Top Honors Author, Kena Sosa, on her Award-Winning Book, The Unhuggables

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?
I don't think I can name one particular person who inspired me to become a writer. I am soft-spoken in general, but apparently my inner voice is quite boisterous. It has to come out and speak its mind, so it does in my writing.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS?
I keep a raggedy spiral notebook where I jot down the ideas that come to me unexpectedly. It is a complete mess of scribbles, notes, drawings, many of which are not related and with no page numbers. It's like prehistoric cloud storage for my thoughts. When they piece together in my head, I reference the notebook to use the ideas I've been saving.

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?
One day I was getting my son, Lucca, out of the bath when he randomly asked me what would happen if you hugged a porcupine. I laughed and then said, I guess it would hurt." We both laughed for a minute and then thought for a while on other animals you probably shouldn't hug. We talked about rhinos and bees and scorpions. At first, this was the idea for a story, Five Animals You Don't Want to Hug. After a while, I thought about how sometimes people don't want to be hugged either and how we feel when we're unhuggable. That's where the boy in the story came in. His name was Matthias at first, but eventually he became Oliver. So, really, this story is all the fault of my curious, very huggable son!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?
"It was hard work saying no to hugs." I feel this line is truly profound. Rejection can be hard to take but it is even harder to feel down. Pushing those who love you away is just as difficult as being pushed away, it is painful. However, with patience and understanding we can get through those tough times. Love cures all.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?
That during our most unhuggable or difficult moments, there are people who love us enough to endure them. Cherish those people.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?
Edit, edit, edit! Make sure you have not only edited a draft before submission, but that you have edited enough to make it the best story it can be. This will greatly increase your chances at publishing and success.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?
Get out there in person and meet your readers! The best way to sell is to put a face to the name and tell the story behind the story. If you can't meet them in person, do interviews through Skype or the radio or any means necessary, but reaching out to readers is key.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
I would say getting 3 books published is a great accomplishment, however, that is outshined by the more recent awards I've received: Children's Literary Classics Award 2018 for historical fiction in middle grade books for Kindertransport-a child's journey and now the Enchanted Page Book Award in 2019 for The Unhuggables!

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?
I would like to write full-time eventually. As a single parent being able to cut ties with a regular paycheck is intimidating. Making my living through my craft would be a dream.

WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? 

Kindertransport-a child's journey
(middle grade chapter book)
4RV Publishing

Just before the outbreak of World War II, the Nazis pushed Jewish families to do something they never imagined they would. They sent their children away on a train to faraway places to live with strangers so that they would be safe until the danger passed. As she gets onboard the Kindertransport, a train to hope, ten-year-old Helen will never be the same.

Rey Antonio and Rey Feo
(bilingual picture book)
4RV Publishing

Turning seven years old will give Rey something he's been waiting for all his life, to attend Fiesta in San Antonio like his big brother. When he gets there, he finds colorful food, music, and fun, until Antonio names himself King Antonio, the leader of the river parade, and calls his little brother, Rey Feo, or the ugly King of Fiesta. Their rivalry can only be squelched by the royal wave of Miss Antonio as she floats down the river. Which brother will be King Antonio, royal leader of the city? The story is written in both English and in Spanish.

4RV Publishing Catalog



LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Author Spotlight - Shanalee Sharboneau on her award-winning books

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK TITLES - My Mama Loves Me: I’m Her Little Boy, My Mama Loves Me: I’m Her Little Girl, My Daddy Loves Me: I’m His Little Girl, My Daddy Loves Me: I’m His Little Boy? When my son was born, he had severe reflux. We almost lost him twice. For six months, my husband and I stayed awake 24/7 fighting to keep him alive. In my complete desperation, in the middle of the night, I began to hum a tune. Over time, I would begin to put words to this tune, words that begged him to stay alive and all the things I would do with him if he fought too. The books are literally the song, tailored for each parent and child.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? “My mama loves me, My mama loves me, My mama loves me all life long.” There is nothing stronger than the love for a child. It is completely unconditional. Sometimes, I believe God gives you your children so you can understand how much He loves you. I reflect on this often, particularly when my son is challenging my unconditional love.

WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? The Mom character of the first book, My Mama Loves Me: I’m Her Little Boy, is actually me with my son traveling the world together. It is a true depiction, I am very adventurous. The places you see in the book are either the places I’ve been or the places I dream to go. In the Egyptian scene, there is a secret that most readers will not catch. It was always my dream to become an archeologist, yet I allowed a professor to challenge this dream. The good news, is I did not listen to my 10th grade English teacher. Out of deserved frustration one day, she said to me “don’t ever earn your living writing, or anything dealing in English.” I wonder often what ever happened to Mrs. Eckvall.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? The one thing that ties us all together, without debate or harsh words, is the love for our children. When discussing our children, the playing field levels and we act with great sportsmanship. It is why I believe the book is accepted and cherished all over the world, it is a commonality that binds us no matter when we began or where we end. If we can start there, agreeing on our mission and love for our children, and stay in that moment, we may actually bring about a better world today.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? After my son became well, I wrote down the song I sang to him over and over in his time of need. After a while, I started to wonder if it would become a good children’s book. One week, my life coach ordered me to start living life to the fullest, that day. Begrudgingly, I called the man who had a connection to my now publisher, all because my life coach demanded it. I can say, once you learn that lesson the hard way, you never forget it. I strive to live life to the fullest every day, with that great example reminding me how different my life would be today without just one phone call.

WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING? Obviously all good credit goes to Mom. When she read my book for the first time, with tears in her eyes, she said “You actually got it”. Of course, she is proud of all of her children, even the middle one. The best thing I can do as a Mom myself, is give the credit to all the parents who came before me and made me the person I am today.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:
A good friend’s sister had a friend who was struggling with her newborn. The baby was fussy and appearing to deteriorate rapidly. My friend’s sister called me one day and said “send her a book, please”. I sent the book and forgot about the story. Six months later, I was at a book signing in South Padre Island, Texas, and a woman walked in with her young son. She explained that her son was struggling to thrive as a newborn, and had a friend who requested that I send her a book. Upon reading my bio and my son’s reflux, she went directly to a skilled pediatrician and had him properly diagnosed. In her words, my story saved her son. You can’t get any better than this.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:
Since each book is very focused on the beauty of a parent and child relationship, I watch these relationships out in public. You may catch me staring while at a Chinese restaurant, or a grocery store or ice cream shop. First I attempt to capture or understand a relationship. For example, I am currently working on the book “My Grandma Loves Me: I’m Her Little Girl.” Once I feel like I’ve captured the relationship, I then ask a trusted individual serving in that role. I ask them all one question, “What is the most important thing you would like to teach your granddaughter, and what wisdom would you like to leave with them after they are grown?” Between the sense of the relationship, and the lessons forwarded through that beautiful relationship, I now take on the challenge to show this in my books and illustrations as I work with my talented illustrator, Israel Dilean. Pictures can say 1,000 words . . . and we work diligently to capture and communicate each word carefully.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? Capturing the relationship of each parent to their child, whether it is a son or a daughter. You see, I am only a mom to a son, and have been a daughter to my parents . . . I have no understanding or comprehension of being a mom to a daughter, a father or a grandparent. When working on these books, it is a task to understand these precious relationships and show the strength of each and everyone, while never having experienced them personally.

IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE? Many readers of my work say the same thing, it is very similar to “Love You, Forever” by Robert Munsch. Though I was unaware of this book when the compliments first happened, I was truly honored by the expression when each reader compared the series to this book. This book is a legend and loved by many adults who had their mother read this book to them. It’s quite a compliment.

HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?
At a business conference, I met a man whose sister company would eventually become my publisher. I reached out to this gentleman, requesting he put me in contact with the right person within the publishing company. He did so, with the caveat that very few writers ever make it. I understood his valid point and thanked him for the information. I reached out and was contracted with 24 hours. It was a great phone call for me to make a year later when reaching out to my original contact and explaining to him what his information had done for my life. I, of course, thanked him again.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Know it’s all up to you, and do not rely on anyone else to do it for you. You are the person who knows what to do, how to do it, and how to get it done. Do not leave this in any other hands but your own.

After first publishing my book, whenever I would see a crying baby, and virtually tearful mother, I would run out to my car and get a book, sign it, run back into the store and hand it to the child. The child would stop crying immediately, mom would sigh, and I would walk off quickly. I still enjoy doing this today, although I do not do this as much as when the book first came out. These opportunities have brought me great joy, and I believe excellent promotion, though my intentions were pure.

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? For generation after generation to read these books to their children, as they were read to them by their loved ones, long after I am gone.

TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY FIND INTERESTING ABOUT YOU: The degree I acquired in college was a Bachelor's in Science in Mathematics and Statistics. As you can tell, I had no plans to become a writer.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Always know you are multi-talented. You are never only one thing, you are many things, many talents, all wrapped up into one human being. Search for them, enjoy discovering them, and find how you can push yourself into being good in many areas.

