As we enter into our spooky season, children are encouraged to use their imaginations as they embrace their learning. This is a great time to settle down with a book with your child as their mind escapes to the realms of fantasy. I have a fabulous picture book that will endear learning about kindness and self-expression, “Jack and Bubble”. I had a chance to talk to the author, Colleen M. Bratley, about her reading experiences as a child and how she is trying to make reading a positive time for learning social and moral skills.

• What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Colleen M. Bratley: Feeling like I went to another place or world just by reading a book. It was exciting to me. I didn’t read as much when I was younger, but from middle school on, I almost always had a book open.

• Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Colleen M. Bratley: I didn’t have a favorite; I loved so many of them. Any creative, well-written book was my favorite. How the author wrote, their style, helped me develop my own style. I wanted my words to flow as well as some authors’ did. It was definitely, and still is, a daily process. I even enjoy the edits many authors abhor.

• Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Colleen M. Bratley: I write mostly at night. The day gets in the way, and other interruptions, so the quiet of night works best for me—either that or early in the morning. I very often wear headphones with classical music or just the sound of rain in the background. It helps me focus.

• What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Colleen M. Bratley: I have numerous books in mind. I love children’s books that tell a story and also guide them with morals, love, and new learning or a new way of looking at things. Then I also love to write young adult, not only for the same reasons as the children’s books, but also in fiction where you can create new worlds, exotic and paranormal situations which expand the mind and nudge them to think outside of the box, learning that nothing is really impossible. That is fun.

The next children’s book I just finished for illustrations is titled Danica Dares To Dream. That was fun and is actually lightly based on my daughter Danica. Then I have the third book in the Morac series I am writing, which is almost done, along with, And Then I Saw Her, another young adult book almost finished. The next young adult will be about a female Cherokee shaman; I don’t have all the details worked out on that one yet. I have others but only the basic ideas written out.

• What is writing to you in one sentence?

Colleen M. Bratley: Creating an adventurous, mind-bending, uplifting, thrilling, creative, and clean story for others to enjoy makes my heart sing.

Book Blurb:

Title: Jack and Bubble

A young boy and bee meet together in a fantastic world. Through their friendship, they learn the magic of self-expression and the freedom of showing their true selves. The lesson of expressing oneself through style while learning to be tolerant of others is shown beautifully through this unusual pairing of friends.

Jack and Bubble are available at the author’s website below.

For more information on the author, visit her website below.