Aug23

Interview with Adrianne Ashford

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Adrianne Ashford is one of the co-authors of the picture book, “Noni Bugs Returns to School”.

In anticipation of the Back to School Blog tour, I’m doing a series of pre-interviews and post-interviews to get everyone into the mood for this special time of year. This is an extra extraordinary time because of the challenges of COVID19 and distance learning. So, I’ve been looking all over for great read-alouds and literature to help with your home schooling, whether you’re a parent or teacher.

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Courtney Ashford is the other co-author of the book, “Noni Bugs Returns to School”.

Let me introduce you to my first find. It is co-written by Adrianne Ashford and Courtney Ashford. They are a mother and daughter writing team. With Adrianne’s school counseling experience and Courtney’s storytelling memories from her grandmother, they’ve combined their efforts to bring a fabulous new series of books. “Noni Bugs Returns to School” is their new book that addresses the fears of returning to school during the COVID19 pandemic. It’s a wonderful book to calm your little ones anxiety about this school year.

I had the chance to talk to Adrianne Ashford about her childhood reading memories, favorite authors and writing routines.

1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Adrianne Ashford: My favorite memory from reading as a child is my mother sitting on the edge of my bed and reading Little Women with me. l developed a love for the amazing, adventurous world that a book could take me to.

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

Adrianne Ashford: My favorite author was Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women. Her ability to describe characters and bring them to life, made me feel like I knew them and today that makes me want to do the same for my readers.

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

Adrianne Ashford: My writing routine includes writing down main ideas, conversations between characters, then drafting a storyline.
4) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Adrianne Ashford: I am looking forward to writing about topics that will help children identify their feelings and develop health coping skills. Topics like accepting diversity, coping with divorce, the feelings after the loss of a grandparent or someone they love, and moving to a new school. Anything that addresses real-life issues that I can present through a fun loving cat named Noni Bugs.

5) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Adrianne Ashford: Writing is the opportunity to help others and contribute to something bigger than myself.

childrens book return to school postcovid19 kids book cover“Noni Bugs Returns to School” is a picture book about facing the fear of COVID19 while returning to school. Noni Bugs has been doing her schoolwork at home over the last several months. Now, it’s time to return to in-person school, but she’s nervous. Everything is so different. But her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Cook, is there to help her and all the kids adjust to this new type of schooling. Help your little one adjust to the changes in their daily school routine with this comforting topical tale.

“Noni Bugs Returns to School” is available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

For more information about Adrianne Ashford and her books, please visit her website/author page at https://www.amazon.com/Adrianne-Ashford/e/B08F6TFVFW.

For more information about Courtney Ashford, please visit her author page at: https://www.amazon.com/Courtney-Ashford/e/B08F7MQ5F3.

 

 

 

 

Jul30

Interview with Inni Kaur

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Inni Kaur is the author of the children’s picture book, “The Story of Us.”

With the summer starting to come to a close, I’ve been finding some really interesting stories that can start getting our children focused back on school. I have found a fascinating book called “The Story of Us”. It’s written by the extremely talented author, Inni Kaur. She is a spiritual writer, poet, educator, painter and advocate for the Sikh community. Her stories help bridge an understanding into how humans are all connected. I had the chance to talk with Inni about her childhood reading experiences, advice for aspiring writers, and future projects.

What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Inni Kaur: Reading took me into a different world.

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

Inni Kaur: I did not have any particular author. I read whatever I could get my hands on. I studied in a convent. Basically was in a boarding school for 9 months out of a year.

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

Inni Kaur:  I write when I am inspired by something that I have read. Then the writing flows.

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

Inni Kaur:  I would like to write on subjects that promote unity of humanity – that we are one people.

What inspired you to write the book “The Story of Us”?

Inni Kaur: This was the blog post that I wrote about why I wrote this story.

“Every book that I have written so far, has its own unique story. A part of me is in every book, though veiled. However, for “The Story of Us,” I am going to reveal what this book means to me.

In 2017 I read Nayan Chanda’s book, “Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers, and Warriors Shaped Globalization.” The first chapter of the book spoke about human migration from Africa. And how, our color and features changed during the centuries of human migration. I was so intrigued that I ordered the National Geographic Saliva Testing kit and became a part of the Human Journey. This first chapter is the inspiration for “The Story for Us.”

Why was this so important to me?

Because…

I was the child that no one wanted to play with.