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? The Grandma series. “My Grandma Loves Me: I’m Her Little Girl”, and “My Grandma Loves Me: I’m Her Little Boy”.








LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Author Spotlight - Tayyaba Syed on her award-winning book, The Blessed Bananas

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?
It was a simple bedtime story I told to my kids.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?
"The more bananas Rico gave away, the more bananas his plant bore." - This is a very valuable lesson for all of us: the more you give the more you get.

WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU?
Tucana because of her forgiving nature.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?
Sharing and kindness are universal qualities we all should embody.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?
The fact that I didn't see myself in the books I read when I was growing up and even now as a mother.

TELL US SOMETHING FUN ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:
I went into professional writing as an introvert, and now I do so much public-speaking and trainings as a published writer.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:
I like to do brain dumps and just free-hand whatever concepts and ideas come to me. I love working with outlines and character-building platforms. If I face a writers' block, I like to look at nature and step away from the mundane for a while.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?
Getting over my insecurities.

IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY?
I'd like to be compared to Roald Dahl, because he wrote from the heart and with authenticity.

HOW DID YOU FIND AN AGENT / GET PUBLISHED?
I met a publisher at a college where I was teaching a writing-intensive.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?
Believe in yourself and your work and be passionate about it. Be willing to take risks and step out of your comfort zone.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
Being selected as a panelist for Writing Women's Lives Conference at Georgetown University.

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?
I'd like to write books for all different ages, especially non-fiction books.

TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:
I enjoy weightlifting.

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
Hafsa's Kisses  It's a baby board book about the types of kisses a toddler gives. It will be available through Prolance.



















LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Author Spotlight - Adam Leitman Bailey on his award-winning book

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?
Home came from the combination of the birth of my sons and the memories of my childhood, moving cross-country on the journey to find a new home.


WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?
I cannot write it here as it will give away the ending. But here is part of it: “So the boy ran into his apartment and hugged his parents, knowing that in the entire world...”


Although the book is active, lively, and full of items to discuss with your kids about the journey the boy takes, it is also a heart-warming story. On my reading tour, I have learned from the children many lessons from the book that I never conceived, especially from those readers who have been forced to move or have reasons to really want to move or simply love their current homes. Sometimes the book also reminds readers of their different homes or friends’ homes. No matter how rich or poor, all of the children appreciate the love a caregiver provides. Ergo the explanation for my favorite line.


WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU?
When I read Home to my 4-year-old, Benjamin, and I say “the boy,” he immediately looks at me and says “Benjamin.” So if it fits your child’s demeanor, substitute his or her name. Or if reading to a female say “the girl” instead of “the boy.” The book is for your children and is no longer my baby.

On a much deeper, maybe Freudian level, the boy in the book is a happier version of myself. Home mirrors my childhood in a fun, exciting, adventurous way. At the age of 5, I may have been on a journey searching for a home, but for my unemployed teacher parents moving from New York City to California, these were not good times.


WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?
I am so flattered and amazed at each school where I read the book by the excitement in the children’s voices and movements and hand waving. And I highly recommend that parents be active readers – I included so many things to discuss on each page so parents can ask questions or point out details like the billy goat on top of the small barn house on the farm. But the story is about the love of family over all else, no matter how small one’s home is or how few toys there are to play with.


WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?
I am not sure I was a very good writer at a very young age but I had the biggest fan, my mother. She kept telling me how good a writer I was, and I believed her and developed a love for writing. She believed in me and I developed the confidence to believe in myself, and I never looked back.


WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?
I am a student and my writing style is the product of literature of the greatest American authors pre-1960. Yet both my award-winning books followed the formats of a variety of books – Finding the Uncommon Deal was based more off self-help books like Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends and Influence People and Home was based on children’s books from the 60s and 70s, like Where the Wild Things Are and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The first allowed it to be an easy-to-use book with a lot of information and the latter provided beautiful landscapes with interesting stories.


IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE?
I cherish the writings of so many greats who have written classics that may live on for centuries—from Homer, to Shakespeare, to Dickens, to Fitzgerald to Faulkner, to Clemens to Hemingway, to Truman Capote to Harper Lee. At this point, I do not even have the courage to reach their heights but I do believe that somewhere inside me is that book that may take years to write and be crushingly painful to finish but completely satisfying to publish. At this time, I can only dream and think of the plot.


WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
I have been blessed to have the means to have donated Home to a few thousand (and counting) underserved communities and children, and have seen the impact pictures and words can have on these communities. My first book, Finding the Uncommon Deal, has taught thousands of first-time homebuyers how to be better educated on buying homes and has provided a vehicle for television appearances and giving speeches on the subject.

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?
Someone needs to write our generation’s Great American Novel and right now I can only dream about being able to put together the story and then writing it.


DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
I am acting as the editor of and co-writing a definitive real estate primer that I hope will be a must-read for every real estate lawyer in New York.



LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Author Spotlight - Diane Mae Robinson on her award-winning book, The Dragon Grammar Book

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?  Even as a writer, when I had to look up a particular grammar rule, I often found grammar books or grammar site explanations hard to follow. The thought occurred to me that I’m probably not the only one. I decided that grammar needed to be explained in simpler terms, starting with the basics.  To make the book more fun, I incorporated the zany fantasy characters from my multi-award-winning children’s series The Pen Pieyu Adventures to be in the example sentences. The book is fun and has cool illustrations too. I’m glad that kids, and adults alike, are appreciating the book and that the book is helping them to learn grammar with its easy-to-understand lessons and examples.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? Learning can be fun!

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? Many authors have inspired me, ever since I first learned to read, but the person who inspired me the most is my mother—she taught me that I could be whatever I wanted to be in life, and I wanted to be a writer.

WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?

Lemony Snicket and his series A Series of Unfortunate Events. The author has an incredible sense of humor that kids understand. No matter the tale, he flawlessly suspends disbelief through excellence of building characters and writing style. I greatly admire that.

TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:

My first book was rejected 29 times before being accepted by a traditional publisher—about the same amount of times as Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected. 

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS: My creativity comes and goes in waves, and I never push it. When the creativity wave hits me, I’m often up at two or three in the morning and write for twelve hours straight, for days on end.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?  It takes me a long time to produce a book because I’m extremely particular and I don’t write when I’m not feeling creative. I’ve tried to take the advice of many well-known authors and write every day, but it just doesn’t work for me and it’s frustrating.

IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE? C.S. Lewis because I think it’s important to incorporate good values in characters and stories while creating a believable world.

HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? For several years I was with a traditional publisher, which was very hard to find: 29 rejections later, my first book was published with a traditional publisher. In 2017, I decided to become my own publisher, got back my rights, learned the self-publishing business, and never looked back.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? From my experience, publishing my own books has allowed me more access to promoting and putting my books on sale without the restrictions of a traditional publisher.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? Winning a Gold Award and a Lumen Award in 2018 from Literary Classics for The Dragon Grammar Book.

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? To always write the best books I can and have the reader enjoy the books.

TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: I’m an artist but I don’t illustrate my own books.

WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? 

Sir Princess Petra – The Pen Pieyu Adventures

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent – The Pen Pieyu Adventures

Sir Princess Petra’s Mission – The Pen Pieyu Adventures

Sir Princess Petra Coloring Book

The Forest Painter

All can be found on my Amazon Author Page

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I’m working on another grammar book, with the same fun Pen Pieyu characters giving the grammar lessons, that will elaborate on grammar terminology. The book will be available on Amazon and with most online book distributors, and on my website: www.dragonsbook.com

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

No Fish For Charles, by Tracy Detz, has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Charles, the crocodile, loves to take it easy, just chilling on the rocks and fishing from his canoe.  One day he gets a taste for fish and decides to play hooky from school so he can go fishing instead.  But the fish know better and they outwit the school-skipping-crocodile.  Told in rhyme, this whimsical book is wonderfully entertaining with an underlying message that school is important and skipping is not to be done.  Written by Tracy Detz, with expressive and vibrant illustrations by Monika Suska, No Fish For Charles is recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.


LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Author Emma Warner-Reed on her Award-Winning Book DOTTY and the Chimney Thief

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? I just sort of fell into it, really. I was commissioned to write a legal textbook whilst working as a Law Lecturer at an English university and then several more after that – and I came to realise how much I liked writing! I didn’t sit down and write my first work of fiction until 2015, though.


WAS THERE A TEACHER OR OTHER MENTOR WHO INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING - PLEASE ELABORATE: Not a teacher, as such, no. I am influenced by the classic stories I love to read – Alexandre Dumas, William Harrison Ainsworth, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Baroness Orczy (Scarlet Pimpernel) and anything by Dickens.

