Book: Caleb’s Adventures with Granddad
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I grew up in Ontario, California (where I still live) when there were orange groves and grape vineyards throughout the area. My parents came from Switzerland, and I am the oldest of their 4 sons. As a kid, I loved going to school and had a strong desire to write and draw. In college I studied fine arts and education. I was a teacher and an administrator in the public school system for over thirty years. I still like to write, create art and of course, spend time with my children and grandchildren.
Q2. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title Caleb’s Adventures with Granddad?
My original title was Are You Ready for an Adventure? My editor at Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc. suggested having the two characters in the story be a part of the title.
This same great editor helped me select the illustrator. Nana not only produced the pictures inside the book, but she also designed and drew the cover. For both inside and outside the book, my editor and I discussed the vision of what we wanted.
Q3. Are there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
Just getting a concept and developing the characters takes a lot of time. Once the story is mapped out, there are many drafts that are produced before sending it to a publisher.
Q4. What is your favorite spot to visit in your own Country? And what makes it so special to you?
I like to travel both in and out of the United States. I enjoy different cultures and meeting new people. If I had to pick a special place in the U.S., it would have to be Oregon because I have family and a long-time childhood friend who live there. The pace of life is so much slower than in Southern California.
Q5. What were the key challenges you faced while writing Caleb’s Adventures with Granddad?
Actually my grandson, who is named Caleb, and I talked about a book idea with a grandfather and his closeness to his grandchildren. Then, there was the discussion of ideas and story before I ever started writing the book. Many drafts, additions and deletions of ideas, and content were all a part of the creative process to get the best book possible.
Q6. Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers?
Sequels are always popular and the audience is already familiar with the characters. I have another Adventures with Granddad idea with a granddaughter this time. I am also working on a second Three Genie Brothers book.
Q7. On what platforms can readers find your books to buy?
You can get my books on Amazon and through Barnes and Noble online. Also, my publishers Atlantic Publishing Group for Caleb’s Adventures with Granddad and iUniverse for Three Genie Brothers (a middle grade fantasy fiction book).
Q8. When writing a book, how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I believe that having well-defined characters in a fun and wonderful storyline keeps everything fresh for me. I think the same goes for the readers: they, too, want to read about people who they feel like they know and to root for them in the story.
Q9. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
As a teacher, I collected so many children’s books to read to my students. I enjoyed unique characters and the stories they were in. For example, I thoroughly enjoy Brandon Mull’s Pingo and its sequel, Pingo and the Playground Bully. I also like what are called fractured fairy tales like Bubba, the Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman. Of course, all the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.
Q10. Lastly, do you want to give any advice to someone wanting to write and publish a book?
First of all, read, read, read. The more you read, the greater vocabulary you develop. Writing is about words. The next recommendation is to write daily. This could be in a journal and may only be a few sentences, but write, write, write. Finally, check out the children’s books (or other genre you are interested in) at the local library and bookstore to see what is currently being written. Know what your audience is purchasing.
Book Is Available On Amazon
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