Blog Archives
Taking A Leap Of Faith
Sammy the Flying Squirrel follows a young squirrel that is afraid to fly and must overcome his fear to same his best friend. What was the inspiration for your story?
Having six grandchildren it was illuminating to see how each one tried to handle their insecurities differently. In searching to find the ways to get them to open up about trivial or significant issues I learned what they were worried about.
I found that talking about animals and giving them human characteristics made it easier for young children to open up and talk about what made them anxious.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
- Fear of rejection,
- Bullying,
- Friendship,
- Positive close family interactions.
Perhaps most of all–believing in yourself and taking a leap of faith in order to save a friend.
Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?
My husband Dan, son Sean, grandson Kevin and granddaughters Fiona, Macalyn and Kate.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
In Sammy the Flying Squirrel who Was Afraid to Fly, Thomas the Terrible Tomcat got a “bad rap” as a mean and hurtful villain. I want to explore how he got that way, and see if there is there hope for him. (You’ll have to read the next book to find out!)
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads | Facebook
After Sammy makes friends with another squirrel, Sarah, they play together, day after day. Sammy is in no hurry to learn to fly, especially since he is having so much fun with Sarah. As Sammy and Sarah scamper, roll, and play on the forest floor, they have no idea that another animal is lurking in the bushes, just waiting to pounce. But everything is about to change when Sarah has an accident. Can Sammy overcome his big fear and save her, before it is too late?
In this charming children’s tale, a young flying squirrel must overcome a giant fear in order to rescue his new best friend from a terrible fate.
It Turned Into So Much More
The Heart of a Lion: and the Body of a Cat follows a lion cub that just wants to play even though he knows he will get sick again. This is a personal story for you, why was this an important book to write?
Very personal. It was important to write this story to give hope and uplift children dealing with chronic health issues. I originally wrote the book to deliver to hospitals to inspire kids not feeling well during the holiday season, but it turned into so much more. It turned into a story of inclusion and awareness, something I’d always wanted for my daughter.
The art in this book is fantastic. How was it working with your husband on this project?
It has been a joy to work with my husband over the years to bring to life our projects. It’s an incredible connection to have, and I treasure it. He inspires me to believe in the impossible. I ask for something, and he goes beyond what I could imagine. It has been awesome.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I want the takeaway to be the ability to think outside the box and overcome challenges. But, above all else, I want readers to take away what I’ve instilled in my daughter – to persevere in the face of challenges and never give up on their dreams.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book is called Shani and The FireFly. It is inspired by the things around me and it touches on overcoming challenges. It’s due out late this summer.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Literary Titan Book Award Winner
Readers’ Favorite 5 Star Review
Abeautiful 75-page picture book you will enjoy from beginning to end. Any reader can relate to the journey and apply the message and lessons learned to their life. The book is inspirational for all readers.
The Heart of a Lion was written for kids dealing with health issues. The story is inspired by a little girl’s experiences while dealing with and learning to manage Sickle Cell Anemia Disease. It was not an easy journey, but she was brave through it all, and today she manages her pain while accomplishing her goals.
You will be proud of the little lion in this story and the journey to do what appeared impossible. The journey shows Bravery, Courage, and Determination. Awareness and Inclusion start when we start sharing stories that help us understand the lives of others around us. So get ready to cheer on the little lion.
Building Our Faith
Grandma, Granddad, We Want to Praise God teaches children all the different ways they can offer praise to God in their daily lives. What was the inspiration for writing this book?
The series started with the first book, when my seven year old grandson, now eighteen, said to his mother, “Mama, I want to see God”. After, Mama, I Want to See God was published, I decided to include the entire family in the series with a Daddy book and a Grandparents book. My goal was to show families through each of the books that we, (children and adults) are all works in progress as it relates to building our faith.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Sharon Grey?
The art collaboration with Sharon was awesome. This book was the second book that she and I have worked on together. My publisher requires that I create a storyboard for my books, providing concepts about what I envision for each page. Many times, I needed Sharon’s insight regarding my ideas. Sharon was always willing to rework a sketch if it wasn’t quite what I was looking for. I appreciate and admire Sharon’s expertise and experience in bringing to life the pages of my book.
I loved the scene where they talked about praising God even when things go wrong. What was your favorite scene in this book?
