Our mission is to encourage a love of reading in children and re-ignite the love in you.
"There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book."
Frank Serafini
I am a stay-at-home dad who formerly has worked as a High School English teacher and a manager in two different Fortune 500 retail companies. I spend my days taking care of my two boys (6 and 1) and my hard-working emergency physician wife.
What inspired you to write Toonopolis: Gemini?
I wanted to write a story that was designed mostly for entertainment, much like the cartoons that the book parodies. I find that too often, fantasy stories are trying to send a message or have some underlying theme instead of just allowing people to have fun while they read. That isn't to say there aren't any messages or lessons to be learned in my book, but that's not the primary purpose.
What are your favorite children's authors/books?
I am a big fan of both Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson) and Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl). They both have created wonderful urban fantasy worlds that are fantastic but still grounded in the real world. While my work is more of a high fantasy (in that it takes place in an other-world, like Alice in Wonderlandor Wizard of Oz), I still very much admire their ability to create such wonderful works.
What advice would you give other aspiring writers?
Read, read, read. Never stop reading is my mantra. I fell into a little bit of a funk in my writing after completing Gemini and found that I had stopped reading. As soon as I started reading more aggressively again, I was able to pick up the pen (so to speak) and get work done. Delving into other people's fantastic worlds helps me find both the motivation and inspiration to get back to work on my own.
What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
I've never been asked "boxers or briefs", but I guess I'll go with a different one as that one's a little trite. How about "What is your favorite section of Toonopolis?" That one's never come up! I'd have to go with Adventure Realm, I think. It is the section of Toonopolis that parodies roleplaying games, my favorite genre of video gaming. I am able to take lots of jabs at the games I loved as a kid and still love today while pointing out some of the silliness that we RPG gamers have just blindly accepted over the years.
How old were you when you began to write?
I recall creating characters and writing little stories as young as ten or maybe even younger. I know I spent a good deal of time in junior high school (12-14) writing poetry and other stories. It wasn't until High School that I started getting into longer form stuff but never tried to tackle a full length novel until I sat down to work on Gemini.
What do you do in your spare time when you’re not writing?
I laugh at your "spare time" theory! When I'm not chauffeuring my six year old or changing diapers or folding laundry, I like to play basketball and softball. I also try to maintain my geek status with video games and movies, but find it hard to maintain. I am able to justify watching cartoons as "research" for my books and my cartoon review blog.
Describe yourself in 5 words.
Clever, sarcastic, silly, dedicated, father.
Do you have any other books you are working on? If so give us a sneak peek.
I have actually just released a new novella called Toonopolis Short: Anchihiiroo. It is a coming-of-age hero story about a minor villain in Toonopolis: Gemini. We learn how Yoshi of Higeki became the anti-hero turned villiain of Animetown (a section of Toonopolis based on Japanese cartoons). It is a little more serious of an adventure story than my debut novel but still has a taste of my humor and sarcasm that people have enjoyed in my writing.
Next on the list is Toonopolis: Chi Lin, the sequel to Toonopolis: Gemini. It is a story about the last real unicorn on Earth who transports himself to the Tooniverse to try to keep himself and his maiden, Avantika, from facing death. He learns lessons on humility and humor along the way.
Is there a lesson to be learned from your book?
The major theme is to learn to accept who you are and try not to be something you're not. Gemini comes across this lesson when dealing with some of the Rogues of Toonopolis, creations who have changed who they were by attacking their own creators' minds. There are lessons on compassion and forgiveness along the way as well.
Has there been any obstacles in your writing career?
Life! My wife and I had our first child at 23 and got married the same year. My wife was in medical school so I had to work full-time while completing my own degree. When she began her medical residency, I went back to graduate school for a Masters in Education but I still had to work full-time to help support our family. It wasn't until our second son was born in 2010 and my wife began working as a 'real' doctor that I became a stay-at-home dad and found time to work on my writing. I have no intentions of looking back from this point and my wife has been incredibly supportive of my chosen path.
Anything else you would like to share?
I have mentioned a few times in this interview my stay-at-home dad status. Inspired by this as well as the fact that I opened my own publishing company, I recently opened submissions for a non-fiction essay anthology called The Myth of Mr. Mom. I am seeking stay-at-home dads to share their stories about their transition into the homemaker profession in an effort to raise awareness that men are not only capable, but should consider it as a viable career.
