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Countless Challenges That Kids Face
Success follows a young boy who is working on a school assignment to discover what the meaning of success is by interviewing people he knows. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for this particular series of stories comes from my students over the years. As an elementary school teacher, I have seen countless challenges that kids face. I am inspired by them to write stories that touch on big life lessons, such as identity, perseverance, kindness, and courage. This story came to me while I was on a walk with my oldest sister one Sunday morning. She and I were chatting about my students, her own kids who are now adults, and life in general. If you have sisters, or have been around sisters, you know how we can bounce all over the place in conversations! Anyhow, as the day went on, the idea became more and more clear, and the story sort of wrote itself!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Helen Ayle?
I agree, the art is fantastic! Helen and I have been collaborating for about two years. We discovered one another for our very first project, a book called Good Deeds Gone Wrong that also has the same main character as Success. We have collaborated on seven projects so far. She is a wonderful artist and illustrator. Her ideas are creative, and I love how she brings different perspectives in the illustrations. My favorite from this book is while Stephen was lying awake in bed… I love the colors and mood on that page!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main themes that I wanted to explore through this book are identity and defining success. I think it is important for kids to consider this idea of identity — who we believe we are and how we see ourselves. I also hope kids understand that success looks different for different people. Ultimately, I hope kids think about success a little differently, just like the main character. I see children come through my classroom each year who are so uniquely talented, and often don’t feel successful based on school criteria. They maybe struggle with reading or math, but perhaps are incredibly logical thinkers. Or maybe they are amazing artists, or kind and helpful people who jump up to assist anyone who needs it. I have kids who are incredible public speakers, dancers, writers, athletes, and mathematicians. Ultimately, I hope this book helps kids feel seen and understood. I hope it helps them consider that each person is gifted in different ways, and that is what makes the world function well. We need all of the talents and perspectives!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I just released another piece about a week ago that Helen illustrated for me called A Big Family’s Big Trip. I was inspired to write a story after reading the 1978 Caldecott winner The Relatives Came. The story is about my family’s trip to Israel in December 2018- January 2019. My parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019, and they announced that rather than having a big party, they wanted to take us all on a big trip to Israel! It was an amazing adventure, to say the least. And Helen did a fantastic job creating the thirteen characters inspired by my family! She has also finished illustrations for another book called Tough Turning Ten that will be released this summer. AND I’m also putting together a book for another series that I have with an exceptional illustrator named Pablo D. A’lio. That series has brief lessons for everyday activities that are also wise words of wisdom for life. We created three books of Grandpa’s Lessons, and now we are diving into Grandma’s Guides… We can learn a lot about life from activities like fishing, hiking, cooking, and gardening. Plus grandparents always have the best advice, right?
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Wild Daydreams
The Impossible Girl follows a teen that has discovered her magical abilities, but her talents frighten those in power. She must find out why she is different. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Inspiration comes to us in the strangest of ways and at the strangest of times. Since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Naturally, I was a reader with a wild imagination…something I’ve never quite grown out of (thankfully). I could be anywhere and the littlest of things would spark a story idea. I had notebooks full of them by the time I was a teenager. One of the things I’d often dream up stories about (which would later inspire the entire setup of THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL) was the crescent shaped birthmark on my right wrist. Such a simple thing it was, but to me as a child, it was always something to keep me entertained and dreaming as to why I had it or what it meant. With The Impossible Girl releasing this August, I’m grateful to the child that I was and for all the great authors who instilled in me a love of reading and believing in the impossible – because some of those wild daydreams made it into my book (the crescent shaped scar included).
Ava is shocked to find out she has magic and must learn about her past and her abilities while also dealing with normal teenage emotions. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
We can all have waves of feelings and by demonstrating Ava’s doubts and insecurities along with her self-determination and kindness, it’s reflective of a young person’s life and the journey they are on. Ava finds her footing in a world she belongs to, learns to speak up for herself, and that it’s ok to be vulnerable. She finds a group of friends she forges deep and meaningful bonds with and grows to love. She finds a place in this found family of her choosing.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
While there’s a lot of themes I hope people pick up on and identify with, the biggest one is this: Nothing is impossible. There’s a quote I like by Audrey Hepburn, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says “I’m possible.” To each and every person reading THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL, that is what I hope they takeaway. Follow your dreams, defy the limitations placed on you, and do the things you never thought possible.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on the sequel to THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL. It’s an amazing experience building and expanding this world and I’m having so much fun writing it!
