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To Protect Them At All Cost

Miz Marta
Miz Marta Author Interview

Delilah & Samson Adventures World follow a courageous young girl and her dog as they go on adventures, saving animals in need and stopping the people responsible. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

Well other then the fact that I love animals, my inspiration was a dog I once had named Samson. He was a big strong male German shepherd dog. Plus, an adorable young girl that I personally know named Delilah. I put the two together creating this book. That’s why I named the book; Delilah & Samson Adventures World. Is quite a pretty long story to tell, so I will have to leave that part out. Character Delilah cares and loves animals so much that her only wish is to save and protect them from the hands of abusers, and that’s where big bad dog Samson comes in. It is quite a fictional story for children of all ages.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

From a child’s early age, they should be taught about all kind of different animals that exist within our world. All kids love animals, they love hearing stories about them and they especially love playing with them. When we educate children on animals such as where they come from, or what they like and don’t like, or what they eat and don’t eat and so forth, it creates an inner appreciate as care for animals. It also helps children to develop an emotional bond with their own pets as well as any future pets they choose to have. It is also important for children to understand that just like they need care and love from their parents, animals need it too from their owners. It is through pets that children gain insight into wild and domestic animals. By observing their behavior, children learn about animal instincts and intelligence. There is so much to discover about animals, that children exposed to nature develop a sense of wonderment and appreciation for life. And most important of all, having a pet gives children the opportunity to become a caregiver. Recognizing their pet’s needs and comforting them helps children learn how to feel the way others feel, becoming more empathetic to them. The best thing about animals is that they are non-judgmental. Children know that no matter how bad of a day they are having, a pet is always there to listen and be a source of affection to them. Many children find comfort in shedding a tear or sharing their secrets with their family companion. Plus children who grow up with pets are generally less fearful of animals. The sole purpose of the book is to teach children about caring, loving and respecting animals. To protect them at all cost and not abuse them in anyway possible as animals can feel pain just like us.

Was there anything from your own life that you placed into this story?

Yes, I sure did. In growing up I had my own pets, and I cared and loved each one of them. One of those pets was my dog Samson who unfortunately I no longer have. Even as an adult, I continue to have and own pets. I actually have one cat that I adopted few years ago, and I have five other stray cats that I look out for by feeding them everyday, and keep an eye on their health. My cats vet actually has profiled me as an animal rescuer. That actually makes me feel super good.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

Well the present book that I am working on has nothing to do with animals, but I am making sure that this time around the book will be much better in it’s editing as writing. I do apologize that Delilah & Samson Adventures World was not edited correctly by publisher. Book was rushed by publisher therefore failing in it’s corrective editorial settings. And even as so, I do appreciate the fair reviews it has received on its own.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

This fictional story following the adventures of Delilah and her dog companion Samson, their adventures start out when Delilah is a child till the time she is in her teenage years. With heroic elements, Delilah is a voice and force to be reckoned with when it comes to saving the lives of innocent animals. Before each story, there is a short introduction about different animals,, teaching children basic facts and providing entertainment as well.

Freya, Fynn, and the Fantastic Flute

Freya, Fynn, and the Fantastic Flute : A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story for Young Movers (Dance-It-Out! Creative Movement Stories for Young Movers) by [Once Upon a Dance, Marjorie Thompson, Emilia Rumińska]

Freya, Fynn, And The Fantastic Flute by Once Upon a Dance is a cute children’s story with a unique interactive twist. In the story, we follow Freya and Flynn as they visit their eccentric Aunt Gail. Their aunt’s home is rumored to be haunted because you can often hear music and movement coming from the attic throughout the night. But is it true? Find out and get moving in Freya, Flynn, And The Fantastic Flute!

If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be ADORABLE! The mixture of dance/movement along with beautiful storytelling through writing and illustration adds something new to the children’s literature market. The author introduces a clever way to get kids moving and exercising and is a great way to have parents interact with their children. I enjoyed the story so much that I was sad when it ended and felt as though it ended abruptly. I wanted to know more about the creatures in the attic. The structure of the book leads me to believe there will be a sequel to this story, which I hope there is because this was a blast.

Freya, Fynn, And The Fantastic Flute is a fun children’s adventure book that will get kids moving through an ingenious combination of dance and storytelling. Parents and educators with young children needing to burn excess energy will find this book very handy.

