On the final day of the blog tour this year, I’d like to thank all of the participating authors for taking the time to submit their books and/or participate in the interviews. These authors take the time to write incredible books and then allow me to bring them to you. So, a big thank you to all of them.
And I’d also like to thank all of my readers that follow this blog. Over the years, I’ve tried to provide resources to help in the classroom and support parents at home in educating and helping their child to appreciate new voices in literature. So, thank you for returning again and again to see what new books and authors I have found for you.
Meanwhile, let’s recap the authors that have been participating this week.
If you missed any of the posts, these are short cuts to get you connected with each author and book that has been featured. Plus, there are a lot of different resources for the classroom and for home schooling on my blog. I’ve listed some of the free lesson plans and units you can find on my blog below.
Free Online Novel Study for my book, “The Lost Secret of Fairies”.
Thank you for a fantastic Back to School week of ideas, books, authors and organizational fun. I do hope that I’ve helped you plan more towards your 2023 curriculum, and that you have a fabulous start to your school year.
Until next time, keep safe and keep writing,
-Tiffany Turner
Retired Elementary Teacher
Head writer/editor for the Indie Children’s Authors Connection Blog
Welcome back to day 4 of the 2023 Back to School Blog Tour. I have a fabulous book review today of a paranormal/spooky genre book. Check out the book review below. Please come back tomorrow for the last installment of this year’s blog tour.
Book Review: Devin Drake and The Family Secret
By R. M. Clark
School has started, but that means Halloween is just around the corner. This is a great time to introduce your child or students to the spooky genre before October hits. I’ve found a marvelous spooky mystery novel that is sure to be a great addition to your classroom or home library.
Devin Drake and the Family Secretis a not so average spooky mystery. It likes to tantalize the senses with Greek food clues and paranormal intrigue. Devin is your average sixth grader that loves magic card tricks and is excited about his new drone for his birthday. But when it ends up in a cemetery, he has to retrieve it which leads him to discover he has the ability to see and hear ghosts. He soon finds this ability runs in the family, and starts to try to get the hang of his new skills. Then, his classmate, Eva, asks for help. Her grandfather seems to be contacting her beyond the grave and she needs help understanding why. Can Devin solve the reason for this mysterious communication? Or are the clues distractions to the real problem at hand?
I enjoyed the real sense of voice in this story. Mr. Clark really puts you into the head of a twelve-year old boy dealing with real problems along with paranormal twists. This is a great read for kids that love a good mystery along with a ghost story. I used to love this kind of book when I was a kid, and that wasn’t just around Halloween time either. This would be a great middle grade book to introduce your preteen to the spooky/paranormal genre and get them interested in reading paranormal fiction all year long.
Welcome back, everyone! Today I have a book review for a very unique book series. This author started writing and publishing his books when he was eleven years old, and is still writing his children’s book series today.
Davon Miller had severe asthma as a child, and found himself in and out of the hospital a lot. He started writing and illustrating his books at an early age, and now donates some of his proceeds from his books to the hospital that treated him as a child. He is also a very active volunteer, hosts a radio segment on writing, has won several awards, and started a campaign called #IMAGINE2020CHILDRENSTORIES in support of African-American Authors.
BOOK REVIEW: Mr. Tickety-Toc: The Travel to Washington
By Davon Miller
Does your child or classroom like a good mystery? Do they wish they were an illustrator? I’ve found a book that is a great introduction to what the imagination and the pen combined can do. Mr. Tickety-Toc is part of a series of books exploring and teaching while engaging the imagination. Written by Davon Miller, children are taken into a world of fun, inventive characters while they learn about historical places, lessons of life, and are gifted with a bit of humor.
Mr. Tickety-Toc: The Travel To Washington starts out with opening a gift. Mr. Tickety-Toc receives a box full of animal travel companions that immediately start out on an adventure to travel the country and try to solve the mystery of the box. Off they go to New York, Texas, Washington state, California, South Dakota and finally arriving in Washington D.C. They encounter famous monuments such as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial while trying to solve the surprise box mystery. Will Mr. Tickety-Toc be able to find all the homes of the animals? Or will he be hopelessly lost?
This charming story is illustrated with colorful, crayon medium pictures giving that kid-like feel to the whole story. It may even inspire children to maybe try their own attempts at illustrations. Through working together, the mystery is solved, stressing the great life lesson of teamwork. I recommend this picture book as an introduction to U.S. historical monuments and as a working together read-aloud for the home or the classroom.
