming story that spreads a positive message that has the potential to improve the world.
Pages: 43 | ASIN: B0BNWHTGTR
LITERARY TITAN 