I was the child that no one wanted to hold hands with.

I was the child that was the last one to be picked to be on anyone’s team.

Because…

I was kali-black.

Mothers would tell their children, ‘if you don’t drink your milk, you will become kali-black like Inni.’ By all accounts, I should have had a miserable childhood. But, I didn’t.

Because…

I had the unconditional love of my paternal grandfather, my parents, and my sister. They did not see my color, though I saw my color. They saw me. The way they treated me was as if, I was the most precious thing in their lives.

In my teenage years, my constant companions were, “Who will marry her? She is so dark?”

Yet, I saw my mother, fill my dowry chest with beautiful evening bags from Germany, silk temple saris from South India; exquisitely embroidered shawls, evening gowns from England and so much more.

Love protected me.

Love cocooned me.

In my late fifties, I saw myself, and said I am “beautiful.”

Because…

Beauty had entered my life.

I know I am blessed.

I recognize it.

This book is written with the hope that children and adults will get to know the story of human migration and hopefully be kinder to each other.

And if my book prevents even one adult from calling a child kali-black, I would have accomplished much.”

FYI: This manuscript was sent to over a dozen mainstream publishers in the USA and India. After exhausting all avenues, I chose to self-publish it, because it was important to me.

What life experiences have influenced you the most to write for children?

Inni Kaur: There are very few books good quality that spoke to the Sikh experience when my children were young. The books did not reflect them. I took it upon myself to change that narrative. My children did not feel part of the mainstream culture because they were invisible in children’s literature.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Inni Kaur: Don’t let rejection and criticism color you. Don’t write because you want to, write because you have to. Become emotionally involved with the characters of your book because that will translate to your readers.

If you could tell your younger writer self anything, what would it be?

Inni Kaur: Be kind and compassionate to yourself. Take the plunge; cross that line. Don’t listen to the voices that say, “You cannot do it.”

What is writing to you in one sentence?

Inni Kaur: It is an outer expression of an inner journey.

The story of us-Cover1“The Story of Us” is a wonderful story of an author visiting a classroom to share the human movement story from the continent of Africa. Mr. Nayan Chanda is visiting Ms. Hollins’ class to give a talk about human migration and how science, through blood and saliva, helped to trace the story. Though we may have different languages, religion, dress differently, and eat different foods, we are all one people. Share this message with your own child or as a read-aloud in the virtual classroom. Recommended for children six to twelve.

“The Story of Us” is available at: Amazon.com and is also available at the website below.

For more information on the author Inni Kaur, please visit her website at:

https://storyofusbook.com/.

 

 

Jul28

Interview with Daniel and Madison Davis

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Daniel and Madison Davis are the authors of the children’s poetry book, Melancholy Musings: Children’s Poetry for Life’s Darker Moments

With so much sad news and depressing events happening around us, there is nothing better than poetry to perk up your summer. I’ve found a fabulous father and daughter writing duo. Meet Daniel and Madison Davis. Dr. Daniel Davis is a sociology professor at San Diego State University. His daughter, Madi, loves art, writing and hip-hop dancing. They paired up during the Spring Shutdown to write poetry together to cheer themselves up and to share a positive literature experience with readers.

Their book, Melancholy Musings: Children’s Poetry for Life’s Darker Moments, presents children’s poetry to share and read to help with the stress and pain of growing up and other tragic events in life. I had a chance to ask Madi and Daniel about their writing adventure during this pandemic, and what they have in further store for us.

1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Madi: I’m still reading as a child! But I did feel happy when I finished the longest Harry Potter book. It was like 600 pages.

Daniel: I remember my mom signed me up for a summer reading challenge at the local library. I read as many kids books as I could, and don’t remember how many it was, but I ended up winning the challenge and felt pretty cool about it.

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

Madi: J.K. Rowling is my favorite. I’ve read everything she’s written. They made me really eager to keep reading.

Daniel: For fun, probably Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I love that genre of zany British humor, always makes me laugh. More seriously, probably Peter Berger’s work on the social construction of reality, which helped me see the many ways that society is our own creation. 

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

Madi: I write whenever I feel like it, but if it’s for school I always finish a rough draft the first day, add to it the second day. If there’s a third day, I spend that one editing it. For Melancholy Musings, there were also some deadlines from my writing coach and Dad that helped keep us going.

