Blog Archives
Every Child Has A Gift
Willie’s Gift follows a little dog who is struggling and feels out of place with his large ears, who learns that what makes him different is actually what helps make him special. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As a teacher, I believe that every child has a gift that often needs to be cultivated in order to shine through. As an adoptive parent, I have also experienced, firsthand, the issues associated with “feeling different”, along with the importance of feeling accepted. Once accepted, confidence grows. Willie is a little dog who learns how being himself is actually a gift. It is a gift he can share with the people he visits, who are in need of love and acceptance themselves.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I strive to focus on diversity and inclusion in my children’s books. Also, I want to teach respect for others. In Willie’s Gift, Willie’s mom encourages him to learn to respect the folks that he visits, even though they may be different from him.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Maggie Sullivan?
The collaboration with my illustrator, Maggie Sullivan, was quite smooth. I picked her because I could relate to her style and felt that she would depict Willie exactly as he is in real life. Her attention to detail and sense of color blended with my own. She was quick to make adjustments, if needed.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am in the beginning stage of developing my next book for my brand, “CMBookWorks”. It will include a dog and will send an important lesson for children to learn. I have two previous books: “Justin’s Pet” and “Teddy’s Search” that are thoughtful stories that teach a child (and adults) a life lesson. Those books are presently available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble or through my website www.cmbookworks.com.
Author Links: Facebook |Website
Lamba’s Journey with Jesus
Lamba’s Journey With Jesus follows a little lamb with wanderlust who witnesses the birth of Christ, his ministry, and death and resurrection. What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My publisher is working on creating three separate books. Lamba’s Journey with Jesus is a three-part book, but now readers can purchase each separately. These will not be hardcover like the first, but softcover, paperback. They should be out in a few months. Available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook
Later, in Jerusalem, Lamba encounters Jesus, who tells him he has to go away but will return one day. One more time Lamba looks for Jesus only to find crosses on a hill and angels saying “He is risen” at an empty tomb. When his shepherd finds Lamba, they share the good news with all.
The birth of Christ, his ministry, and death and resurrection are told for children ages four through eight through the eyes of the little wandering lamb, Lamba. This three-part continuing story with delightful rhyming language shares the gospel and God’s love, and reinforces obedience in young hearts.
Rooted: A Wildlife Tree’s Journey
Rooted: A Wildlife Tree’s Journey tells the story of Dendro, an aging tree who can no longer transport nutrients from his roots due to damage from oak beetles. As the seasons pass, he loses his leaves, his bark, and even the strength of his roots. But he gains something greater: wisdom, perspective, and a deep sense of purpose. Though no longer flourishing in the traditional sense, Dendro finds new ways to serve and support the forest around him, from feeding insects and birds to offering shelter and comfort to animals. His quiet, unwavering friendship with a younger tree named Vince grounds the story in warmth and gentle reflection.
The writing is tender, honest, and beautifully simple, and it carries a quiet depth that snuck up on me. I found myself caring deeply about Dendro and Vince, not just as characters, but as metaphors for aging, loss, and self-worth. There’s something powerful about how Dendro never complains. He just keeps giving, even as pieces of him fall away. That kind of silent strength, the way he stays rooted in love and purpose, is something I’m still thinking about. The humor, too, dry and a little bittersweet, adds a charming layer to the story that makes it feel real and human, even though it’s all told through trees.
The ideas in this children’s book are sneaky in the best way. It’s not preachy or pushy, but it makes you sit up and think about aging, sacrifice, usefulness, and legacy. It made me wonder how we define value and why it’s so easy to overlook quiet contributions. The dynamic between Dendro and Vince mirrors the way the older generation passes down strength to the younger, without resentment, with grace. That last page especially gave me a lump in my throat. It’s rare for a children’s book to move me like that.
I’d recommend Rooted: A Wildlife Tree’s Journey to kids who are just learning about the natural world, adults who are caring for their aging parents, and honestly, anyone who needs a reminder that giving matters, even when it looks different than it used to. It’s a beautiful and thoughtful read that plants a seed and stays with you long after the last page.
Pages: 30 | ASIN : B0DSLJQW6Y
Playful and Imaginative
Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse follows a spirited young girl who, with the help of her community, turns a crumbling dream into a glowing masterpiece built from courage, creativity, and a whole lot of pumpkin. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
One cozy fall evening, when I was tucking my granddaughter into bed, she asked me to tell her a bedtime story. Since we both share a love of pumpkins, I decided to tell her a story about a little girl and a giant pumpkin. Seeing her eyes light up as she listened, I knew this story was meant for more than just one bedtime, so I decided to turn it into a book, hoping it would be shared with other children and passed down for generations to come. That moment planted the seed for what would eventually grow into this book.
