Blog Archives
A Breed of Their Own
Being Middle follows a young girl feeling overlooked and underappreciated as the middle sister in the family, who gradually learns that being in the middle is pretty special. What was the inspiration for your story?
My middle child Ellie was the inspiration for writing this book. I always joke that middle children are a breed of their own because they are so difficult to raise, but there are so many overlooked advantages and qualities that only middle children have. I wanted this book to be a nod to what Ellie puts us through and why she’s so uniquely special to our family.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I always write in rhyme because rhyming books are powerful tools for building foundational literacy skills in early readers. In addition to being engaging and fun, rhyming books help kids anticipate what’s next and aid in sound and pattern recognition.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I loved writing about the middle child getting the hand-me-down shoes because I could actually hear Ellie’s voice in the sentence. Vanessa Alexandre also captured her expression so well!
What is the next book that you are working on, and when is that book due out?
I’d love to build on the BEING ME series and I am tossing around ideas for book #3. HINT – I think for that book, I’m going to focus on how I feel different from others since the first two books were about my children feeling different.
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Being Middle is a heartwarming and playful picture book that celebrates the special role of middle children in family dynamics. With lyrical rhymes and relatable scenarios, it captures the ups and downs of being caught between a big sibling and a little one. From sharing cramped car rides to getting only hand-me-downs, the story explores challenges with humor and honesty—while ultimately revealing why being in the middle is something to treasure.
The second installment of the award-winning Being Me series, this book is perfect for middle children who sometimes feel left out and for families looking to celebrate their unique dynamics. Full of warmth, charm, and an empowering message, Being Middle is perfect for ages 4-8.
Order now to celebrate the middle child in your life—because the middle is a great place to be!
Never Dull!
Never Dull! is a wild and heartfelt tribute to family, grit, and laughter, told through stories that feel more like tall tales around a campfire than your standard biography. At its heart, it’s a daughter’s loving homage to her vibrant parents—Marian and Nolan Sharp—and the larger-than-life characters that made up their world of rodeos, ranching, and rowdy good times. Through transcribed audio, photos, and personal anecdotes, Heather Sharp gives us a front-row seat to a life lived loud, full of joy, and never short on mischief.
Honestly, I didn’t expect to get as hooked as I did. The storytelling is casual and reads like someone pouring you a drink and pulling you into a story with a wink. The chapter “Live in the Moment” had me belly-laughing. A steer wrestler cuts off Marian’s ponytail in a bar as a joke, and her reaction? She rolls with it, gets a new haircut in the bar bathroom, and demands he buy drinks for life. That mix of sass and grace pretty much sums her up. And then there’s the moment where Nolan proposes after saving a cow with milk fever and roping it with a short rope. These stories aren’t just funny. They’re gritty, raw, and full of heart.
But it’s not all laughs. What caught me off guard was how emotionally honest the book is. There’s a recurring theme about living with purpose and keeping your word, especially in the chapter “The Guy in the Glass.” Nolan’s character comes through as humble, kind, and deeply grounded—a man who wasn’t of the cowboy world, but in it. His grandkids’ memories of him are gold. The chapter Come Fly With Me really tugged at my heart. I loved how it celebrated Marian’s late-in-life dream of becoming a flight attendant. At an age when most folks are slowing down, she was chasing the clouds, proving it’s never too late to go after what sets your soul on fire. The way Heather tells it—with humor, pride, and a little awe—made me want to cheer. It’s not just about flying; it’s about freedom, grit, and showing up for your dreams no matter how long they take.
Never Dull! is a rollercoaster of laughs, lessons, and lump-in-the-throat moments. It’s perfect for anyone who loves true stories that don’t shy away from messiness. If you like books with guts, grit, and a ton of charm—and especially if you’ve got a soft spot for cowboys or family tales—this one’s for you.
Pages: 330 | ASIN : B0C92KWNQQ
The World is Their Oyster
Looking for Unicorns on Safari follows a mom and her two children who go on a safari adventure through Africa and her daughter spends the trip looking all over for a real-life unicorn. What was the inspiration for your story?
Very simple, the inspiration is quite simple, I went on safari with my kids in beautiful Kenya. My daughter loves unicorns and of course, we were discussing our favorite animals and looking for them – including unicorns. I love how kids live in their own version of reality and everything seems possible. The world is their oyster. I noticed in the museums and books stores that there was a limited selection of children’s books, so I wanted to write one and add some Swahili, to hopefully make the book more attractive to visiting foreigners like us, but also to locals.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
All families have their own little nicknames and stories, I want to encourage children and parents to embrace their stories and discover the world from their own perpsective, and enjoy the wonder they discover.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I like the scene with the line ‘I see the grand gazelle with their bow ties and dow eyes’. This is my daughter’s favorite animal from the safari – besides unicorns of course.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have a story I am working on focusing on the fun and silly interactions between young children. There is a lot of humor in these ones. I think it will be available later this year.