Pages: 40 | ASIN: B09K5XC9DD

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Literary Titan Book Awards December 2021

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

Literary Titan Silver Book Award

Silver Award Winners

The World Between Us by Diane Farrugia

 

Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.

 

The Tale of The Pumpkin Seed Squad

The Tale of The Pumpkin Seed Squad tells a buoyant and spirited children’s story about a fun-loving field mouse that wants to play football. But when he tries to play with the human ball, it’s too big and he gets squished. Luckily his friend Gus has come up with a creative solution for the field mice to play football. The game that ensues if a thrilling match of football that is animated and funny.

I really enjoyed how this story used a simple premise like football and twisted it to include a merry group of mice creatively playing a wholesome game. This children’s book gets a lot more in depth with the game then I thought it was going to, which I really appreciated and I think kids who like the sport will also really enjoy.

This is a fantastic book for elementary school readers as it tells a story with many scenes that will help test their reading comprehension. It includes interesting and easy flowing rhymes that conveys the joyful tone of the story. This is a wonderfully educational book in a variety of ways as it teaches sportsmanship, friendship, thinking creatively, along with helping with reading comprehension.

The Tale of The Pumpkin Seed Squad is an imaginative picture book that will be a great fit in any elementary teacher’s classroom. This is also a great book to get children during autumn or football season. With a delightful cast of characters and a charming art style, this is a children’s book that is fun from beginning to end.

Pages: 40 | ISBN: 1643610627

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Delilah & Samson Adventures World

Delilah & Samson Adventures World by [Miz  Marta]

It’s not unusual for a child to be close with a pet, but the bond between Delilah and Samson goes beyond a normal connection. Delilah’s big heart and fearless nature would make it easy for her to confront those that would dare to hurt and exploit animals anyway, but the support of Samson, a huge German shepherd, makes it possible. With the help of various other animal friends in the neighborhood, Delilah and Samson go on adventures, saving animals in need and stopping the people responsible. As the years pass, they continue their good deeds, never revealing themselves as the heroes they are.

Delilah & Samson Adventures World by Miz Marta introduces us not only to the title characters, but an entire host of animals who play a part in their adventures. The book is a delightful combination of children’s fantasy and educational blurbs about the natural world. Each chapter begins with an informational piece about the animal being featured in that particular story, with details about their habitats, diet, and physical appearances, just to name a few. Delilah’s romps with Samson read just like something a big hearted and adventurous child would imagine doing with a beloved pet, and all the chapters focus on a central theme of kindness and compassion toward the animal kingdom. Even in the chapters where another creature stands as the villain, Delilah is hurt by any harm that has to befall it.

The biggest hurdle the book faces is the language and style of writing. I’m unsure if the problems are an editing issue, or more of something lost in translation, but the sentences don’t flow especially well and it definitely distracts from the message. With a little more focus on cleaning that up, this book could stand as a beautiful and educational children’s classic.

This book has the potential to stand as a beautiful and educational children’s classic with some editing that can help with flow, sentence structure, and writing style to help ensure readers stay focused on the fantastic message within the book.

I loved the story, I loved the message, and I loved the fantasy Delilah creates with all her favorite animals. It was utterly charming.

Pages: 187 | ASIN: B08X778257

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From Hair to There

From Hair to There by [Cindy Lurie]

From Hair to There tells the imaginative tale of a girl’s incredibly long hair and how it is used by a diverse cast of characters to travel across the world. But when a gum chewing camel spits a wad of gum in her hair the magical adventure comes to a stop. Will Cynthia get her incredibly long hair back?

This is a fun and creative children’s book that takes readers on a fairytale adventure around the world where young readers will learn about a variety of locations. This provides a great opportunity for parents and teachers to talk about different geographical locations as well as cultures.

The art in the book is excellent. Every other page has a colorful and sharp graphic art piece that is fit to be framed all on its own. Cynthia and her hair get into a lot of whacky situations that will surely keep children giggling.

Author Cindy Lurie has created a charming picture book with simple rhymes that educates as well as it entertains. I loved Cynthia’s character she, and this book, has so much character that the story can easily be read again and again.

For parents and teachers looking for a lively and educational children’s book that will inspire their kid’s imagination look no further than From Hair to There by Cindy Lurie.