Daniel: I try to set up a process for each project. Like for this one, I would brainstorm poem topics with Madi and have her come up with some rhyming word pairs and ideas. Then I might create a few lines another day and she would go over them and add some still another day. It was a back and forth approach. 

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

Madi: Most things fiction. I sort of hate non-fiction. I like writing stories with drama, suspense, and mystery.

Daniel: Probably non-fiction or journal articles. I’m a sociologist, so either research or materials students can use in sociology classes.

5) How was your current poetry book written?

Daniel: While we were apart, Madi and I shared a Google doc and would take turns talking on the phone and adding lines and poem ideas. Madi also had the idea of making all of the imagery from the same family and centered on the main little girl. As new poem ideas came along, the family of characters kept growing.

6) Why do you feel this was an important poetry collection to create?


Daniel: Children’s books and poems typically center on happy topics or fantasy, but difficult things happen to kids too. We thought it might be meaningful to create a set that parents could pull from to allow for discussions about these things with their kids. Ultimately pets pass away, families have to move or get divorced, loved ones get sick; it can be helpful to have opened up some of these conversations with kids in advance. It helps them understand that these things happen to everyone; they are part of life.

7) What message do you have for aspiring poets?


Madi: Just keep practicing! I could tell by the end, we had better poems than what we had first written.

Daniel: Brainstorm lots of ideas, take your time, have fun with it, and find a good website to help you think of rhyming words.

8) As a parent, why do you think working on a project like this during the pandemic helped you and your daughter cope?

Daniel: It gave us something to focus on other than all of the bad news that was happening every day. We also had little deadlines we self-imposed every Tuesday at noon. So, sticking to some kind of structure like that helped make sure we kept working on it, but also that we made time to FaceTime each other every week. It was nice to connect with her and hear her ideas and thoughts. I could tell some of the topics were easy for her to think of, like the death of a goldfish or getting lost in a crowd, which she had experienced before. But there were other topics that were more of a stretch, like imagining what it would be like to have an older sister go away to college or an aunt tired of hosting family for the holidays.

9) What suggestions do you have for parents trying to help their children through the COVID19 pandemic?

Daniel: It depends on the age of the kids, of course. With a tween, I try to keep her informed and aware of what’s going on, but she doesn’t need daily updates on virus numbers and such. She is careful about social distancing and understands it, but not getting to see her friends or have her fifth-grade promotion, missing summer trips and camp are certainly a disappointment. The pandemic will forever be a milestone of her generation’s collective memory, like 9-11 for the cohort before. But unlike 9-11, Covid-19 is such a prolonged tragedy. It’s hard to say what the long-term impacts will be.

But I think the best thing we can do is keep listening to our kids and giving them room to process. It’s an unprecedented situation, so it’s hard to give one-size-fits-all advice. Different kids will need different things. But, I think if we listen empathetically and ask lots of questions about how they feel, in most cases they can tell us what they need. We don’t have to guess.

10) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Madi: Writing is a hobby that I really like, especially writing surprising stories where a character might get hurt, go insane, or die all of a sudden. Not really horror, but things people don’t expect me to write.

Daniel: It’s a way to share ideas and inspiration with others, and possibly even a way to create a legacy that will outlive us.

Melancholy Musings Front CoverMelancholy Musings: Children’s Poetry for Life’s Darker Moments is a fantastic read-aloud to share with family to discuss times such as the pandemic or the other difficulties children face. Death of pets, life transitions, moving to a new place and others can be difficult events in a child’s life. This collection addresses these tough subjects along with others in a humorous and empathic poetic approach. It encourages families to have discussions together with poetry as the catalyst. Written as collaboration between a father and daughter during the Spring Pandemic Lockdown of 2020, these light-hearted poems will be a wonderful addition to any home library.

Book Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro1xd9P1qKU&t

Melancholy Musings: Children’s Poetry for Life’s Darker Moments is available at: Amazon.com. This is a Kindle Unlimited title.

 

 

Jul23

Interview with Freddie Bell

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With the little ones stuck inside, I’ve been on the search for activity adventures through books. It’s the safe way to spend the summer, and can be enjoyed in any backyard or camping trip. My newest discovery is the picture book, “Mya, the Amazing Girl with Magical Hair, Rides Her Bike” written by author Freddie Bell. I had a chance to interview Freddie about his childhood reading memories, writing routine, favorite authors, and what he has in store for future projects.

