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The Road Symbolizes Our Lives
Adversity Road is a collection of poetry exploring the different forms of adversity that people face, presented in a way that children can understand. Why was this an important collection for you to write?
It was important for me to write this to promote the message that adversity comes in many different forms.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
An idea that was important for me to share was the concept of the road. The road symbolizes our lives. We are all walking this path we call life but it is filled with adversity. I wanted to emphasize that despite us all encountering adversity, it may look different for other people. This creates a platform for me to highlight compassion and empathy for the people around us. We never know what other people are going through but if you take a second to think about the obstacles of other people then maybe it will help us practice more empathy in our own lives.
I loved the art in this book; it is extremely eye-catching and a great way to keep children engaged. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Tionna J. Clarida?
I connected with Tionna Clarida online back in 2022. She is a very passionate artist that has a lot of beautiful work to her name. None of it was published but I truly believed she needed to be so I offered her an opportunity to publish her work to the world with my story. This first time illustrator did not disappoint! Tionna got straight to work after we had a virtual session talking about the vision we had. This book is a poem so this allowed Tionna to truly express herself through her talent. She spent about a year gathering photographs and sketching to create a vision for this. The final product resulted in beautiful illustrations that brought my story to life. Tionna J. Clarida is an amazing illustrator and I hope she continues to showcase her artistic abilities to the world.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be published?
I am taking a break from publishing to pursue other things I wish to accomplish in life. It has been a great journey writing two children’s books. If I choose to write more in the future then I would continue to keep an inspirational theme.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Adversity Road
Adversity Road by Kendall T. Newell offers an insightful exploration into the diverse experiences of hardship and resilience that shape human lives. This narrative examines a spectrum of challenges, from self-doubt and economic hardship to physical disability and bereavement. Each vignette serves as a testament to the personal battles individuals face, highlighting the ubiquitous nature of adversity.
Central to the book is Newell’s compelling call for empathy and compassion. By featuring characters from varied backgrounds, each grappling with their unique adversities, Newell encourages readers to acknowledge and respect the often-silent struggles of others. This portrayal not only reflects the widespread challenges many face but also aims to foster a collective spirit of support and understanding.
This children’s book seamlessly integrates personal stories with a universal, relatable message, making it a relatable read. The narrative encourages readers to consider how they can be a beacon of support and strength, advocating for a community-oriented approach to empathy and kindness. This book extends an invitation to empathize deeply, acting as both a mirror and a window to the trials and triumphs of human endurance. It serves as a reminder that although adversity is a universal language, compassion is equally so.
Adversity Road is a children’s poetry book that offers readers a deeply moving and insightful exploration of human resilience. It’s a poignant and reflective reading experience that will resonate with those who are on a similar journey or seeking to understand the complexities of overcoming adversity and makes a wonderful teaching tool.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0CYTC1FRT
A Big Part Of My Own Story
A Star Upon a Dream follows a discouraged young girl who tries to discover what her dream job is and finds renewed confidence from her father. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration behind the story is connected with my own personal story. Children are like sponges; they soak up everything. The people they are surrounded with can make or break that child. Having strong adult figures in a child’s life really is powerful. I have a supportive family along with great teachers and coaches. Without them, I would have given up for sure.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There were several themes I wanted to incorporate into this book. The most critical themes included school life and bullying because I know there are many other people out there that could probably relate to this story. I wanted to make wrestling present in this story because it was a big part of my own story. Wrestling is a great sport to correlate with real life situations. In wrestling, we can get taken down but you can always fight and get back up. This is the same concept we can apply to our own life. Sometimes, we get taken down in life but we have to fight and stand back up.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
Failure is something we all face in life. Failure does not define you. It’s how you deal with failure that makes you successful.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have another book in the development stage. My current focus is this book because it is my first book and the message is very important to me. If things work out then I hope to have it completed by 2024.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Follow Meleah Rowland, a third grade student whose dream is to become a zoologist someday. She quickly learns how it feels to be doubted, thus diminishing the light of this young girl. She learns a very important lesson from her father, Charles Rowland, through the story of his own past to becoming the shining star he is today.
A Star Upon a Dream
A Star Upon a Dream, written by elementary school teacher and former wrestler Kendall T. Newell, is a short and vibrant children’s book about a child’s internal dilemmas and insecurities as her class mates taunt her on the day of the school’s professional job fair, and how her loving father kindly helped her tackle the issue.
Meleah is a little girl who is thoroughly excited about Career Day. She still has no clue what profession she would like to pursue and hopes that the talks by adults in different areas of work will shed some light on the matter. Encouraged by her father, she leaves for school with the highest of hopes. However, her spirits suffer a blow when her classmates challenge each of her suggestions of possible professions she might pursue. That night, her father comes to the rescue and uses the starry night sky as a canvas to explain how each person is unique and can achieve their dreams in their own way.
The final section conveys the book’s key message, which is to highlight to children – who are especially sensitive to criticism and may struggle in handling it with care – that any third-party opinions should not obscure their objectives and wishes. In a world where kids are frequently exposed to television, the internet, and other forms of media that facilitate comparisons to be made, such as the ones Maleah suffered by her peers, this message is particularly noteworthy.
A Star Upon a Dream is a heartwarming children’s book about learning to believe in yourself and that no two people have to follow the same path, even if they are headed in the same direction. It is written ideally for the preteen age group and covers emotional topics they will encounter in today’s world. This is an excellent book to use to open up the discussion of peer pressure, bullying, and self-confidence.
Pages: 54 | ASIN: B09C7DYFB1