Pages: 56 | ASIN: B096Q3LLCJ

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We Must Activate Our Imaginations

Todd Mitchell
Todd Mitchell Author Interview

The Namer of Spirits follows a young girl with the ability to shape what things become as she embarks on a perilous adventure to save her village. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

Although the book is a steampunk eco-fantasy that takes place in a fictional world, it was actually inspired by real-world reports on Amazon rainforest destruction done by Lulu Garcia Novarro for NPR. In addition, research into the ways large forests like the Amazon actually create their own weather, pulling in a “river in the sky,” also informed the book. To solve some of the significant environmental and social problems we face, I believe we must activate our imaginations, which is why I wanted to explore real-world issues through a fantastical adventure in this book.

Ash Narro is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

Part of what makes Ash unique is how she understands the power of naming. She’s someone who’s able to listen deeply to things that most people overlook or ignore. In doing so, she’s able to hear the true names of things. This shapes not only how she deals with other people, but how she deals with the natural world. And yet, even while she’s more aware than most of the other villagers in the story, she’s also still a child with a relatively innocent view of the world. At times, her innocence allows her to do things that other, more cynical characters, wouldn’t dare try. At other times, her innocence causes her to make some big mistakes.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

One of the main themes the book explores is the power of language to shape how we see the world, and how we think and act. On the one hand, it’s about the importance of developing one’s voice to speak truth to power, as this is what Ash ultimately learns to do. But the book also explores how language can be used to get good people to do bad things, as the Shadow Namer uses his voice to persuade villagers to act in destructive ways—reflecting how propaganda often works in our own world.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

My next book is for writers, artists, and creators who know what’s it’s like to struggle with the challenges of creative living. It’s called Breakthrough: How to Overcome Doubt, Fear, and Resistance to Be Your Ultimate Creative Self, and it just came out with Owl Hollow Press this month! If you’re a writer or creator who’s interested in enhancing your relationship with creativity while enjoying the creative process (and life) more, I hope you’ll check it out. https://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Overcome-Resistance-Ultimate-Creative/dp/1945654880/

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

In the frontier village of Last Hope, people dismiss twelve-year-old Ash Narro as a flighty child who claims to hear the true names of things. But when enraged forest spirits attack, Ash shows that the names she hears have power.

After taming a destructive forest spirit, Ash teams up with Fen, a wild forest boy, and embarks on an unusual journey to save her village. In this steampunk eco-fantasy, the perils of deforestation and the power of friendship are explored through a fantastical adventure involving giant mistcats, tempestuous forest spirits, a supernatural puppy, and a girl with a special gift for shaping what things become.

A Document Of Our World

Marin Darmonkow
Marin Darmonkow Author Interview

The Epic of Gabriel and Jibreel tells the story of two boys who form a powerful friendship amidst devastating loss. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

My goal was to create a document of our world – a piece of realistic and painful evidence. According to SAVE THE CHILDREN REPORT for 2019, 160 million children lived in high-intensity conflict zones. We, the adults, created these conflict zones and we know well that such environments alter the direction of children’s lives and cause many casualties. My main protagonists’ fate is just proof — sad proof, unfortunately — that the world doesn’t care.

The art in the book is vivid and impactful. What was the artistic process like to bring this story to life?

As you already know, I create the illustrations for my publications — my stories give me suggestions for the style of visuals they need. In the case of THE EPIC OF GABRIEL AND JIBREEL, the request was for as-close-as-possible-to real-life illustrations in order to connect the reader with reality. This way the “holy trinity” — narrative, illustrations, and layout, perfectly match and create a cohesive piece of art. 

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Many themes form the building blocks of the book’s DNA, but two words from the Publishers Weekly review define the main theme well — “cosmic unfairness”.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am currently working on ART — a wordless book about an autistic and artistic circus virtuoso named Art. It is also a book about art…that defies gravity. The title, as you see, is so demanding that the illustrations must be one-of-a-kind. The publication will be available at the beginning of 2022.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

The Epic of Gabriel and Jibreel is a cautionary tale of the ultimate friendship. It is a heartbreaking story of two boys, a refugee, and a child from a wealthy suburb. Gabriel lives with his father in a large house surrounded by other large houses. One day while exploring the beach, Gabriel meets Jibreel. Jibreel lives with his father in the upside-down boat that brought them across the sea. With similar stories of devastating loss, yet joyful dreams, and a love for flying, the boys form an incredible and indestructible friendship. This is an excruciating story – a children’s picture book with a powerful message that is worth hearing.