Author Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AshleyWhiteWrites
The magites who call this “underworld” home live under the strict dictates of The Registry-and Ava will have to do the same. That starts with enrolling in Linhollow Academy for the Supernaturally Gifted.
A target is placed on her back once it’s discovered Ava’s the only magite since The Registry’s inception to not be tagged or able to be tagged in its omniscient system. Powerful magites fear what this could mean and view her as a threat to a way of life that has kept their “underworld” safe for three hundred years.
With all eyes on her, including two oversized shadows from The Registry watching her every move, Ava must toe the line as Resistance Riders, kelpies, near-death experiences, and other dangers follow her everywhere.
In this new world where she shows incredible promise in her craft, Ava will learn that getting to the bottom of her unexplained existence will take her down a perilous path where a dark secret lurks-one dangerous enough to disrupt the entire order of The Registry and jeopardize her life and the lives of her new friends.
Fall in love with this new series from debut fantasy author, Ashley White. For fans of J. K. Rowling and Rick Riordan, The Impossible Girl will be the perfect novel to add to your collection.
Nature Is Imploring Us
Ursamer: A Treasury of Feel-Good Stories Book 2 follows a young Inuit girl who tries to find someone that will understand her message about global warming. What was the inspiration for your stories?
Ursamer – the name came into my head. Sound is very important to me as a musician, but also as a writer. Translated, Ursa and Mer mean Bear and Sea. So, I thought I would write about polar bears and what is happening to them. I also wanted to write about climate change from a different slant. Everyone talks about the physical changes to the ice caps, but not so much how this is affecting those who live there.
Ursamer encounters very different people each time she arrives in a different place, how did you decide on where she would appear?
I tried to imagine what it would be like from her perspective and the difficulties she would have in conversing with the people she met. They would be so culturally removed from her. I wanted to show how different people are affected in different ways, but that we’re all in the world together and things are not looking rosy. Someone old and homeless in New York City (Ursamer can’t see why an elder is not treated with respect), famine-stricken refugees in Africa (they are desperate to the point of lost humanity), and me-dominated rich shoppers in a giant mall – the on-demand types. (It’s all about them, and they are totally clueless about what’s going on in the real world, which is, in essence, their world too.)
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
That nature is imploring us to turn ourselves around. The main thing for me is that humanity STILL doesn’t get it. The global pandemic is something that has never happened before. (Yes, others have, but they go away, at least for a while. I have a PhD in disease ecology, so I know what I’m talking about here). This virus is different – it’s not going away.
But, we have not learned from it. This is nature shouting a HUGE wake-up call. We’re a small step ahead with vaccines, but then we just keep going with our self-centred agenda – over-populating, over-consuming, polluting, degrading, destroying…
The ”On Demand” species. Uggh.
Listening is also a central theme of this story. The vast majority of people do not listen. Poor communication is a huge problem.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Well, a few. A comedy/social justice novel – it should be out by the end of the year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Where has she come from? What is her story? She has something very important to say, but no one is listening!
A sweet, poignant tale about climate change, Ursamer is ideal for children ages 8 and older.
Ursamer
There is something wrong with the world, and there has been for many years. A change is taking place, and, if left unchecked, it will forever alter the world as we know it. Something else strange is happening, and none of those who encounter this anomaly can explain it. A unique young girl and her stunning sled dog appear in random places, and, as suddenly as they show up, they are gone. They have, but one goal in mind and only have a short time in which to accomplish it.
Karina McRoberts, author of Ursamer: A Treasury of Feel-Good Stories Book 2, has delivered a socially-conscious book designed to build a more solid understanding of global warming and its most certain impact on the environment. But, more importantly, McRoberts’s tale illustrates how challenging it is for those struggling to raise awareness to successfully make their point to society.
This beautifully written short story is constructed so that young readers will easily be able to follow the story and the message the author is trying to convey. Each short chapter takes readers to a different location with Ursamer and her dog Nuga. The frustration she feels is apparent, and as her block of ice melts, her hope diminishes as well. Topics of language barriers, misunderstandings, and ignorance are presented alongside the message of climate change. However, this educational story is not all sad. There are moments of joy and understanding, and showing kindness and compassion still exists.
