Blog Archives
Learn to Consider Others
In Candace’s Big Audition, a young cow seeks the advice of her barnyard friends when she decides to audition for a singing competition that pits her against her best friend. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for this story was based on a personal experience I had in 8th grade. Five of us girls wanted to participate in the 4 x 4 relay at an upcoming track meet. One of our group was my best friend. Our coach didn’t know what to do, so he told us to walk to the railroad tracks, which were about a mile down the road, and run back to school. The first four to get back to school would run the relay.
As we were running back, I started to think. You see, I was the top shot put thrower in our area and won first place every meet we participated in. I realized that I had an area of excellence in track, but my best friend did not. As I ran, I decided that I wanted my friend to have this honor, especially since I already had an event that I excelled in. I never told anyone because we were raised to be humble, selfless, and giving. This was an opportunity to put those values into practice, so I did. It was not without consequences, though. I chose to live with the stigma of being the slowest so that my friend could be a part of a winning team.
Halfway through the track meet, one of the other girls sprained her ankle in another event. The result was that I was able to run the 4 x 4 relay anyway. My best friend was runner # 1, and I was runner # 2. After I received the baton, I passed a runner, which put our team in first place. We stayed there for the rest of the race. Not only did I get to run the race, but I was able to participate with my best friend.
I combined my experience with the fact that I grew up on a dairy farm, and studied vocal music in college.
Do you have a favorite character in this second book in the Adventures on Apple Orchard Farm series?
It should be obvious now that the character of Candace is me. Even though I identify mostly with her, I really appreciate the character of Professor Owl. I love how he supports Candace without telling her what to do. He allows her to struggle but gives insight to her character and the decision-making process. It’s because of this that Candace not only makes her decision on her own, but she also 100% accepts the consequences of her decision.
What is one thing you hope young readers take away from Candace’s experience?
I hope young readers learn to consider others before making a decision. I’m not saying the decision Candace made was the only one she could have made, but it was the right one for her at that time. It’s human nature to be selfish and to act before thinking. My hope is that readers will take a moment to ‘read the room’ and consider the feelings of others and how their decisions will affect others.
What does the next book in this series have in store for readers?
The next book in this series is called Pretty Penelope. Penelope is a porcupine who looks at her reflection in the pond water and doesn’t like what she sees. She wishes she had fur or feathers like all of the other animals on Apple Orchard Farm instead of sharp quills sticking out of her face.
After making new friends and aiding in saving one of the chickens from a coyote attack, Penelope learns the value of her assets and that she is not only valued for what she looks like but for who she is.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Candace is a brave main character who struggles with this difficult decision, pushing her to her limits. With the help of Professor Owl, the farm’s Great Horned owl teacher, Candace discovers the resilience within her to make the right decision for her. But will she choose to do her best, or throw the audition so her friend can be chosen? Read Candace’s Big Audition to find out!
If you enjoyed book one, Finding George, of the Adventures on Apple Orchard Farm series, you will love this new adventure in book two. With its themes of friendship and resilience, readers of all ages will be delighted as the story unfolds. Buy your copy before the price changes!
It’s Okay to Be Different
Timmy the Martian is the story of a Martian who ventures to Earth and meets a young boy with whom he forms a unique bond when they realize they share the same facial anomaly. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story for Timmy including the character and the opening verses actually appeared in a dream and I wrote it down the next morning. Even the illustrations mirror exactly how it appeared in my dream.
Is there anything from your own life you put into the characters in your book?
Being mixed race you experience a lot of issues surrounding visual differences during childhood. My son is also diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, and we spent a lot of his younger years helping him understand that it’s okay to be different and you can still have friends and fun. So those experiences were useful in the storytelling of Timmy the Martian.
What led you to incorporate science fiction into a book with this particular theme?
I’ve always been fascinated by science fiction and thought the differences in species would make for a great children’s story about differences, bullying, and friendship. I also recognised how important it is for a children’s book to have great illustrations to accompany the story, and I’ve always loved illustrations of space and planets.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
When my 7-year-old stepdaughter read Timmy the Martian, she was curious to understand more about what Timmy’s home on Mars would look like and what pets Timmy would have. So I am working on a follow-up to Timmy the Martian with a second book called Timmy’s Home on Mars. It will follow a similar theme of Timmy’s home not being as big and impressive as some of the other Martian homes, but it is filled with happiness and love – which is all that matters. This will be available in time for her next birthday in September.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Amazon
The two new friends set off into space for amazing adventures, before returning home.