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? I hate to say it, but it just popped into my head. I came up with the idea for the series after the birth of my second son, and spent about 3 weeks mapping out the story, but didn’t start writing it until after the birth of my second daughter, four years later. DOTTY and the Chimney Thief simply follows on from the story set out in the initial book.


WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? I love the description of the Vagabond King turning into a flock of birds and flying away. I think it’s creepy and cool! “As he flew he unpieced himself like some sort of horrifying jigsaw, his body disintegrating into a flock of grey-black jackdaws that separated and flew off above the rooftops.”


WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE ARE MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? The main character, Dotty, shares a lot of my personal traits – but I won’t say which ones!


WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? It’s not really written with a message in mind – I just hope my readers enjoy it and that it fires their imaginations.


TELL US SOMETHING RANDOM/INTERESTING/FUNNY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: I love visiting schools. Children have such imagination and enthusiasm, and they
ask the most random questions: everything from ‘what is your next book about?’ to ‘what are the names of your children?’


IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY? JK Rowling for her worldwide success; Anthony Horowitz for his versatility; Peter Bently for his clever wit (I love his picture books) and Derek Landy for his sheer comic genius.


WHAT BOOK / PERSON / INCIDENT HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE? My mother, who repeatedly told me I was special (by this I hope she meant I was talented, and not doomed/damned!).


HOW DID YOU FIND AN AGENT / GET PUBLISHED? I am currently self-published and looking for an agent.


IF A CLOSE FRIEND OR LOVED ONE WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK, WHAT GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM? Get writing! You will never find the perfect moment, so seize whatever moments you have and put pen to paper before you forget what you wanted to say.


CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Marketing is a very individual thing – what works for some people (and some genres) won’t work for others. For a writer of children’s books it is particularly hard, as with most advertising you are promoting the book to the parents, not the children who will actually read it. The best way to get up close and personal and garner real relationships with a young readership, I would say, is probably through schools and libraries.


WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? To date, this award!


WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? I would like DOTTY to become a household name. My secret ambition is for John Williams to write DOTTY’s theme music ;o)


TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: I have four children under the age of 9 and until September this year I home schooled them all.


WHAT (IF ANY) OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? Apart from the legal texts, I have written 3 other DOTTY books, all of which are for sale on Amazon, and available in all good bookstores. They are:

DOTTY and the Calendar House Key (series book 1)
DOTTY and the Chimney Thief (series book 2)
DOTTY and the Dream Catchers (series book 3)
DOTTY and the Very Lucky Day (a related short story of around 5,000 words, aimed at the younger end of middle grade).

DOTTY and the Calendar House Key

DOTTY and the Dream Catchers

DOTTY and the Very Lucky Day


DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I’m working on two more DOTTY books at the moment – the fourth series book, which is called DOTTY and the Mermaid’s Purse, and a cookbook called From Mrs Gobbins’ Kitchen, which complements the series. Mrs Gobbins is the eccentric cook who features in all the DOTTY books, and who is always baking. The cookbook contains a number of the dishes that she serves up in the novels.

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Please Close It! earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Much to his mother’s dismay, Timmy Timberjamb refused to close drawers and doors.  He simply couldn’t be bothered with such trivial nuisances.  He always had an excuse of course.  Sometimes he was in too much of a hurry.  Or sometimes, he determined, it was simply easier not to. You see, he’d only be needing to open them again soon.  So why bother in the first place?  It would appear Timmy could not be reasoned with.  Then one day Timmy Timberjamb’s mother had an idea that would change everything.

Please Close It! By Kathleen M. Jacobs is the clever tale of what can happen when mom gets pushed just a little bit too far.  Whimsical illustrations by Ashley Teets are sure to incite a giggle or two as youngsters envision a stand-off in the Timberjamb household.  Please Close It! Is recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Half-Cat earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

Being half-cat can have its advantages.  Just ask anyone who is, they will certainly concur.  --Don’t know anybody who is half-cat?  Well then you most assuredly should read the book Half-Cat, by DJ Corchin.  This delightfully engaging children’s picture book gives young readers the inside track on the hows and whys of being 50% cat.  With wit and wisdom, Corchin explains everything from making friends, to what do when people sneeze around you.  Illustrations by Tyler Hawx are absolutely priceless and help make this book a true gem for those who are, or wish to be, cat-like.  Recommended for home and school libraries, Half-Cat has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.  