Are you ready for a fantabulous zoo adventure? T-Bot And Peabody Explore The Zoo is a cleverly written story full of fun animal facts . Your children will enjoy learning about all the amazing zoo animals with robot brothers, T-Bot and Peabody.
This book is an awesome source for children to learn about zoo animals. This book is a great reference book for young readers. I recommend this book to parent and teachers to help teach children interesting facts about animals in a fun and memorable way.
I can't wait to read more adventures of T-Bot and Peabody!
You can visit the author at www.TBotAndPeabody.com or for a more interactive experience you can "Like" them on Facebook, They share discounts, coloring pages, tips to encourage reading, and so much more. So please check it out.
You can buy their bookson Amazon.com, Powell's Books, Barnes and Noble, our Facebook Page, and pretty much any bookstore.
*A free copy of this book was given to me for a honest review. No other compensation was provided for this review.
The Day No One Played Together: A Story About Compromise is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. The Mom's Choice Awards honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder ofReading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco,New York TimesBest-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of sevenChicken Soup For The Soulbooks; and Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of the Mom's Choice Awards. Parents and educators look for the Mom s Choice Awards seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book/product has been honored by this distinguished award.
Tell us a little bit about you:
I am married to the most amazing woman and together we have 2 awesome little boys, ages 3 yrs and 5 yrs. I enjoy family time, 3D modeling, writing, and outdoor activities.
How did you begin your writing career for children?
It all started with a bedtime story. One night my oldest son asked for a bedtime story, so I threw together a few characters and a few of my son's interests and eventually came up with the first book of our T-Bot and Peabody Explore series.
Was there someone or some event in your life that inspired you to write your book?
If it weren't for my son's bedtime request, I never would have started down this path. The characters, T-Bot and Peabody, are based on my two sons. T-Bot is based of my oldest son and Peabody is based on my youngest. My two sons started my down the writer's path, but I start new adventures all the time, it's finishing them that is an amazing feat and had it not been for the encouragement and help of my wife, Karen, T-Bot and Peabody would have remained an oral story that never made it outside of our house.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
This is a tough one. I am very techie and nerdy with a love for 3D modeling and animating. If I weren't writing and could have any job I wanted, I think I would work either in the film industry or video game industry making 3D characters/animations. Assuming I could cut the mustard for the jobs. The guys that actually have those jobs are amazing at it and have an artistic gift.
What feelings or lessons do you hope your book leaves its readers?
Through this series of books I want the readers to be in awe of nature and have both a respect for it and a desire to take care of it. There is no subtle or overt message about saving the environment in the stories, but after reading the books, seeing the animals, seeing the landscape, I think the reader will walk away wanting to preserve all that for future generations. I also want readers to walk away proud of themselves for reading and hopefully having fun doing it.
Describe yourself in five words
"Horse of a different color."
Is there a children’s book that you have read that you wish you had written?
The Cat in the Hat. I wish I wrote The Cat in the Hat. Dr Seuss created worlds that have changed the lives of generations by aiding the young and the old in creating a deep, life long, love of reading. He told entertaining stories with whimsical characters that spark the imagination.
Whats next for you?
I am completely excited to be working on the next book of the series, T-Bot and Peabody Explore the Ocean. I am co-authoring this one with my wife Karen. It's been great. So far the story is written and largely illustrated. Just working on the last few pages. Readers will journey with T-Bot and Peabody through coral reefs all the way down to the deep dark depths of the ocean were life is unique and stunning!
Do you have any advice for others interested in writing books for children?
Try. No matter what you're interested in pursuing, try. Give it your best shot. My advice for aspiring children's authors would be this, approach the world from a child's perspective, be fascinated and consumed by the wonders of the world around you and by the limits of the imagination. Whether you pursue the traditional publishing route or opt in to the self publishing path you need to have a story that children want. It'll take time and effort but a quality children's book will have success. If you don't believe me, try your hardest. You will either prove me wrong or spark the love of reading in a child.
Do you have a website or a fan page?
We have a website http://www.tbotandpeabody.com/ or for a more interactive experience you can "Like" us on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/TBotAndPeabodyExplore . We like to share discounts, coloring pages, tips to encourage reading, and so much more. So please check it out.
Where can we find your books to buy?
Our books are available on Amazon.com, Powell's Books, Barnes and Noble, our Facebook Page, and pretty much any bookstore.
Do you want to be transported back in time? Well, The Sandcastle Kids: A Mayan Adventure is the book for you!