Ursamer: A Treasury of Feel-Good Stories Book 2 is a thought-provoking short story for children between ages eight and twelve, ideal for older elementary and middle-grade students. While the book’s topic is one that younger readers can and should begin to explore, it would make for excellent guided reading or as a teacher-led book due to the vocabulary and writing style. This is also the perfect story to introduce the topic of climate change to younger students.
Pages: 33 | ASIN : B09J1VN6N9
Success
What is the meaning of success? This is what one class has been assigned to figure out. Stephen thought he had it all figured out, being successful meant winning at his sports games and getting a trophy. However, with each new person he interviews he gets a different answer about what success is to them. By the end of the day, Stephen is confused and thinks his original idea of what being successful is could be wrong. He spends the night thinking and dreaming about the answers he got. In the morning he comes to a new and eye-opening conclusion about what the meaning of success is.
Success, written by Ruthie Godfrey and illustrated by Helen Ayle, is a beautifully written picture book about self-confidence, identity, and personal accomplishments. Told in a manner that kindergarten and young elementary level kids can understand, this illuminating children’s book explains what success means from a variety of different perspectives. With answers being provided from different children and adults, kids will learn how each person has a different perspective with a common theme connecting them all.
The full-page colorful artwork accompanying the story gives all the characters unique personalities to coincide with their answers to what being successful means to them. The artwork shows diversity, allowing children to find a character they can relate to. Each character shows meaningful expression and helps younger readers understand the story.
The concept of success can be hard for even adults to comprehend. This well-written book will help children and adults develop their own idea of what success is for them and in the process help them discover parts of their own identity and what is important to them.
Success is an inspiring picture book that will help children visualize the concept of success. Through entertaining art and dialogue, this extraordinary children’s book will teach children how to define success for themselves and build self-confidence.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B09BK4RRHR
Help Secure Their Online Experiences
Oh, No …Hacked Again!: A Story About Online Safety is about a girl that loses her game account because of a hacking website. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wrote this book inspired by the experiences of my own children. During the pandemic, I noticed how my children were spending more time online gaming or for school. With that exposure, I also saw two of my children’s gaming accounts get hacked on more than one occasion. Their online experiences motivated me to write my 2nd children’s book “Oh, No… Hacked Again!” a story to teach children the important message of online safety.
As someone who is an immigrant Black woman who transitioned into cybersecurity from the legal field after moving to the US from Ethiopia 9 years ago, I quickly learned about the glaring lack of diversity within the industry. I hope to convey an important message through the story to spark interest in young readers, especially girls and girls who look like me, to consider cybersecurity as a meaningful career option.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about online safety?
People, have this misconception that out of a huge internet who would be interested in targeting me? Even if they do and become successful what valuable data would they be staking from me?
However, the fact of the matter is it isn’t about who the cybercriminals are targeting. Usually nothing personal and it doesn’t have to be big corporations or rich or celebrity folks. The bad guys are targeting everyone yes including common individuals using automation tools throwing their net to fish whatever sensitive information they could get their hands on exploiting any system’s vulnerabilities that we might have neglected or put off to update in any of our devices.
The other misconception is thinking that Usernames and passwords provide enough strong protection. When in fact in reality that isn’t the case. usernames and passwords are vulnerable to brute force attacks and can be compromised.
Attackers have tools to crack the passwords so it’s important to use a strong complex password and implement multi-factor authentication to plus to enhance your security by requiring a user to identify themselves by more than a username and password. It’s also vital that we don’t reuse our passwords and instead use a password manager because we don’t have to remember all the passwords we use to authenticate for the various devices.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from this story?
It’s important that parents cultivate a culture of open communication with their children so that kids are comfortable sharing their online experiences with their parents should they encounter something out of the ordinary or they think they are getting in trouble. Its critical that we also instill a culture of having a security mindset and the importance of online safety to our kids, teach them not only the importance of not sharing our passwords, and any personal information with others, having strong passwords but also the importance of implementing Multi-factor authentication to help secure their online experiences be it for entertainment gaming or for school purposes. It is also meant to spark interest in o a possible career option in the field of cybersecurity fighting against cybercriminals and protecting sensitive data, especially of the most vulnerable population.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
May be 🙂 I am currently focusing this year on finishing my grad school program Masters’s degree in Cybersecurity at Georgia Tech University and promoting my two children’s books!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram
What happens when she suddenly cannot log in to her favorite game? She’s been hacked before. How will she recover if it happens again? Elham must lean on her mom and siblings to stay safe while navigating the digital world.