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Aching Hope
Losing Austin follows a teen boy with a reputation for being a hothead whose nonverbal older brother mysteriously vanishes during a rainstorm, and he spends years searching for an answer. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was a high school teacher for many years and so often I’d hear one kid say something nasty or hateful to someone I knew to be his/her friend. I also recall many times kids would shout or scream at their parents or siblings. If they were students I knew well, I’d suggest they make it right with their friend or parent because we never know if we’ll have the opportunity. The unexpected always intervenes in life. This thinking was the seed that begat Losing Austin, and it’s the essential premise of the book. I also worked with nonverbal students and always wondered what they were thinking and what they would say if they could, which provided me with inspiration for the character of Austin.
I found Colton to be an intriguing character. What was your inspiration for this character?
I worked with many kids over the years labeled special education and some required a lot of extra attention on the part of parents and teachers. I also came to know the siblings of these kids and sometimes there was resentment that their brother got all the attention. They knew he needed the attention—even from them—but resented not getting what they needed themselves. These experiences begat Colton, a boy who is forced to be independent from a young age and feels he’s been cheated out of nurturing that should have come to him because his brother is “different” and takes up the lion’s share of his parents’ time. From resentment comes anger, and anger becomes all Colton is in the eyes of teachers, his parents, and other kids. That’s his label and once kids have been labeled, it’s difficult to shed that label.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Losing Austin is about grief; about the way loss fractures a family, leaving jagged edges that don’t quite fit together anymore. It’s about guilt and redemption and desperate, aching hope, the hope Colton feels that Austin is alive and will be found. It’s also about regret, the regret Colton feels for his anger towards Austin and his frantic need for forgiveness. It’s about letting go, about accepting that some people aren’t ours, no matter how much we love them. It’s about redemption and the ability to overcome one’s past. And it’s about the need for parents to love their children equally—no matter that one child might need more of their time—because all children need to be nurtured.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I have completed my first foray into middle grade territory and that book should be out by April of 2026. I’m also writing the two sequels to my award-winning Forever Boy that will complete the trilogy, and I’ve mapped out a cozy mystery to tackle after those are finished, so I’ll be busy.
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Riddled with guilt, Colton spends every waking moment trying to find Austin. Searching online for similar missing kids, he meets Keilani, a girl from Hawaii whose younger brother vanished the same day as Austin. Internet explorations reveal other kids who also disappeared, always on rainy days. Since none of these kids have been heard from since, alien abduction seems the most likely answer.
Colton endures years of frustrating dead ends and high school graduation beckons. Then something so shocking occurs that the world descends on the Bowman home in the form of media, law enforcement, even Homeland Security, and Colton’s life will never be the same.
Protecting Mama: Surviving the Legal Guardianship Swamp
Protecting Mama is an intense, deeply personal, and often shocking memoir that dives into the murky, bureaucratic, and, at times, sinister world of legal guardianship in the United States. Author Léonie Rosenstiel shares the painful saga of her mother’s entanglement in a guardianship system that seems more interested in control and profit than care or dignity. Backed by over 40,000 pages of legal documentation and her own relentless determination, Rosenstiel walks us through years of institutional deception, family secrets, courtroom manipulation, and the emotional toll of fighting a system that feels rigged from the start.
What really gripped me was the raw, unfiltered way Rosenstiel lays out her story. This isn’t some detached legal analysis. It’s deeply human, almost unbearably so at times. The moment she describes how her mother’s guardian removed her beloved Egyptian bark paintings replacing them with photos of her abusers, that broke me. It wasn’t just a decorating choice; it was a cruel erasure of identity and comfort. Rosenstiel doesn’t just tell us what happened, she makes us feel the outrage, the helplessness, the absurdity of a system that hands so much unchecked power to total strangers. Her writing isn’t flashy or polished to a high literary shine. It’s straightforward, emotional, and piercingly honest. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Rosenstiel also has a sharp, sarcastic edge that I really appreciated. When she fact-checks a New Mexico bureaucrat who claimed almost no one complains about the guardianship system, Rosenstiel does a quick Google search and finds millions of hits for “guardianship abuse.” That’s the kind of mic-drop moment that makes this book more than a personal story; it becomes a wake-up call. She’s done her homework, and she’s not afraid to take aim at judges, attorneys, and “professional guardians” who profit off of the vulnerable. I admired her restraint, too she never veers into conspiracy theory territory. She sticks to what she can prove, and she can prove a lot.
At the same time, this book isn’t just about a broken system, it’s about a family and all the messy, unresolved history that comes with it. I was struck by the honesty with which Rosenstiel reflects on her mother’s past and her own role in trying to untangle decades of secrecy and trauma. You can feel how desperate she was to find any way to help. That level of emotional vulnerability, combined with the bureaucratic horror show she was navigating, made this a uniquely powerful read.
