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Literary Titan Silver Book Award June 2024
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Be Kind. Be Generous.
Tousled follows a lively young girl with long, beautiful, out-of-control hair who learns about kindness and compassion. What was the inspiration for your story?
I actually created Tousled in an afternoon, when our illustrator informed us he had a last minute cancelation. The ending didn’t come as quickly as the rest of the book, and I was completely lost on how to spin it. We have had a lot of experience with cancer through family, friends, and our foundation and have also known a couple people with Alopecia. I felt that Sunny was already so proud of who she was, the next step would be for her to share it with others. I like to end stories in surprising ways that spark conversations with children and inspire people to give.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
If you are blessed with something, share it. Be kind. Be generous. Also, you are beautiful on the outside just as you are, but it’s really who you are as a person that makes you shine.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Andy Catling?
Andy is awesome! He was super excited to draw the hair and obviously did an amazing job. He was receptive to color tweaks or little things here or there that I pictured a bit differently. I think for the most part, we were on the same page (small pun intended).
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?
Tousled was published at the same time as The Princess Has to Pee which is another twist on an old classic. I am currently collaborating with my husband on a book called The Trashcan Wars which is a silly story about a misunderstanding amongst neighbors. We will also be releasing our first title through our sister company, Grief Glitter, called Jessy Joy and Daddy-O, a picture book memoir for young readers about a father and daughter’s special bond and expression of love through silly nicknames.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Helpful and Fun In a Meaningful Way
“The Mess” follows two young kangaroos as the disappearance of their teddy bears propels them into a day of adventure and teamwork to solve the mystery, highlighting the importance of familial love and problem-solving. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was inspired to write this story because of my preshool classroom that I was working in at the time. As a teacher, I had to think creatively and outside of the box when it came to encouraging the children to clean up in between transition times. Asking the children to clean up was not helpful, so I created clean time into a fun game, and the children were receptive to that. The children learned about teamwork and responsibility.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes details about the collaboration process with Olivia Smith H. for the illustrations?
I was referred to Olivia. We had an introduction to each other, and we both shared our ideas and thoughts. Then we mutually decided to work with each other. Olivia and I were in constant communication about the illustrations. I shared that I wanted vibrant colors and she suggested watercolor paint. I went with her idea after she shown me an example of a picture. She shared her insight of what will work and I shared my feedback as well. We had a smooth process with working with each other.
What message or lesson do you hope children and parents take away from The Mess?
My hope is that children can learn that tidying up and cleaning can help them with organization, accountability, teamwork, and using a game to complete a task such as cleaning their space can be helpful and fun in a meaningful way.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have an idea about my next book but I have not put anything on paper. My ideas are still flowing and I have not made a decision on when I will release another book.
Author Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Lessons of Life
The Selfish Shellfish follows a shellfish with a bad attitude who chases off all his friends with his refusal to share. What was the inspiration for your story?
I was inspired to write this story for my daughter Haylie to help teach her lessons of life in a fun constructive way.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I wanted to include talking about friendship, bullying, dealing with bullying, and after a heartfelt apology forgiveness.
The art in this book really brings the story to life. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Brent Plooster?
It was a fun and exciting process to work with Brent on the artwork. Zoom calls were conducted where he would create the art in front of us and we gave him live suggestions so the characters were exactly what we imagined.
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?
I plan on writing many more Children’s books, I have already started on another story of one of the other characters and their adventures.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Swim along with Selfish Shellfish and his ocean friends to find out!
Strong and Independent
The Day the Clouds Went Away follows a bold and independent young princess with low vision who commands the clouds to disappear, only to face unintended consequences, leading her to learn an important lesson about the value of clouds and rain. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I founded a Nonprofit, Imagination Storybooks, to make illustrated books more accessible to all children, including those who are blind or low vision. My books include rich descriptions of the pictures in audio and video formats. There are very few books with blind main characters that are not about blindness. I want to create fairy tales where children with a disability can see themselves as a main character.
What were some driving ideals behind Princess Claudia’s character?
Princess Claudia runs her own Princessdom at age 8. She is strong and independent, despite having low vision and losing her parents when her Wizard Fumbledore made a mistake in a spell and sent them through time.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Everyone looks at the clouds, but sometimes, there are shapes in the clouds of animals or characters. My book explores the different kinds of clouds and explains their importance in nature, even on rainy days.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The Day the Bees Went Away – Tales from the Princessdom, Book Two. It will be available Fall 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Author Richard Rieman, The Audiobook Wizard, has narrated and produced hundreds of Indie-published audiobooks. He is the author of the award-winning The Author’s Guide to Audiobook Creation. Richard founded Imagination Storybooks, a pioneer Nonprofit making children’s illustrated books accessible to blind and deaf children. With his own vision fading because of glaucoma, Richard decided this main character should also have vision loss.
The Day the Clouds Went Away is perfect for kids ages 3-8, an imaginative story rich with opportunities for teachers and parents to further the conversation about what your child might do if suddenly all the clouds disappeared.
There Is a Place for Everyone
The Kitten That Could Not Meow follows five kittens who are looking for their forever home, including one that could not meow. What was the inspiration for your story?
Last year, one of my daughters adopted a homeless cat, rescued in the streets of Tennessee after a terrible storm months before. He was frightened of everything, and he could not meow. No one wanted to take him home except my daughter. Showing us there is a place for everyone! Months later, I got a phone call, and what did I hear? “Meow!”
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I have always loved orange cats. My favorite orange cat, I named Bob, after Bill Murray in What About Bob? My friends at Draw and Care in Ukraine illustrated Maria and Clara from images of my daughters. I wanted to share their love for kittens and mine. Bob, of course, is the orange kitten. I believe one of the most precious sounds in the world is purring…it does not matter how we ‘hear’ it.
I felt this children’s story was well-written and intensely meaningful for today’s children. What experience as a writer helped you create this heartwarming story?
I just could not get the idea of my daughter’s cat, Simon, who could not meow out of my head. How many children would never hear a meow? How sad. I woke up in the middle of the night and envisioned how my little tale could end. It still makes me cry when I read the last page. When, as a writer, I can feel emotionally engaged every time, perhaps I have penned a meaningful story.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Penelope’s Peace Place, is another precious and timeless ‘tale with tails,’ illustrated by my friends in Ukraine. It is a journey showing children the importance of family and sharing. Look for it in July.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Rest and Safety
Old Bess follows Cynthia and Keith, who, after the beloved cow Old Bess goes missing just before calving, embark on a suspenseful search to find her, confronting their despair and hope amid a stormy night. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It is a true story from my childhood growing up and spending the summer months on my grandmother’s farm at the base of Hog’s Back Mountain in upstate New York.
What was the collaboration like with illustrator Audrey Savage?
She was amazing. When she came for our first meeting, I knew I wanted her to do the illustrations. She comes from a classical education and loves literature, so Old Bess went straight to her heart… I like to say, “She got it.” I said I wanted black and white and she just went for it!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I like the idea of staying with the difficult and right thing to do, even it’s uncomfortable or frightening.
Help from whatever community we have at the moment is always needed and we have to ask for it in good times and bad.
I wanted to explore the theme of how we find rest and safety…with each other, through hard work, and through creation.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am almost done with my second children’s book (illustrations and all). I am planning for “The Cabin” to be available to the world sometime in the fall of 2024. It is another almost true story that takes place in the same setting: Hog’s Back Mountain in upstate NY.
Author Links: Instagram | Website
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