The True Meaning of Christmas
Hunnie Bunny’s Christmas Wish follows a young bunny enjoying the first snow of the season who encounters a pair of cardinals, and together, they plan a tree decorating for all the animals of the forest. What was the inspiration for your story?
After writing the third book in the series, Hunnie Bunny’s Special Gift, which takes place in the fall with the characters preparing for winter, Hunnie Bunny wanted to tell a story about how the woodland animals would celebrate Christmas. It was important to show the true meaning of Christmas through her eyes and actions by decorating the tree with items from the woods and spending quality time with friends. Also, I wanted to include the possibility that wishes can come true during the holiday season.
If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick?
I would choose Mrs. Owl for a spin-off book because she is wise and would offer counsel and support to the woodland animals who come to her for help. Also, children love owls and find them fascinating. (She will appear again in the book Hunnie Bunny’s Great Escape.)
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
When I was in college, I did a mini-term project with the head of the Creative Writing department. He gave me some advice that I have never forgotten: “After you write your first draft, put it aside for a few days and come back to it with a fresh set of eyes and perspective. Also, be prepared to edit and re-edit your work many times until you are confident that it has been completed to the best of your ability.”
What types of questions do you ask yourself when planning a new book?
In the Hunnie Bunny series, Hunnie Bunny has guided me on the journey for each book. I ask myself what Hunnie Bunny would do in a particular situation, what types of characters children like, and then Hunnie Bunny takes the story from there. For example, there are two books with new characters, a woodland fairy and a unicorn, which can ignite a child’s curiosity and imagination. Also, I want the books to be educational as well as entertaining, so I make sure that a lot of the content is factual whenever possible, and most of the books offer a moral lesson that parents can discuss with their children. This is important to me since Hunnie Bunny seems to have become a positive role model.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Mirror Tree
In Mirror Tree, the second book of AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia’s Drifters Realm series, readers are plunged back into a world of magical intrigue and high-stakes adventure. This fantasy tale centers around four siblings – Life Giver Roe, Sorcerer Ori, Tamer Theo, and Storm Catcher Tora – each gifted with a magical backpack and bound together by a destiny far greater than they could have imagined. The story unfolds as the siblings race against time to decipher an ancient prophecy predicting a devastating uprising and war. Their journey is fraught with challenges, from unlocking a mysterious box to facing the enigmatic Ghost of Ruin. As they delve deeper, they uncover family secrets that are intrinsically linked to their quest for the Shadow Stone and Mirror Tree, elements crucial to the salvation of their mystical world, Drifter’s Realm.
Gouveia’s skill in weaving this tale is evident on every page, making the reader’s journey alongside the characters deeply engaging and remarkably vivid. The characters themselves are a highlight of the novel. Each sibling is intricately crafted, with distinct personalities and voices that leap off the page. This deft characterization ensures that readers are not just observers but participants in the story, feeling every triumph and setback as if they were their own. Gouveia skillfully portrays the siblings’ journey through varied landscapes – from dense forests to arid deserts, mysterious caves to treacherous swamps – all while they grapple with the blurred lines of morality in the face of imminent peril.
The artwork accompanying each chapter in Mirror Tree is a delightful bonus, enriching the reader’s experience. These illustrations provide a visual depth to the narrative, making the magical world Gouveia has created even more immersive. While the series is ostensibly aimed at a younger audience, the sophistication and allure of the writing are bound to captivate adults just as easily.
Mirror Tree is a must-read for anyone seeking a fantasy series that is both absorbing and emotionally resonant. The anticipation built in the first book finds a satisfying continuation in Mirror Tree, which not only meets but exceeds expectations. Gouveia has crafted a world that is as enchanting as it is relatable, making this book a standout in its genre and a joy for readers of all ages.
Pages: 177 | ASIN : B0CQ8VV4CG
Empathy, Kindness, and Acceptance
Wishes Are Free: Rose O’Reilly and Grandpa follows a ten-year-old girl whose best friend moves 2000 miles away, and she worries she will never have another friend like her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for Wishes Are Free came through the back door. It began as short stories I wrote for fun and read to my neighbor who is developmentally disabled. She loved them and I thought, I might have something here. I strung those stories together and added more, and the result is Wishes Are Free.