Mr. Tickety-Toc: The Travel to Washington can be purchased on Amazon.com.
For more information on Davon Miller and his books, please visit his Amazon Author Page.
For an interview with Davon Miller on “Beautiful People: Tampa Bay”, link here.
Thank you for supporting all these great authors by following my blog, reading posts, and commenting. It really means a lot to get the word out about these fabulous books and the authors that wrote them. Please feel free to comment and let me know what you like or what could be improved.
We’ve just got a few more days left. So, check back tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the start of the 2023 school year!
Welcome to day two of the 2023 Back to School Blog Tour. I have another author interview for you today. I have found a fabulous author that has the extra talent of being an amazing illustrator as well. It seems this is a great bonus combination for becoming an indie author. His picture book is called “The Smile”, and it is an always free or permafree book on Amazon and other online retailers. The illustrations have a noble look that imbues a vibrant charm to the characters and the story. Centering around an Inuit girl and her dog, it is sure to have a special place in any home library or classroom bookshelf.
Marin Darmonkow lives in Canada with his family. He has retired from advertising and wanted to find a worthy way to give back to the community. Writing children’s books is his chance to do just that, and he even started his own publishing company to do so. I had the chance to interview him about how he became an author, how he gets his ideas, and what projects he is writing now.
1) What made you want to become an author?
Marin Darmonkow: I started late – after I retired. Both of my children attended medical school, they became independent and my parental obligations significantly reduced. For the first time in my life, I had time for myself and I wanted to make a product; preferably something without an expiry date. I solely create children’s books for the reason that I possess the skills not only to write but also to illustrate, design, and put together the layout. This is a perfect fit for publishing picture books.
2) For your featured book, how did you get the ideas to write it?
Marin Darmonkow: I was probably influenced by contemporary media – Indigenous affairs are one of the daily topics discussed on radio stations, TV channels and the Internet. I live in Canada, so I decided to create a humane story about the most famous Inuit symbol, the innunguaq, and its relationship with people. You know that the stony sculpture is like a person but it is also a signpost and plays a significant role in Inuit culture.
On my search for an editor of Inuit origin, a University professor from the Department of Linguistics told me that I had no right to create such a story as I did not belong to the Inuit group of people. The professor’s warning struck a chord with me as I am an adamant defender of freedom of expression. My unapologetic answer was that I published the story – I uploaded the book as perma-free to all major online book retailers. I even included the professor’s correspondence in the book’s description. Amazon is the only exception to this as from time to time the behemoth unilaterally adds a price to the book.
3) What writing projects are you working on right now?
Marin Darmonkow: I am currently working on a story about the only child in the world born without a heart. The title of the publication is BEMBE’S HEART. Bembe is an ancient Mayan name and it means “son of a prophecy”. Everyone should read the book to their child as it is a book about the extraordinary bond between mother and child. It is a stunning story about know-no-limits motherly love.
Book Blurb:
Living in the land of six months night and six months day, challenges are always around the corner. The young Inuit girl, Ahnah, and her dog, Akiak, must survive while her parents leave to find food. She learns to endure and lets her dreams lead her. In the end, she will bring a smile to everyone’s face.
“The Smile” is available for free at the following online retailers:
For more information about Marin Darmonkow, please visit his website at: Fontreal.com.
I hope you are enjoying the blog tour event so far. Please leave a comment to let me know what you like or suggest what to include next year. I would love to hear all the feedback for future planning. Look for a featured book review tomorrow. Until then, have a great start to the school year!
Greetings and welcome to the 2023 Back to School Blog Tour. I have some great indie children’s authors and books to introduce you to this week. I am hoping you’ll find some fabulous home study or classroom resources for the 2023 school year. Having taught in the classroom for 18 years, I know that you want to find new and inspirational role models and books with themes that are helpful for teaching in the curriculum. I’ve lined up some fabulous titles and author interviews as well as book reviews.
So, let’s get started with our very first author for the week: Peter Aronson.
Peter Aronson is a former award-winning legal affairs journalist, former New York City attorney, and now writes essays, short stories and children’s books. His book, “Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene”, is a look at a futuristic kid take-over inspired by a middle schooler with a different view of how the world should be. Set in the year 2030, it’s a wake up call for the adults in the world to do something or the kids will instead. Mandalay herself is a rebel with a passion for the environment, and doesn’t seem to let breaking some rules stop her mission to save the world.
I got a chance to ask Mr. Aronson about why he became an author, what gave him the idea for his book, and what future projects he has planned.