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

Freddie Bell: My favorite memory reading as a child came after I read an adventure book and tried to convince my neighborhood friends to go on an overnight adventure with me. (We were seven years old at the time.)

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

Freddie Bell: James Patterson, I love the character development and plot twists.

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

Freddie Bell: I write constantly. Any situation can spark an idea.

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

Freddie Bell: Space Travel, Entrepreneurship, and Empathy. You can throw a little comedy in there as well.

  • What is writing to you in one sentence?

Freddie Bell: Fun!MYARidesHerBikeCVR

“Mya, the Amazing Girl with Magical Hair, Rides Her Bike” takes you on a daring, magical adventure. Written by Freddie Bell and illustrated by Aria Jones, this picture book will sweep you into another world of fantasy adventure. It’s available at Amazon.com as a Kindle Unlimited title.

 

 

Jul21

Interview with Elizabeth M. Reinhart

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Elizabeth M. Reinhart is the author of the picture book, “The Fox Who Chased the Sky.”

Growing up in the West Virginia hills inspired the stories of my next summer reading find. Elizabeth M. Reinhart uses memories of her youth and the beauty of her home to create a fantastical world for her character, the Little Fox. In her book, “The Fox Who Chased the Sky”, the author brings nature and a playful fox into the safe haven of home. I had a chance to talk to Elizabeth about her childhood memories, advice for aspiring writers, and what she has next in store for us.

1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: It’s funny, because no amount of words can truly capture the feelings that these memories have for me. Times were not always easy for us back then, financially or emotionally. Reading before bed became a little cocoon of time when we could all be transported into other worlds with a sense of security. My brothers and I heaped onto our parents’ bed while our mom patiently read each book that we picked out and I cherish that time so much. Once I began to read on my own, I read voraciously. I consumed as many words as I could, and still do today! I credit our mom for passing on that love of reading and writing.
2) Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: It’s difficult to choose, but I think Kenneth Grahame. Wind in the Willows fascinated me as a child. I understood that his writing was for children (it had all the hallmarks of whimsical characters and adventure), but in my heart I also felt that he treated us as “grown ups”. Sure, I LOVED Little Golden Books and Dr. Seuss, but there was just something about reading Grahame’s words and knowing that he respected the reader enough not to simplify it. Books like Wind in the Willows taught me to be curious about language, which in turn led to a love affair with words.

3) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: The first book in my series was written at 4:30 in the morning on my front porch after having a very sudden surge of creativity as I awoke. For me, it strikes unexpectedly, so I am always prepared to write notes wherever I am. As a children’s book author, I find that the challenge is to pack a lot of punch in a short amount of text. To successfully accomplish this, I rely heavily on imagery – which means that I daydream … a lot! I try to be open to creative influence whatever I am doing.

4) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: For now, I am very focused on the “Little Fox” series that I have been developing over the past 3 years. My illustrator, Aleksandra Bobrek, and I have about 4 books planned so far in this series and we are also focusing on a line of merchandise. We would love to really make this world come alive for readers who fall in love with him.

5) What other books do you have planned in the “Little Fox” series?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: I’m really excited about our plans for the Little Fox series. “The Fox Who Chased the Sky” is book 1 in the series and focuses on themes of self-discovery and establishing friendships. Book 2, “The Fox Who Caught a Star” carries on with the characters introduced in book 1 and takes a deeper dive into the concept of what it means to be a friend to another. Book 2 will be available by the end of the summer! I’ve also written a free book which is posted on my website titled, “The Fox and the Last Leaf.” It has not been through the editing and illustration process, but I thought it would be fun to begin to share stories in early stages. I’m all for creating more story time for folks!

6) What adventures playing in the West Virginia hills as a kid have led to scenes in your books?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: So many! My brothers and I rarely played indoors, so our memories are deeply entrenched in nature. We would climb trees, play pretend and run around our several acres of land, play on the swing set while watching the farmland behind us being baled for hay. For me, an interesting point about the illustrations is that Aleksandra (the illustrator) is from Poland. Much of what you see is HER perspective living in Europe as a child – and to me, it is a lovely marriage of memories and culture that makes the final look very special to me. When we collaborate, we try to include special details to both of us. For instance, there are little secret nods to my family in each of the books that Aleksandra has captured – one of which is the violets. They have a very special meaning for me.