I knew I wanted to write a story about friendship. Losing your lifelong best friend would set the quest for a new best friend in motion. I thought it would be cool for Rose to discover, on the way to finding a new best friend, that marginalized kids make excellent friends too.
Rose learns that there are different kinds of friends in each person’s life, grandparents, classmates, and even animals. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Empathy, Kindness, and Acceptance. Wishes Are Free is part biographical. As children often are, I was misunderstood at times, as Rose is when she wants to help a classmate who suffers abuse at home. I drew on those memories, those feelings of frustration when my motives were misunderstood.
I hope that young readers will recognize themselves in Rose’s acts of kindness, in her acceptance of kids who are different, and feel validated.
Rose is autonomous, too. Grandpa shares his wisdom but always leaves it up to her what to do with his advice. I want kids to identify with Rose’s struggles and present a model who seeks help but believes in herself, as well.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Rose’s friendship with Grandpa demonstrates how talking out your problems is a positive, results-oriented path to finding solutions. Asking for help is good practice for adulthood, and I hope readers will discover how you can grow close to family members when you ask for help. And encourage them to ask for help.
Wishes Are Free spotlights kindness without preaching. Rose’s big heart leads the way, and ultimately kindness pays off. Maybe not in the way you expected but it always pays off.
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?
The next book, Be Careful What You Wish, follows Rose into summer vacation and her quest for the third wish (a dog of her own), the only wish that didn’t come true in Wishes Are Free. It introduces Rose’s nemesis, Bea Buffett, the neighborhood fussbudget. The target date is Christmas 2024.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
“Friends are everywhere if you have a big heart and know where to look.”
It’s 1959 in California, and ten-year-old Rose O’Reilly has sworn an oath to stay friends always with her best friend from birth. Then, boom, Linney moves 2,000 miles away.
She worries that she will never find another friend like Linney and turns to Grandpa, who just lost his wife and best friend, Mawnie. They hold weekly chat cafes in the kitchen, and Rose discovers your grandpa can be your friend. Or a boy with cerebral palsy, and a lost dog, or a classmate who comes to school with unexplained bruises. Still, there’s that achy hole in her heart Linney left behind.
She wishes on Venus, the Evening Star, for a new best friend to take Linney’s place, for Grandpa to come to live with them, and for a dog. She may as well wish for a dog, too. Wishes Are Free.
My Most Cherished Memories
The Christmas Lesson: Unwrapping Love and Family follows a young boy searching for his holiday gifts who is discovered by his grandmother and learns the true meaning of the holiday from her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My grandmother, Granny held a special place in my heart. She wasn’t just a grandmother; she was my best friend. Our shared love for Christmas created some of my most cherished memories. The essence of Christmas, to me, was always about spending quality time with her, whether it was decorating the house or simply having conversations about life in general.
I felt a deep desire to honor our bond, but finding the right way proved challenging over the years. It wasn’t until I noticed the increased commercialization of Christmas, with stores jumping into the festive spirit as early as October, that inspiration struck. Witnessing this trend, which seemed to overshadow Thanksgiving and dilute the true spirit of Christmas, motivated me to do my part in taking action. That’s when I decided to channel my feelings into writing a book, The Christmas Lesson: Unwrapping Love and Family. Through it, I aim to pay tribute to Granny and, more importantly, remind readers of the meaning of Christmas.
When you think about the holidays, what is your favorite childhood memory that always brings a smile to your face?
The Tanglewood Festival of Lights holds a reputation as one of the premier holiday light shows in North Carolina. Granny and I had always planned to attend, but her fear of riding on the highway, given its 45-minute distance from our home, kept us from making the trip. Instead, we created our own tradition, exploring various parts of the city and delighting in the local Christmas light displays. Those moments, filled with oohs and ahhs, forged a deep connection between us.
Despite numerous invitations from friends to visit Tanglewood over the years, I consistently declined or came up with an excuse, holding out for the day I could share it with Granny. Sadly, that day never came as she passed away on November 4, 2010. It wasn’t until December 2016, when my daughter Haelee was nine, that I finally experienced Tanglewood for the first time. The beauty of the lights left both of us utterly amazed. Keyshia Cole’s song “Sent From Heaven” began to play on the radio just as we pulled up. Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt Granny’s presence with us as Haelee stared out the window in amazement. It became clear to me that my first visit to Tanglewood wasn’t meant to be with Granny and I, it was meant to be a shared experience with Granny, Haelee, and myself.