This is a book about a group of children who reside in Southern California. They hang out together and build sandcastles. Rosa, Richard, Daisy and Kamal find a magical sand dune and the adventure begins! They are transported to 420 AD Central Peten where they meet a Mayan Indian who asks for their help in building his village a bridge.
Matthew Hebert's illustrations are beautifully done and will make you feel as if you too were magically transported to another time. A wonderful bonus is the last page has ten discussion questions to help lead you into a discussion with your child about what they've read.
This book is an engaging adventure that will teach children about the Mayan culture, hieroglyphics and lending a helping hand! It is a perfect tool for teachers that want to get their students exciting about learning history and for kids who love to learn. History lovers must buy this book! I can't wait for the new adventures of the Sandcastle kids.
Want to win a free copy? Go to Wild About Reading *A free copy of this book was given to me for a honest review. No other compensation was provided for this review.
Tell us a bit about you?
I have been a magazine writer and editor for quite some time. I have also freelanced quite a bit for the Web. I've written five books, all for young people, and plan on starting work again on an adult novel I began a few years ago. I enjoy traveling, interior design, and have other hobbies as well.
What inspired you to write The Sandcastle Kids?
I actually wrote the initial version about ten years ago and got turned down by several publishers. So I decided to publish it myself. I wanted to write a book that allowed kids to learn about other cultures in a fun way.
What do you hope children learn from your book?
I want them to know the importance of history as well as the contributions that people of various cultures have made to the world.
Are you planning to write any new books in the future? Can you give us a sneak peek?
There will be more Sandcastle Kids books in the future. So keep an eye out for those.
What do you do in your spare time when you're not writing?
I'm trying to find more spare time. I'd like to get back to my love of photography and writing songs.
Who was your favorite author when you were young?
James Baldwin.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Read as often as you can and write as often as you can. Be persistent when working with editors and publishers. But keep in mind that there's a fine line between being persistent and annoying. You just have to find it.
How did you get interested in writing children's books?
I've always wanted to write a picture book. I've written children's activity books and biographies for teens. So picture books were a natural progression. But breaking into that area of publishing is not all that easy.
Where can people buy your books?
Right now, people can purchase the book on my site http://www.thesandcastlekids.com/. It's also available at select book stores in New Jersey. Hopefully it will be available on the Barnes & Noble and/or Amazon web sites within the next few months.
This is a cute story about a little girl who is excited for picture day. She dresses in her best dress. Her mother gives her a beautiful ribbon that she wore herself when she was little. Unfortunately picture day does not go as planned. Although this may not be the best picture day it will be the most memorable. This story is a sweet lesson about never giving up. A nice story to share with a little girl.
Tell us a bit about you? Well I'm a single mother or two. I have a 12 year old son named Tylon and a 4 year old daughter named Thijs. I speak french, spanish, some chinese and japanese. I play the viola and the piano. I'm studying medical office management at Kaplan and I am a tomboy at heart!
What inspired you to write Shanna's Lost Ribbon? I wasn't really inspired to write Shanna's Lost Ribbon at all actually. I was a senior in high school and on my lunch break instead of catching up on some homework, I wrote the book. The other four books in my Shanna series are Shanna Goes To Camp, Shanna and the Whip-o-Whirl, Shanna and the Tag-a-Long Pup, and Shanna and the Big Race.
Are you planning to write any new books in the future? Can you give us a sneak peek? I am currently working on Crescent Sun: Sons of Blood and my suspense thriller, What She Knows. If you would like a sneak peak then my website is the place to go.
What do you do in your spare time when you’re not writing? When I'm not writing, I am usually just being a mom, cooking, watching tv, hanging out with my friends and family, or snuggling with my cats.
Who was your favorite author when you were young? When I was young, I loved to read Judy Blume and Shel Silverstein.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? The only advice I have for aspiring authors is love what you do. If you don't feel it then your readers won't either.
Describe yourself with 5 words. To describe myself in 5 words I would have to say: funny, carefree, imaginative, creative, tomboy.
How did you get interested in writing children's books? I wasn't really interested in just writing childrens books. I write my dreams. I usually have very weird and vivid dreams and I turn them into stories. The other four kid books that are in my series are about me as a girl so it only took me two days to write them
Do you have a web page or fan page?