7) What advice would you give to “aspiring” writers?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: I think it depends on what the writer wishes to accomplish. To me, writing in and of itself, is freedom. Even if I were not pursuing a business in this field, I would write for the love of it. If that is you, write, write, write to your heart’s content and bare your soul. If you are pursuing a livelihood as a writer, do everything I mentioned before – that never changes! I do encourage everyone to research the business end if you are taking it a step further. There are so many nuances to the business and several pitfalls you want to avoid. I am by no means an expert, but I have learned so much starting up my business. I am always happy to pass what I’ve learned on, so if you need a little advice, please feel free to reach out to me.

8) Do you have any upcoming virtual appearances planned?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: Not quite yet, but I am working on it! I had some local plans set up, but as the situation shifts, I will focus more on virtual appearances. Check in with me on my website http://www.emreinhart.com for updates.

9) Are you planning to write any other types of children’s books after the “Little Fox” series?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: I’m always daydreaming up ideas for stories, and yes, I do have other ideas in mind! If I can gain a strong following, I would like to create two separate series. “Stories from the Dale” (which is where Little Fox lives), and “Stories from Home”, which will focus on lighthearted stories about life in West Virginia. All are children’s books which, I hope, young ones and adults will love!

10) What is writing to you in one sentence?
Elizabeth M. Reinhart: Writing, for me, is allowing my true self to come forward, unapologetically.

cover The Fox Who Chased the Sky“The Fox Who Chased the Sky” is a story about self-discovery and friendship through the lens of the character, Little Fox. Inspired by the beautiful West Virginia hills, Little Fox sets out to discover the world around him and learns of kindness and patience when he finds himself in a lonely and confused point in life. This book is not only for young readers, but also for everyone with the “child inside” that still needs an occasional reflection on life lessons.

“The Fox Who Chased the Sky” is available at the author’s website here. For more information on Elizabeth M. Reinhart, please visit her website at: https://www.emreinhart.com/.

 

Jul21

Interview with Rob Quicke

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Being stuck inside is hard on kids this summer. What better way to go on an adventure than in a book? Here’s a recommended pirate adventure for any child stuck at home or on an isolation vacation. Rob Quicke wrote “Salty Jack and the Golden Pineapple”. With his love for fantasy and sci-fi, Rob Quicke has brought to life a fantastical world of pirates and adventure. I had a chance to ask Rob about his influential childhood memories, about his favorite authors, and what writing means to him.

pineapplecoverfinal1. What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Rob Quicke: I used to love reading books like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I would love to be transported to another magical world, which was rich with magic and beauty! For me, reading was an escape, and it allowed my imagination to really flourish. That’s what I really want to do with my Salty Jack books, to create another world that will excite and invite the reader to explore it.

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

Rob Quicke: I was really into an author called Piers Anthony, who did fantasy and sci-fi books. I discovered his books in my school library and couldn’t get enough! I remember that my friends wanted me to fool around during the required library hour at school, but I had other ideas as I was engrossed in reading!

3. What is writing to you in one sentence?

Rob Quicke: Writing is the imagination captured on a page, with the words an invitation for others to read and share it.

“Salty Jack and the Golden Pineapple” is the story of pirate adventures and self-discovery. Salty Jack used to be a sea-faring, fighting-for-treasure pirate. However, he grew tired of the pirate life, and decided to retire to the little sea town of Barnacle. But when his pirate life past comes back to haunt him, can he give up his new life to help two kids? Will change his life forever?

“Salty Jack and the Golden Pineapple” is available at Amazon.com.

Jul19

Interview with K.A. Ashton

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K.A. Ashton and her daughter are co-authors of the book, “Smiling Back at You”.

With school opening around the corner, it will be back to schoolbooks, virtual learning and/or some in class interaction. The life lessons will still need to be taught, and I’ve found a great book to help kids deal with believing in yourself and stand up to bullying.

Meet K.A. Ashton. She and her daughter co-authored the book, “Smiling Back at You”. I had a chance to talk with K.A. Ashton about her childhood reading memories, favorite authors, and subjects she’d like to explore as an author. 

1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

K.A. Ashton: My Favorite Memory reading as a child was reading mystery books and getting lost in the story!

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

K.A. Ashton: My favorite author was Carolyn Keene who authored the Nancy Drew Series.