How did you approach balancing whimsical storytelling with deeper emotional moments like Ivy Blue’s initial failure?
Balancing whimsy with deeper emotions was really important to me. I wanted the story to feel playful and imaginative but also grounded in feelings that children can relate to—like disappointment and frustration when things don’t go as planned. Ivy Blue’s initial setback with the pumpkin patch gave me an opportunity to explore those emotions, while keeping the tone hopeful and light. By weaving in moments of wonder, friendship, humor and small victories, I aimed to show that even when things go wrong, something beautiful can still grow from it.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the key themes I wanted to explore in this book were resilience, environmental stewardship, and the power of kindness. I wanted young readers to understand that life doesn’t always go as planned, but it’s how we respond to those disappointments that truly shapes our journey. Holding onto your dreams, caring for the natural world, and doing the right thing—even when it’s hard—can lead to unexpected joy and rewards. Sometimes, our dreams come true in ways we never imagined, especially when we’re guided by compassion and purpose.
In addition, I wanted the book to have an extra layer of fun and engagement, so there are 29 butterflies hidden throughout the book—one in each illustration. This interactive element invites children to slow down, observe closely, and enjoy little details, reinforcing the idea that beauty and wonder are often discovered when we take the time to really look.
What message do you hope readers take away from Ivy Blues’s journey?
I hope readers come away with a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the incredible journey something as small as a seed can take. There’s so much wonder in watching a pumpkin grow—from planting the seed, nurturing it with care, and finally seeing it flourish. I also hope the story inspires kids to dream big and stay hopeful, even when things don’t go as expected. With patience, care, and a little imagination, dreams can be realized in the most unexpected ways.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
As Halloween nears, Autumn grows too large to become a jack-o’-lantern, leaving Ivy Blue with a dilemma—what do you do with a giant pumpkin?
With beautifully crafted illustrations and an interactive element that engages readers to find a butterfly in each picture, this heartwarming tale of friendship, giving back to the environment, and realizing one’s dreams in unexpected ways will delight readers in every season.
Take Me Back to Oklahoma
Cody Burke’s children’s book, Take Me Back to Oklahoma, is about a boy named Thomas who is completely over his home state. He’s itching to hit the road and see the “real” excitement out in the big cities, beaches, and mountains. Along the way, though, he realizes all these picture-perfect places come with their own set of problems—rude people, loud noises, sunburns, bear worries, and sand in awkward places. Eventually, he starts to miss the simple, comforting things about Oklahoma: the animals, the music, the wind, the people. By the end, he wants nothing more than to go back home to where his heart actually belongs.
I really liked how this children’s book flipped the script. At first, it’s all about how boring Oklahoma is, and I was kind of nodding along with the kid—like, yeah, I get it. But then, as he hits all these hyped-up destinations and slowly starts missing the quiet beauty of home, and it hit me right in the feels. The writing is simple but smart. It feels like it was written by someone who really gets kids and also remembers what it’s like to be one. There’s humor (that bit about Oklahoma history being just “blah blah blah” made me laugh), and there’s heart, too.
The illustrations by Camilla Crittenden are super charming. They are bold and colorful, but not overly polished. They’ve got that hand-drawn warmth that fits the tone of the story perfectly. But what really made this book stand out to me was how sneakily deep it is. It’s not just about a road trip. It’s about belonging, and how sometimes we need to step away to really appreciate what we’ve got. The way it ties up at the end, with the love for Oklahoma coming full circle, felt really genuine and sweet.
I’d totally recommend this book to kids who are 5 to 9 years old, especially if they’ve ever rolled their eyes at their hometown. It’s also great for parents who want to spark conversations about gratitude, home, and pride in where you’re from. Perfect for a bedtime read or even a classroom discussion. This one gave me the warm fuzzies.
Pages: 48 | ISBN : 1960810928
Educating Whole Families
Nurse Florence®, Why Do We Need Vitamin B3 or Niacin in our Food? follows curious kids who learn medical science from a friendly nurse who believes young readers deserve the truth about their health. Why did you choose B3 for this story?
The series is addressing many diet related questions. Kids are usually just told by authority figures to take their vitamins. We are writing vitamin related books to help parents educate their children about the need for each of the essential vitamins as well as provide a resource for doctor’s offices so that their patients can feel informed and empowered.
How do you decide which “big words” or technical terms to introduce to young readers?
The first draft has many terms and then after review, I remove some of the “big words” so that a child doesn’t feel overwhelmed with too many new science words. I leave the most important terms in the final version of the book.
What has been the most surprising or rewarding feedback you’ve received from kids or parents about the series?