What message do you hope children and families take away from your story?
The underlying message is that the true gift of the season lies in moments shared with family while honoring Gods sacrifices in Christian households like mine. A similar sentiment holds true for non-Christian households, in that The Christmas Lesson emphasizes that the most valuable gifts life offers are the love that exudes from family and friends.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
The title is still in the works but Lamar will return in an upcoming book that focuses on mental health in children. The release date and title are uncertain because my current focus is on supporting Haelee. We’re collaborating on her debut poetry book. My goal in that sense is to ensure that her poetry book takes center stage as we enter 2024, particularly since it marks our first attempt at such a project.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Hunnie Bunny’s Positive Influence
Hunnie Bunny’s Garden Mystery follows a dedicated gardening bunny who becomes confused when her vegetables start to disappear, and she has to discover what is happening. What was the inspiration for this story?
The inspiration for Hunnie Bunny’s Garden Mystery is based on a real event that happened to my son and his girlfriend when they were living in San Francisco many years ago. They had put in a lot of time and effort planting a wonderful garden in their back yard, and one day watched several of their vegetable plants disappear into the ground. It turned out that their neighborhood had a gopher infestation which destroyed most of the gardens in the area. Obviously, Hunnie Bunny handles the situation in the book differently and with compassion.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
That is an interesting question. I would have to say that Hunnie Bunny’s positive influence on their children and the bond they have developed with her not only surprises me, but is very humbling as well. That realization has made this journey even more special.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
From a young age, I liked to write stories about animals, and the first author to inspire me to become a writer was Anna Sewell and her incredible book Black Beauty. I still have a copy of that book in my library.
What adventures do you have in store for Hunnie Bunny next, and when can your fans expect the next story to be out?
After the first book, Hunnie Bunny’s Garden, was finished, Hunnie Bunny decided that she had many more stories to tell. The third book that was recently published was Hunnie Bunny’s Christmas Wish, which was released in early December. It was actually the fourth book written in the series, but we wanted to get it out before the holidays, so it was finished before the book that is now being illustrated, titled Hunnie Bunny’s Special Gift. This book should be published and available sometime in January 2024.
There are a total of ten books in the Hunnie Bunny series. The stories that follow Hunnie Bunny’s Special Gift are Hunnie Bunny and the Lost Fairy, Hunnie Bunny’s New Neighbors, Hunnie Bunny and the Magic Flute, Hunnie Bunny and the Unicorn, Hunnie Bunny’s Great Escape, and Hunnie Bunny – A New Beginning.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Discover how Hunnie Bunny and her friends solve the mystery of the disappearing vegetables from her garden.
Tales From Brook Meadow – The Tale of the Autumn Fall
Tales From Brook Meadow – The Tale of the Autumn Fall, by Kevin Richardson, transports young readers to a whimsical world where Oak and Birch, two adventurous hedgehog brothers, venture beyond the safety of their home to explore the enchanting riverside. Their escapades in the water and playful frolics among the autumn leaves capture the essence of carefree childhood adventures. However, their journey takes a turn when a wise fox imparts a crucial lesson about stranger danger, and a thoughtful owl reminds them of the importance of informing their parents about their whereabouts. These interactions lead the brothers to a moment of realization about their oversight, prompting a heartfelt decision to return home.
The book’s illustrations are a standout feature, with each page bursting with the warm hues of fall, beautifully portraying a variety of woodland creatures. These visuals not only complement the story but also immerse young readers in the vibrant beauty of nature. The narrative imparts two significant life lessons: the importance of parental permission and the need to be cautious around strangers, offering a gentle yet effective way for children to learn about safety and responsibility. The dialogue and narrative are clear and accessible and enrich the story with an imaginative spark and engaging wordplay to captivate a young audience fully. The visually-driven and concise storytelling approach enhances the book’s appeal to deeply engage its intended audience.
Tales From Brook Meadow – The Tale of the Autumn Fall contains a meaningful message with delightful illustrations making it a valuable addition to any child’s library. It’s a charming picture book that will enchant and educate young minds.
ISBN : 978-1-922358-65-3
LITERARY TITAN 