I do have a web page and fan page. tianacwashington.com is my webpage and I have three fan pages on Facebook where my books can also be purchased. Author Tiana Washington will take readers to Shanna's Lost Ribbon, Vampires will take readers to Crescent Sun, and Camden will take readers toRomance novel Camden.
Where can people buy your books?
I have actually written 9 books. Five childrens books and four novels. My novel Crescent Sun, which is a paranormal romance novel is available actually through my website tianacwashington.com, amazon.com, B&N.com, powellbooks.com, goodreads.com, anythingtoread.com and of course, through contacting me on Facebook. My historical romance novel Camden, is available on my website only.
Anything else you would like to share? I am very excited about my work and I hope that parents will find Shanna's Lost Ribbon a true treat for their young girls and I also hope that women who love a fantastic story line will fall in love with my characters in my novels...they are truly a must read!
Grimsley Hollow is a wonderful story about Gage a boy with autism. In his world he is uncomfortable, has no friends and feels like a nobody. He is drawn into a magical world where there are vampires, witches, pixies, and dragons. It is up to him to save this magical world from an evil witch. In this world he gains confidence, friends and learns that being different is a wonderful thing.
This book shows us the life of a boy with autism. We are told the story through his perspective. I love how in the other world Gage learns to let go of his preconceived ideas of the magical beings there just like the reader will let go of their ideas of people with autism.
There was only one issue that some parents might have with the story and that is brief language. The words "damn" and "hell" are in the story. It was not overly used but just letting you know because as a parent I want to know what my children are reading.
I look forward to the next in the series!
You can purchase this book in eformat and paperback format at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, CreateSpace, Abebooks, and many other places.
*A free copy of this book was given to me for a honest review. No other compensation was provided for this review.
My name is Nicole Storey and I live in a small town in Georgia with my husband, two amazing kids, a cat that thinks she’s a tiger, and a bunch of goldfish. When I’m not in Grimsley Hollow planning adventures for my characters, I enjoy gardening, reading, blogging, cooking, and dreaming of my favorite holiday all year long; Halloween!
What inspired you to write Grimsley Hollow-The Chosen One?
This book was a mixture of many different inspirations. My love for Halloween and all things magical was the backdrop and setting for the book. My son, who has autism, is who the main character is fashioned from. My daughter is also in the book. I just took what I love and what I knew and threw them together. The book pretty much wrote itself! LOL!
What do you hope your books will impart to children?
I hope that after children read my book, they will see similarities between themselves and Gage, the main character, and realize that special-needs children are not very different from them at all. I hope that they will open their hearts and lives to special-needs kids, make friends with them, and include them.
What are you working on now?
I am working on the next book in the Grimsley Hollow series! It is called “Grimsley Hollow-The Search for Siren”.
What do you do in your spare time when you are not writing?
Is there a such thing as ‘spare time’? LOL! When I do have a few spare moments, I like to watch movies with my kids or read to them. My daughter and I love to go to stores and look at Halloween decorations this time of year. I also love to cook and bake. There’s just something about fall (my favorite season) that brings out the “Betty Crocker” in me!
Who was your favorite author when you were young?
Wow, I had so many! I have always been an avid reader and I read my first really long book (Jaws) when I was about seven years old. I would have to say that C.S. Lewis has always been a favorite of mine. I have read his book “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” at least 100 times! I used to go around our house and open the closet doors all the time, looking for Narnia.
Do you have an advice for aspiring authors?
Never give up. If you want to write, then write. I would suggest joining a good book club or creative writing group and read as much as you can. Lastly, take chances and be bold!
Describe yourself in 5 words.
Mother, Daughter, Wife, Hopeful, Happy
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
I wanted to be a marine biologist or a writer for as long as I can remember. If I didn’t write, I would still want to do something in the writing business, or maybe I could combine the two; a literary agent that works with ocean animals in her free time! LOL!
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Tough one! I think I would choose one of my favorite authors, Kim Harrison. She is so personable and I would love to ask her why it is that as popular as she is, she is still so down-to-earth and approachable when so many other authors aren’t.
Where can people buy your books?
My book is available in e-reader format and paper back. You can get it on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, CreateSpace, Abebooks, and many other places.
I would just like to say that writing this book has changed my life in so many positive ways. I have met such amazing people and made new friends. I feel like I am doing something now that belongs to me and makes me feel good about myself. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and I love being a mom, but everyone needs something that is uniquely their own. It feels good to be able to contribute a little to my family’s financial needs and to know that my book might bring some joy to others.