1) What made you want to be an author?
Peter Aronson: I have been writing for a long time, because I was a journalist for approximately 20 years earlier in my career. I became interested in writing fiction when I read more novels and saw the limitless creative opportunities. When I am making up a story and I like what I am writing, I get a wonderful sensation of feeling free, of feeling like I can do anything. It’s a sense of accomplishment, or achievement, I don’t get doing anything else. I began writing short stories, then a I tackled a novel.
2) For your featured book, “Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene”, how did you get the idea to write it?
Peter Aronson: My daughters, Mabel and Maisy, were young then, in middle school, and they were reading apocolyptic-type books and I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if they read a novel that dealt with a real-world problem? It was 2015 and I believed then and even more so now that global warming was the biggest problem the world faced. So I decided to write a novel about kids fighting global warming, about taking the fight to the highest level. I got the idea before the amazing Greta Thunberg burst onto the scene and made such an impact.
3) What writing projects are you working on now?
Peter Aronson: I am writing a TV mini-series based on my non-fiction middle-grade book “Bronislaw Huberman: From Child Prodigy to Hero, the Violinist who Saved Jewish Musicians from the Holocaust.” The story is still little known outside the music world. Huberman was a great humanitarian who overcame great odds in the 1930s to save Jewish musicians from the Nazis by establishing a orchestra in what was then Palestine. Huberman was a pacifist. A true maestro, he used his violin as his sword and enlisted people like Einstein to help him.
Book Blurb:
“Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene” is a middle grade novel that presents an all-too-real 2030. The Big Heat hits that causes temperatures to rise to extreme heat waves that kill thousands. The world has a hazardous future, and one 13-year-old decides she’s had enough and wants to do something about it. Only her idea of what to do might break a few rules along the way. From creating her own group called KRAPP (KIDS REVOLT AGAINST ADULT POWER) where the adventure leads to Washington D.C. and rapping to a captive president, it’s a novel that may lead to a call of action for kids around the world.
“Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene” is available on Amazon.com.
Summer is here! This is a great time to put together a summer reading list for your child and help encourage them to read for enjoyment. There is nothing better than to sneak in some enrichment titles too.
If you are looking for a way to enhance your child’s world, “Nurse Mayumi” is a great add to your list. It is written by a nurse that wanted to bridge understanding of the Filipino community, inspire other Filipino children, and open up the world of nursing to children. Mary Jane Genuino, DNP RN-BC wanted to show the caring tradition in Filipino families by writing “Nurse Mayumi”. In the interview below, she shares about her writing routine, subjects that she wishes to write about, and what writing means to her.
1) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Mary Jane Genuino: Writing is a passion of mine, and I’ve found that establishing a routine is key to staying on track and making progress. For me, the most important aspect of my writing routine is consistency.
2) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Mary Jane Genuino: For this children’s book, “Nurse Mayumi”, it is more of an advocacy. Through this book, I hope to raise awareness about the important contributions that Filipinos make to the nursing profession, and to provide representation for Filipino children who may not see themselves reflected in mainstream children’s literature. By sharing the story of this remarkable nurse, I hope to inspire young readers to pursue their dreams and to celebrate their cultural heritage. Currently, I am finishing a compilation of stories from nurses who have lost a loved one, including my own.
3)What is writing to you in one sentence?
Mary Jane Genuino: Writing is about self-expression and it can be therapeutic, educational or entertaining. Writing has the power to change the world around us.
Book Blurb:
“Nurse Mayumi” is a book that helps bridge the Filipino culture with nursing. Family is important in the culture. For most Filipinos, it means everything. This book shows the love of a daughter, a sister, and a nurse. It also showcases the familiar traits of most Filipinos–their caring nature and resilience. Join Nurse Mayumi in her journey of commitment, family and love for her nursing career.
Imagination is one of those things I like to encourage in children. I always liked to use books to inspire that spark to get a story going in a child’s mind, especially books that had fantastic artwork. I think I’ve found a book that would make a great way to introduce children to a classic story with inspirational illustrations. It’s called: “Jabberwocky: Spooky Stories for Kids.” This is a newly illustrated version of the great, classic poem by Lewis Carroll and is part of the Spooky Stories for Kids series.
The illustrator of the book is Carolyn Watson Dubisch. She has an impressive background in comic books, working in independent films and music videos. She has written seventeen children’s books and four comic book series. Her illustrations have appeared in children’s magazines such as “Hopscotch” and “Highlights for Children”. I had the chance to ask her about inspirations in her childhood, about her favorite author, writing and the illustration process, and what future projects are in the works.