The best feedback we have received so far is that adults of all ages are learning from these books even grandparents. This series is helping educate whole families about their health. Since the books have started to be translated into other languages and are available in many online retailer websites around the world, this project may help to really improve the health literacy levels of people in most if not all cultures.
What challenges did you face when writing about potential risks of niacin, like overconsumption, without scaring kids?
I want kids to know they can take too much of a good thing and that turns into a problem. Most everything should be done in moderation.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Interview
This Amazin, Shared Journey
Woody Woodchuck: Lost in the Woods follows a young woodchuck who is taking the laundry down when a strong wind knocks his glasses off and blows the laundry into the nearby woods, causing him to lose his glasses and to go searching without them, ultimately getting lost.What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I went on a 17-day African safari in 2024 to Kenya and Tanzania and was part of a six-person Land Cruiser with five fellow travelers. Over the long, 12+ hour travel days that followed, the six strangers would become six close friends. Each person had a unique personality, but we formed a lifelong friendship on this amazing, shared journey.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
To show kids that it’s easy, fun, and rewarding to make new friends. All of the characters in the story had a weak sense and a strong sense (lack of smell, hard of hearing, etc.) Working together and using everyone’s unique strengths, a group can overcome whatever challenges they may encounter on the journey to reach their goal. Meet someone new. Be a friend to them. Make a new friend.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
When Woody gets hopelessly lost in the deep woods, he is alone and afraid. The scene sets up the story for Woody to meet four woodland creatures that would ultimately become friends. Together on a journey to help Woody get home, the new friends use their unique strengths to overcome the obstacles they face and get Woody back home safely to his Mama.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Book two in the series, Woody Woodchuck: Adventure in the City, is being illustrated and will be out in July 2025. Woody’s love for “wild-berry and acorn” pie gets him in big trouble this time as he gets trapped in a bakery delivery truck and ends up in the city over 30 miles from home. He’ll need the help of new friends, and old, to make it back home to Mama this time!
Author Links: Website | Amazon
The Importance of Family
Muunokhoi’s Awakening follows a marmot who wakes from hibernation early and is unable to return to sleep, finding himself alone and needing to find a way to survive the winter. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wish I could identify an inspiration for the story, but the truth is I stumbled upon the idea. The initial plot I had in my mind when I began to write the novel, was a children’s story about a marmot who is transported in its dreams to different countries during hibernation. At each place, it gets to experience the people, culture, and an adventure or two. However, I quickly realised when I began writing, that the idea would not be credible. The interactions in various places will have to be with humans in towns or cities to experience the culture, and the idea of this animal living like a human would be a stretch. So, I shelved this idea, but I still wanted to write an anthropomorphic tale. I went back to it after about a week pondering what to do next when the idea popped into my head; what if instead of dreaming, it is the only one awake in the burrow? Several ideas and questions quickly flowed from this which ultimately led to the story. I settled on a Mongolian marmot because this species hibernates for 7-8 months which allowed one sufficient time to develop the story without rushing it; I also found the animals of Mongolia quite fascinating.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
Muunokhoi’s journey was going to be long enough for him to meet a variety of creatures he did not know. It was important therefore that the creatures he meets should include those with good character traits as well those with bad undesirable character traits to reflect what we as humans see around us. Thus, we meet creatures who are greedy, selfish, arrogant, cunning, and untrustworthy as well as creatures who are courageous, empathetic, goodhearted, caring, selfless, well-meaning, and trustworthy.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some themes I wanted to explore were the importance of family, loyalty, betrayal, friendship, bravery, perseverance, several aspects of loneliness, and hope.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The next book I am working on is completely different from this first one. It is primarily about the lives of students, at a university in Ghana (my country of birth) in the early 1970’s, a period of political instability and economic hardship in the country. The idea is to weave in the fiction with political events occurring in the country. My inspiration for this is Paul Scott’s quartet of books The Raj Quartet which I read decades ago. My ambitions are more modest as I plan to write only one book.
With respect to when it will be out, my hope is sometime in 2027. I do not write daily or have a schedule for writing. I also write the initial and second drafts by hand with a pencil, so it takes time, but I am more than halfway through the first draft, so fingers crossed.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Muunokhoi emerges from his burrow into a hostile winter environment, to explore the availability of food. He first encounters an eagle owl, who advises him that with no food available in the winter months, his only option for survival is to embark on a quest to lower elevations where he can find food to sustain him until the spring.
The journey will be fraught with danger from predators that stalk the mountainous Mongolian terrain, but the marmot will surely starve to death if he stays put. Summoning all his courage, Muunokhoi sets out on an adventure that could ultimately save his life . . . or end it.
LITERARY TITAN 