I have two favorite scenes in the book. The first is when the children want to know the best time to praise God. This is one of my favored settings in the book because my mother is depicted on that page. The other scene is when granddad and the children are praying at the dinner table. And, my father is portrayed on that page. My parents were indeed the best grandparents that any child could have!
Do you have more books planned for the Families Growing in Faith series? If so what is the topic and when will it be available?
I actually have three additional works that I started writing years ago. I’ve been so busy with my first three books, as well as other works in progress that I haven’t had time to get back to those stories. I believe they would fit well in the series, Families Growing in Faith. All I can reveal at this time is that each of the stories start with “God Knows . . .” I’m not sure when they will be available. But, be on the lookout!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
In the third book of this lauded series, Families Growing in Faith, Grandma, Granddad, We Want to Praise God follows inquisitive children who learn from their loving grandparents that praising God brings joy.
Grandparents and their grandchildren, as well as parents, guardians, and caregivers will love the rhyming stanzas and tender illustrations of a child’s natural curiosity and growing discovery that we can express praise through the good and the bad; anywhere or anytime; and with singing, dancing, shouting, and clapping.
This engaging story will empower children in fostering habits of praise and thankfulness.
I Wrote A Book I Needed
Billy Be Kind: Making A New Friend is an amazing children’s book on how to make friends that preschoolers can understand. Why did you feel this was important to write about?
I wrote a book I needed growing up as a shy little girl. Now that I am the mother of a shy daughter, I know the importance and impact friendships have on a child’s self-esteem and emotional health. I hope to simplify important life lessons with my short stories while teaching social and emotional skills to children at a young age.
The art in this book is fantastic it really jumps off the page. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Ayesha W.?
Since I have collaborated with my illustrator, Ayesha W. on several projects, she has a clearer understanding of my vision. I begin by sending her my storyboard and stick-figure drawings. She then sends me her interpretation of my ideas. We often go back and forth until we are both satisfied that the artwork matches my vision. Our personalities work in a manner that allows us to create and collaborate effectively.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I thought it was important to explore the theme of friendship. I used a shy protagonist in my story to show children that you can be shy and still be brave. Additionally, exploring the theme of friendship allowed me the opportunity to incorporate inclusion, diversity, and of course, kindness, a theme repeated throughout the entire series.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on 3 books that should be released by the end of 2022.
Billy Be Kind: My Big Feelings
Billy Be Kind: I Can Do Anything
Billy Be Kind: Sharing
Author Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Making a new friend when you’re shy isn’t always easy. It often requires putting in a little effort. Billy Be Kind the kind little mouse is there to help!
This wonderful, short, rhyming story is part of the Billy Be Kind Children’s series. Billy Be Kind is a kind, little magical mouse created to teach and encourage young children to be honest, brave, kind, to listen and so much more.
Parents, teachers and caregivers understand how challenging it is to grab and retain the attention of children. These engaging, short, rhyming stories will grab and keep their attention from the beginning to the very end.
Come join the Billy Be Kind family and make this series a part of your child’s library.
About the Author
2021 Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best book list -Honorable Mention
Kim Adams is a wife, mother, and the author of the Billy Be Kind children’s series. She fell in love with the art of storytelling at a very young age and has been inspired ever since. Kim hopes to simplify some of life’s important lessons as well as strengthen social and emotional skills through her short, rhyming stories. She has always taught her children to lead with kindness and hopes to help spread her message to every little boy and girl.
Literary Titan Book Awards April 2022
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 imagination of these talented authors.
Gold Award Winners
The Future is a Memory, C. Ross
Silver Award Winners
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
A Calf Named Brian Higgins
A Calf Named Brian Higgins, written by Kristen Ball, is a child-friendly story that addresses serious and interesting topics, including poverty, different cultures, friendship, mourning death, and personal development. The story follows Hannah Higgins, a typical grumpy teenager from suburban New York who is dragged to the plains of rural Kenya to visit her Uncle, Brian Higgins, while he is there doing charity work. Leaving behind her comfortable American lifestyle for one that is drastically less comfortable poses many challenges that Hannah needs to overcome, such as limited access to fresh water. By spending time with the local people and being immersed in the culture, she slowly understands why her Uncle loves Sauri so much.
This story answers a couple of important questions. How would a typical white teenager react to going into rural Africa? And what does it take for that teenager to change their perspective on their life? Ball tackles both of these questions in a way that is simple enough for children to understand but sophisticated enough for all ages to appreciate. This is a story of personal growth. Hannah goes from a naive and unworldly teenager to an individual who begins to value her life, others around her, and opportunities wholeheartedly.