Carolyn Watson Dubisch is illustrator and author for the children’s book series “Scary Stories for Kids”.
What is your favorite memory from reading as a child? Carolyn Watson Dubisch: I very much enjoyed reading outside. Perhaps it was because it was harder for my parents to find me and make me do chores. I would climb as high as I could and sit in the huge blue spruce tree in the front yard of our house on Long Island in New York. My other favorite spot was on the dock at our cabin in central Maine. I liked how the waves would make it shift under me while I read.
Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: My favorite author growing up and one of my favorite authors still today is Stephen King. I liked monster movies and the things that lurked in the dark. Things like ghost stories and vampires were always fascinating for me, also much safer than the real horrors of the world. It definitely influences what I’m doing with this series “Scary Stories for Kids”.
This book, Jabberwocky, was a poem by Lewis Carroll that I interpreted with my art. It’s a nonsense poem that I added dimension and story to with my visuals. With the first book in the series, I created an alien abduction book called “Alien Farm”. Also, the story is told through the art. These tales are mildly scary for younger kids and the response when I bring these books into schools is incredible. Kids love to be scared in literature.
Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: I don’t have a consistent writing routine, but I do try to start all my writing in the morning. For some reason I find it almost impossible to write at nighttime and when I do, I rewrite everything.
The other thing I often do is write in long hand in notebooks and later transcribe (which is the first rewrite). I do this because I have had a lot of writing get lost or deleted from old computers or broken storage devices. I have been able to salvage many stories through what I’ve found in my old notebooks. Notebooks last longer than computer hard drives and storage devices, and things like the cloud or dropbox are newer, but will, at some point, be replaced by a new system. I’m afraid those things won’t last either. I don’t trust anything but analogue anymore
What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: Current projects include my book “The Lighthouse Cats of Mazatlán”. This is a children’s book about the cats that live on the Lighthouse trail in Mazatlán, Mexico (where I live). I wrote two comic book series for kids “After The Robots Died”- a scifi fantasy about children who traveled as embryos to a distant planet and were born artificially and raised by a robot. The story begins as the robots are breaking down and the children are slowly getting isolated and must survive without them.
I also write a kids comic called “The Dragon in The Closet” about a cursed boy plagued by monsters when he discovers a dragon living in the closet in the basement and befriends him. This series has just been nominated for the Outstanding Creator Awards of 2023
What is writing to you in one sentence?
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: Writing is one of the most important ways I express myself and my inner world.
Book Blurb:
Carolyn Watson Dubisch brings to life the classic tale by the well-beloved author, Lewis Carroll. Her whimsical illustrations bring us into the world of the Jabberwocky. A young boy sets off on a quest through the Tulgey Woods to slay the mystical Jabberwocky. Enchanting and strange creatures join him as he pursues the monster. Enjoy a new look on an old classic while introducing your child to a children’s literature masterpiece.
Birds are singing. Flowers are blooming. Spring is finally in full swing. What better way to help your child connect with nature than with a good book! I’m continuing to feature spring related books on the blog during this season, and here is my next gem.
Princess and Scruffyis about a squirrel that has a fear of heights, and needs to work out his trauma with the help of his new friend. Sean O’Leary is the author. Mr. O’Leary does a fabulous job addressing the issue of making new friends and facing fears all set within a beautiful forest. The illustrations are adorable, and I hope you enjoy his interview. He shares about his reading memories, author inspirations and what he does to help his writing routine. Happy Spring!
What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?
Sean O’Leary: My mother would read to me before I went to bed, and I very much looked forward to reading time.
Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?
Sean O’Leary: As a child I loved everything Dr. Seuss. The books are more than just entertainment; they have a message they are trying to convey. I remember talking about the themes with my mom. One that sticks out to me is Whoville. A person is a person, no matter how small. I think that is important today more than ever. Everyone is important. Teaching empathy for others is a valuable skill and an important attribute for people to have if they want to be an asset to society.
Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Sean O’Leary: I have always lived a very full life which makes it very difficult to keep a strict writing routine. I visualize a story before I write it down. Once I have the story in my head, it is like a splinter that keeps pestering you until you take it out. I have to write it down so I can get it out of my head. There are times I will think about the story for a few days before writing it down. Such was the case with Princess and Scruffy. Other times, it takes me several years before I have what I want to say all together in my head. That is how it was with The Road of Blood. I want to see the story in my imagination first, and then I just have to write down what I see.