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Animal Village, by Nelda LaTeef, earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

In the village of Zandair lived a colony of animals which had prospered for many years.   But then one year no rain fell from the sky, the lake dried up, and the animals became weak from thirst and hunger.  The village chief gathered all the animals together to see what might be done to save them all.  None of the animals had any advice to offer their chief save one lowly turtle named Timba.  Timba humbly recalled a story from many years ago when her ancestors faced a similar plight.  The other animals scoffed at Timba’s suggestion, but with no other ideas the chief determined they should give Timba’s idea a try. 

Animal Village is a lovely tale with an enduring message of strength in humility and the power of persistence.  Beautifully penned and illustrated by Nelda LaTeef, the pages of this book come to life as children are inspired by this time-honored folk tale.  Recommended for home and school libraries, Animal Village has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org

Author Spotlight - Susan Count on her award-winning book

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? Grief. Grief inspired me to write. In my dark days, an adventure story filled my head and the writing process gave me great joy and re-established my equilibrium.

WAS THERE A TEACHER OR OTHER MENTOR WHO INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING - PLEASE ELABORATE: The first thing I remember writing was an essay on utopia, in middle grade. It came back to me covered in red-marks. Thoroughly discouraged, I decided then I was bad at writing and didn’t write my first novel until I was over 60. It turns out the ability to create a story is not the same as knowing where to put a comma. I use a brilliant editor for that.

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? Horses are a legacy in many families. My series reflects the love for horses passed from one generation to the next. I shared that love with my daughter and now my granddaughter – Selah.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCENE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? This little snippet of dialog always makes me chuckle.

“If I had a dream like that, I’d move out of my head.” Mary echoed a shiver.

“Want me to pray for you? Mrs. Tate prays for me all the time, so I know how to do it.”

“I guess, but I don’t see how it can help.”

“Let’s try it.” Mary brought her hands together, closed her eyes, and bowed her head.

Laura dropped her chin and rested her shoulder against Mary as she prayed.

“God? Please protect Laura from her bad dream. Amen.”

“That’s it?”

“He’s busy.”

WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE ARE MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? None are like me. The librarian in Mary’s Song is modeled after my very own librarian grandmother. She was dignified, elegant and beautiful in every way. She encouraged me to read my favorite genre – horse books, starting with The Black Stallion. I write at her desk.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? First, I hope young readers will absorb that their families are to be treasured. Their parents are silver and their grandparents are gold. Also, to keep their eyes on their dream and pursue it with passion.

IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY? I’m in no way comparable to her, but the author whose work I most admire is Anna Sewell who wrote Black Beauty. She wrote the book from the horses’ point of view which is extremely difficult to do expertly. Plus, she bettered the life of working horses with the book by bringing attention to their plight.

WHAT INCIDENT HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE? Writing the Dream Horse Adventure series has energized my life. It gives me great joy and purpose every day.

HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? For about a week, I thought I had an agent. She swooned over the book, but left me at the altar. Her gushing gave me confidence in the book and the determination to publish it myself. At some point, I realized if I sold Selah’s Sweet Dream to a traditional publishing house they would own the book. They would make all the decisions about its development. How could I have ever thought I could sell a book I’d written for Selah?

IF A CLOSE FRIEND OR LOVED ONE WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK, WHAT GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM? Write the whole book. Get that your first draft is dribble. Find a critique group and change everything. Get it professionally edited. Decide the publishing route best for you. Don’t look up the long staircase, but take one prayerful step at a time to get it done.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Lots, but that is a book in itself. I concentrate on writing the best book possible. Then I stack it against others in award contests. If your book floats to the top – you can assure it’s worth your readers' time.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? Something I never expected! While my books have won multiple first-place awards, I’ve been most honored by a scene in Selah’s Sweet Dream being selected for inclusion in reading comprehension testing for fifth graders - worldwide.

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? That the work of my hands would be pleasing to the Lord.

TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: If I’m taking notes while you're telling me something fun your child did, you can be sure it will find a way into my books.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? After you’ve read one of my books, come find me. SusanCountAuthor@yahoo.com I want to know what you think.

WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?

Selah’s Sweet Dream is the story of a girl who aspires to be an equestrian superstar and a horse with ATTITUDE. Selah is the granddaughter of Mary 

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? Of course! Editing Selah’s Painted Dream - the third book in Dream Horse Adventures. And considering the publication options for a book for boys – The Firefly Warriors. 

Selah’s Painted Dream is the story of a girl determined to chase her horse dreams even when life tries to buck her off. Sign up on my website to be notified of updates susancount.com.

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org