Ball’s debut novel was written based on her experiences of being the first westerner to live in Sauri, the Kenyan village where her story is set. Therefore the book touches on many of her first-hand experiences, enabling her to paint a far more vivid and authentic landscape of an environment many Westerners (especially children) are likely not to be familiar with. Ball’s spin on the story’s events helps to give the story a more genuine and sincere feel. The reader is not being presented with a shallow story from someone with limited knowledge of these complex topics. Still, they’re experiencing the insight of someone who lived under these circumstances.
A Calf Named Brian Higgins is a fantastic novel to introduce children to heavy and challenging topics, such as poverty or entitlement, in a simple and engaging way. It’s essential for children to be exposed to several cultures and walks of life, and reading this novel with them and discussing it would be a great starting point.
Pages: 272 | ASIN : B07DNKC7G4
Into the Wind
Into the Wind by William Loizeaux is a children’s story about how an unlikely friendship develops between a young boy and an older woman in a wheelchair. It takes place during a difficult summer for both on the island where they live. After Rusty’s mother is admitted to an inpatient treatment facility on the mainland for depression, Rusty’s neighbor gives him an old sailboat that he works on repairing and learning how to sail. Hazel is a widow whose family lives far away on the west coast, and she hires Rusty to do odd jobs around the house for her to earn a bit of money. As they spend time together, the two find that they share an unexpected connection.
The author has an engaging writing style that will draw readers into the story. The main character is relatable and believable, with a sometimes humorous point of view. This heartwarming story takes place on an island, and the author’s descriptions of the boats and water paint a vivid picture of the quaint tourist town where Rusty and his family lived. I could easily imagine the smell of the sea and the sound of the seagulls as they flew over the boats tied to the dock as though I was experiencing what Rusty did in the story.
I learned a lot of interesting things about sailing while reading this book, and I liked that various sailing terms were explained organically throughout the story for readers who are not familiar with sailboats. The author also includes a glossary of nautical terms at the end of the book. Watching the friendship between Rusty and Hazel is magical. Two people so different, in different stages of life, can find common ground and connect on a deep emotional level. They are both going through some challenging moments in their lives, and spending time with each other helped them cope.
This memorable book includes illustrations by Laura Jacobsen. They are done in shades of gray, like pencil drawings. They really add to the story as they are sparsely used and added to key moments in the story. My favorite was the image of Rusty pushing Hazel through the park with cards clipped to her wheelchair wheels. The innocence and simplicity of the scene remind readers to hold onto the small moments in life.
Into the Wind is a middle grades level chapter book. This emotional story deals with friendship, compassion, death, and grief. It is a wonderful story to help kids learn about love and loss and about the importance of treasuring the moments you have with people.
Pages: 138 | ASIN : B08PDGZRXS
Loyalties Become Complicated
Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London follow a young spy girl as she tries to find a missing spy, and winds up entangled in more trouble. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
This is the second book in a planned 6-7 book series. After toying with a completely different plot, I decided to pivot to a more traditional second installment. Second books are notoriously hard to balance and I needed to add information as well as characters that are critical to the following books. It was also important for Simone to leave Paris and expand her world. The primary inspiration was again highlighting the importance of family.
The tween years are when children go through a lot of character development and discover themselves. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Character development is always critical as it endears the characters to the reader. Characters do not need to be complex, but they do have to offer enough information to let the reader form an opinion on them. In this book, relationships and loyalties become complicated for Simone, which is typical for the age. As mentioned in the book summary, life is about to get messy, which everyone can relate to.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As previously mentioned, one of the central themes is that Simone’s life, both personal and professional, is getting complicated. The absolutes that she used to accept and even found comfort in are now wavering. The theme of a family’s love for one another is also front and center, as it was in the first book.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing Book #3, which I hope to have published in mid-2023. I also have a graphic novel currently under consideration for publication.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
In this second book of the Simone LaFray Mysteries, Simone navigates school rivalries, oversees the opening of a new LaFray’s Patisserie, and finds herself questioning her loyalties as she prowls under the moonlight with the notorious Red Wolves. And to top it all off, the most popular boy in school can’t stop staring at her. The life of the world’s most promising young spy is about to get messy.
LITERARY TITAN 