Scruffy is a lovable, fluffy, tan squirrel that lives in a beautiful forest. He is a small animal with a big problem. Unlike all the other squirrels, Scruffy is afraid of heights. Instead of running up and down the trees and out across the limbs, he is stuck on the ground.
One day he makes a new friend who promises to help him as he tries to overcome his fears. Scruffy is afraid that if he does not learn to climb trees, he will lose his new friend. Will he succeed? Will he learn to climb trees like the other squirrels? With a friend like Princess, he cannot fail.
Princess and Scruffy is available at Amazon.com as a Kindle Unlimited title.
For more information on Sean O’Leary, visit his author page here.
A very happy spring to you and your kin! Hopefully, it is starting to warm up and flowers are starting to bloom where you are. Our thoughts turn to hopeful tidings, and it is wonderful to reflect that with the literature we share with our children and students.
I have found a wonderful book that gives insight to a supportive structure to children in foster care. “Ronni Raccoon and the Foster Bunnies” is a picture book written by a former foster parent. Luci Hollenkamp captures the nurturing and supportive environment created to support children in any type of family. She used experiences as a foster parent and as a capable auntie to help write the book. Luci Hollenkamp shares some of her story inspirations from participating in foster care and from her nieces and nephews in her interview below. Enjoy!
What is your favorite memory reading as a child?
Luci Hollenkamp: When I was young I was a bit of an insomniac. I used to hide under my covers with a flashlight and read late into the night. In the winter, when it was cold out, you could hear the wind howling and the windows rattling. It was especially comforting to be reading and settled into a good book.
What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Luci Hollenkamp: “Ronni Raccoon and the Foster Bunnies” has been something I have thought about writing for a very long time. I was a foster mom for a while and loved every minute of it. It was not easy, but it was rewarding and worth every effort.
The story is loosely based on some of my experiences. I plan on writing more books in the series. Some of the stories will draw from the adventures with my foster children, some from nieces and nephews, and some from my siblings growing up. This book is my tribute to those I love. They mean the world to me.
I also hope it helps people realize a little kindness and care can go a long way. Different families, even within the same cultural groups, have their own traditions and their own way of doing things. If we just open ourselves up and give other ways a try, it can help open doors of understanding and goodwill.
What is writing to you in one sentence?
Luci Hollenkamp: Writing for me is a way to leave a legacy of love and kindness.
Book Blurb: What do you do when two young bunnies get separated from their parents? If you are Ronni Raccoon, you open your home to them and keep them safe until they can be reunited with their parents. In this heartwarming tale, Ronni Raccoon learns about accepting others as they navigate these difficult times together and meet each other where they are. This beautifully illustrated story shows how family are the ones we let snuggle close to our heart.
Spring is almost here, and this is a great time to be inspiring your young ones and/or students into exploring their world and nature. I think I’ve found a fabulous book that can do both.
Meet Ronald J. Fontenot. He’s an artist/writer that enjoys creating beautiful and humorous children’s books. He’s written and illustrated“Sometimes the Beach”, a wonderful book that helps a child explore their feelings and connections with nature. He’s also written books under the name of Scott C. Johnson. I had a chance to talk with Ron about his favorite memories of reading as a child, future projects and what writing means to him.
What is your favorite reading memory as a child?
Ronald J. Fontenot: My favorite memory from reading as a child was both looking at the colorful pictures and learning a fun story. As an artist, I have always been very visual, and that remains true today. So, books with fun illustrations have always had a special place in my heart.
What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Ronald J. Fontenot: For future projects, I have a book in mind titled “A Dog for Douglas”. It is about a boy named Douglas getting his first puppy and how it changes his world.
What is writing to you in one sentence?
Ronald J. Fontenot: Writing is sharing, in my opinion.
Book Blurb:
Sometimes the Beach is a three board book set centered around a boy and his experiences at the beach. There is Morning Beach, Sunny Beach, Cloudy Beach, Stormy Beach, Sunset Beach and Moonlit Beach. Each beach book provides its own feelings, activities, environment, and emotions as seen through the eyes of a young boy.
To the child, the beach provides unique experiences that captivate his emotions and give him a deep love for the beach. It is as if he is visiting a friend. This book is a great way to help a child relate with their emotions and connect with their environment. This set of board books is recommended for children 1 to 5 years old.
The Indie Children's Authors Connection 