Grab this fun family story, gather the children, and learn the importance of online safety and explore the exciting and ever-evolving field of cybersecurity as a future career option.
The Real Kraken Crew
Kraken Crew follows a ship captain that takes his crew on an adventure to steal the dragon’s gold, on the way they encounter several obstacles. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for this book was the real Kraken Crew. On bus and train journeys, on rainy days and at bedtime, my three children and I take turns to make up stories. These are usually funny adventure stories and often include our family. One of the stories that I told was all about us having adventures on our boat, Kraken, and each of my children using their special skills to help them defeat all sorts of sea monsters. The elf-witch is based on my eldest, Holly Elfin, who really does have a way with animals. Our boat would be like the Ark if Holly had her way. The banshee is based on Ivy Pixie, my second child, who we all call Supersonic Ivy due to her ear-piercing scream. And Storm Boy is based on my son, Taiga Storm, who is an absolute whirlwind of energy and who was born during a particularly fierce storm. With kids like these onboard our boat, Kraken, this story virtually wrote itself.
Each of your characters is unique and fun. Where did the idea come from for how your characters looked?
Drawing the characters is by far my favourite part of the whole process of writing and illustrating. With Kraken Crew and two other books that I am currently writing I love to imagine the situations the characters are going through and I sit there pulling of sorts of funny faces and then imagine how these expressions would look on the various characters. I now tend to draw my characters at home rather than in public places after receiving quite a lot of funny looks from people.
I tried many different styles when designing the characters and general illustration for this book, though with each style the main characters always loosely resembled my family. I knew from the start that I wanted them to be colourful and incorporate my children’s favourite colours, I wanted them to look like a rowdy bunch of mucky pirates, and I wanted to have fun drawing their facial expressions. I think that I spent more time experimenting with different styles and developing the characters than I did on illustrating the whole book. I have a whole notebook full of illustrations of just the ships rats, from developing the way they look to the many ways that they could be included in the background of various stories. I really ought to write a story about them at some point.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I am sure that this is true of most young families, but my 3 children were/are very competitive with each other and this often resulted in the younger children feeling that they were not as good as their older sibling(s). This story was very much about demonstrating to my kids that they all had their own special talents, which they should be proud of, and that sometimes they have to work together, using their strengths to help the collective accomplish their goals.
After reading A LOT of children’s books with my children, it was obvious what our favourite books had in common and so, what I needed to include in Kraken Crew. It had to be funny. It had to rhyme. And there should be a moral to the story. Judging by all of the positive reviews that Kraken Crew has received I would say that I managed to achieve this.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on two books; Release the Kraken and Polly’s Gone Crackers. Release the Kraken is a story about how this motley crew first assembled and first met the legendary Kraken. This book is very nearly finished and I had aimed to make it available in the first half of 2022. However, I am having far too much fun drawing bird characters for Polly’s Gone Crackers (the third book), so I may end up being a bit behind schedule. Polly’s Gone Crackers is a story about my favourite character in Kraken Crew, Polly the Parrot. The captain finally has enough of Polly’s mishaps and cowardly ways and attempts to replace him with a brave new bird to keep watch. Both books will certainly be available this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram
Their biggest adventure yet.
One that will go down in history
A heist that no one will ever forget.
They plan to take gold from dragons
A plan you may think is crazed.
But if the Kraken Crew succeed
They’ll be rich til the end of their days.
Join the Kraken Crew in this award winning, rhyming, comic and in parts gruesome tale of adventure on the high seas, as they embark on a danger-ridden quest to steal gold from the dragons that live in Mount Doom.
The Kraken is a ship that is run by a real motley crew of pirates, including an elf-witch who can charm almost all animals, a banshee who can kill with her super-sonic scream, a young man who can summon storms, and on watch, the ship’s parrot. He may not be the bravest member of the crew, and he can’t tell fish from seagulls, but, well, at the very least he does alert the crew to all kinds of potential danger.
On their way to Mount Doom the crew use their individual strengths to battle sirens, ghost pirates and a mighty sea monster. When they reach Mount Doom they really have to work together to battle a swarm of dragons. This is where the captain steps in. At the helm, the captain tries his best to keep the ship ship-shape and to keep the crew united in their quest. He is moderately successful in this, but when even a unified crew start to struggle in their battle with a swarm of dragons he is forced to call upon his special friend.
LITERARY TITAN 