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

K.A. Ashton: I would love to write about balancing personal development working through Corporate America.

smilingbackyouCVRpromo“Smiling Back at You” is a book where children can learn to believe in themselves and stand up to bullies. Sugar is learning to deal with the tough things, including bullying. Join her in discovering what it means to enjoy being yourself and find the strength to stand up for whom you are.

“Smiling Back at You” is available at http://publishingadvantagegroup.com/smilingbackatyou/.

 

 

Jul16

Interested in Self-Publishing? I Just Wrote the Book On It.

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Tiffany Turner is the self-published author of a children’s fantasy book series and several paranormal romance titles. 

It is now available. All of my self-publishing knowledge over the last thirteen years. I’ve been at this self-publishing thing for awhile now. And I’ve learned a lot. It’s been called a gold rush by some, from about 2009 to 2011, and beyond. I would say that was mostly due to KDP, Kindle Digital Publishing, Amazon’s digital platform. It is now a whole new frontier that I can help you navigate.

From watching and talking to other self published authors on Kindleboards (later Kboards.com) like Hugh Howey, to getting the idea and encouragement to start writing romance after my children’s books, I’ve had quite a journey. I wrote “Get Ready to Push the Button: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing” to make it easy for anyone to get started. All you need is that finished manuscript, and you can be on your way.

All of my hard earned experience has been written down into my beginner’s guide to self-publishing. So, if you’ve been thinking about it, or even wrote a manuscript during lockdown and don’t know what to do now, I’ve got an answer for you. Self-publish!

I’ve been talking to people about how to self-publish on panels at various local conferences including Fanime, San Francisco Comic Con and the Silicon Valley Comic Con over the last few years. Now, you can get all my expertise in one helpful guide, with links for support in an online FB private group. Plus, I’ve worked with a lot of emerging authors through my Fiverr.com gigs. I’ve gotten experience in so many areas from diving into the self-publishing world, and I keep growing with it. Find out how you can make your writing dreams come true, and become a working writer.

Have a manuscript and don’t know what to do?

Have you considered self-publishing?

Get Ready to push the button (3D)-PromoJoin Tiffany Turner as she explains how to get your manuscript ready to finally push that self-publishing button. This beginner’s guide to self-publishing has been put together with Mrs. Turner’s thirteen years of self-publishing experience in romance and children’s book self-publishing. With easy step by step explanations of how to prepare your manuscript, she’ll walk you through in her humorous banter how to:

-Discovering if this self-publishing path is for you.
-Terms & tips you’ll need to navigate the self-publishing world.
-Preparing your manuscript with an easy to follow list of steps.
-How to find the people to help you self-publish such as beta readers, editors, cover designers, formatters and self-publishing platforms.
-What to set up before you self-publish.
-Launching your book.
-Maintaining your self-publishing empire after your first book.

Discover how to get yourself started onto the self-publishing path.

“Get Ready to Push the Button: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Apple/iBooks, and Rakuten/Kobo.

 

 

 

Jul14

Interview with Lucia Matuonto

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Lucia Matuonto is the author of the children’s book, Zoe the Crab.

With the current pandemic, you might be looking for a safer way for your kids to explore areas such as the beach, woods, or parks. A book is a great way to learn about these places without getting exposed. Traveling in books is a great way to still foster learning and enjoy far away places. Zoe the Crab is a beginning chapter book that will take young readers on a journey onto the beaches of Florida. Zoe’s a crab that has to overcome challenges and accept that walking sideways is just another aspect of herself.

The author, Lucia Matuonto, is a children’s physiotherapist that has taught children with motor and cognitive disabilities. She’s written her books to inspire children to use their imagination while incorporating Florida beach fauna. I had a chance to talk to Lucia about her childhood memories, favorite authors, and what writing means to her.

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

Lucia Matuonto: I felt like I was traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures.

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

Lucia Matuonto: My favorite author was Agatha Christie. Her books stimulated my creativity.

  • What is writing to you in one sentence?

Lucia Matuonto: Writing enables me to create stories that combine my experience, philosophy and dreams.

ZoetheCrabCVRZoe the Crab is a delightful beginning chapter book that will take you into the Florida beach environment through the lens of a clever, little crab. She wants to spend most of her time hiding from predators such as snakes and humans. But she faces her fears to go out on adventures. Join her as she faces life challenges of dealing with her siblings, always getting into trouble, and finding her way when lost in this story of accomplishments through determination. Recommended for children 7-12.

Zoe the Crab is available at Amazon.com.