Protecting Mama is a gut punch of a book. It’s not light reading, but it’s important. If you have aging parents, or if you work in law, healthcare, or elder care, this book should be required. It’s a warning, a protest, and a love letter all rolled into one. Rosenstiel pulls back the curtain on a system that thrives in secrecy and shows us why silence is not an option. For those willing to face the uncomfortable truth, Protecting Mama delivers it with fierce honesty and heartbreaking clarity.
Pages: 481 | ASIN : B09MV3XMMB
Lemons and…More Lemons
I just finished reading Lemons and…More Lemons by A.D. Williams and Kendal Fordham, and wow—I wasn’t expecting such a heartwarming and eye-opening read, especially from a kids’ book. This story follows a boy named Mark on his summertime journey as a young entrepreneur running a lemonade stand. But it’s much more than that. It’s about family, dreams, business smarts, community, money lessons, and a squirrel named Mansa who somehow drops more wisdom than most adults. Through conversations with his mom, uncle, cousin, and a few new faces, Mark learns about budgeting, investing, ownership, and even whether or not to take on a business partner.
I love the vibe of this children’s book. The writing is super fun and easy to follow but never feels like it is talking down to young readers. It has real heart. One of my favorite parts is when Mark’s mom breaks down the family budget at the dinner table. It’s such an honest family moment. The whole “income is positive, expenses are negative, like a hug versus a push” analogy is brilliant and funny. The scene where Mark realizes they don’t own their house is such a relatable, awkward, and important conversation about homeownership and gentrification, and the authors handle it with care.
Another standout moment is the wild purple brownies made with ube. Mark and Cuzzo try them at Jimmy’s house. I love how that one scene turns into a whole new business idea. But what hits even harder is Mark’s inner debate about partnering with Jimmy’s dad to grow his lemonade empire. I could feel the weight of his decisions. It reminded me how complicated growing something can be, especially when it means giving up control. Still, the authors didn’t push one answer. They let Mark explore and think, which I loved because it felt real.
This book is written for children, but it’s packed with life lessons most adults could use a refresher on. If you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone who likes inspiring, feel-good stories with real heart and humor then Lemons and… More Lemons is a solid pick. It’s smart, sweet, funny, and full of juicy life wisdom.
Pages: 48 | ASIN : B0DWTD8PP7
A Gentle Giant
In Barney, the Big Brown Dog!, a Labrador Retriever’s life is changed when his elderly owner must give him up and he begins his journey to find a new family. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Barney was such a love and his day-to-day presence and routine always put a smile on my face! After he had passed, I said one day that I would write a story about him, and I kept my word. Just like his presence, I loved every minute writing this story about him and so pleased to come to this moment and be able to share this story with children and families. One other thing I would like to add. Due to Barney’s quiet demeanor, I was able to bring him where ever I went. He was by my side almost anywhere. I never had that opportunity with a pet before.
Barney was a gentle giant, a Labrador with a heart as big as his frame. He came into our lives at just the right time, a silent, loving way about him when we needed him the most. With his shy and his lumbering gait, he seemed to walk through life with the innocence of a child and with his soft large brown eyes asking for acceptance and love.
He wasn’t just a dog, he was a large, brown bear who found his way into our family’s rhythm, offering affection in his own special way. Barney never barked which was part of his charm and shyness! Every room he entered was greeted with the subtle thud of his paws, or the thump of his tail beating against the floor, letting you know how he was happy to see you; in addition to the unspoken promise that his presence would never be a burden, only a comfort.
Is there anything from your own life included in Barney’s story?
Receiving two hours’ notice before his arrival was very true! Our cat graciously accepted Barney and this was not the norm for her at all. The two were like close buddies. The children, including our neighbors adored him.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Rebecca Popp?
Among any of the illustrators whom I interviewed, Rebecca could read me. We connected very well. Her samples reflected just what I was looking for…one particular sample of her art had a scenery with greens and blues and her sketches of the animals and children were life-like. I wanted a presence of family, home, colors that were inviting, not scary or intimidating, and Rebecca did just that! When I gave Rebecca a description to reflect a chapter, she provided everything I requested including a little humor too.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
With trying not to give away too much, I have drafted two books.
Barney meets two dogs (pups) who become service dogs. This is in memory of my older brother who became blind at the age of five. I hope this story will be published December 2025 or by February 2026.
My other book is Hunter and Spencer are curious to learn more about their religion and of their friends’ religions and beliefs. Learning about the diversity and understanding of various religions and learn that they can believe. Barney and Charlie are in the background of this story too! This story is one that I am most excited about creating. My timeline for this book is hopefully by April 2026.
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LITERARY TITAN 