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Book: The Faith of a Mustard Seed

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Q1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers can get to know you better.

Hello, my name is Deborah Smith. I am a Speech and Language Pathologist. I have enjoyed teaching special needs children how to communicate for over 3 decades. I’ve often used books along with other teaching tools as a means to help stimulate language development in my students. My biggest joy however, is spending time with my family and creating stories.

Q2. What is your inspiration behind your book “The Faith of a Mustard Seed”?

I became inspired to write a book about faith for children because I noticed that many children are growing up lacking an understanding of who God is and what it means to have faith in Him. I wanted to teach the concept of faith on a very simple level.

Q3. When did you realize that you wanted to be an author?

I realized that I wanted to be an author a few years ago. We all know that life can present many challenges and hardships. Teaching children from a young age to build up their faith in God helps with overcoming difficulties. I felt that pictures and stories would be a good way to teach that concept on a simple level.

Q4. Are you planning to write your next book soon?

Yes, I am in the process of writing more children books. One is a faith- based book and the others have different themes.

Q5. For which age group your book “The Faith of a Mustard Seed” is suitable?

The book is suitable for children up to 8 years old. However, it was written to engage older siblings and caregivers to engage in dialogue about the concept of faith. The questions at the end of the book will hopefully stimulate that conversation and really get people to think about trusting God.

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Q6. What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote is the scripture Matthew 17:20, where it talks about having faith the size of a seed so that nothing will be impossible for you. What a power to tap into!

Q7. How is life in New York?

I enjoy living in New York and being around a diversity of cultures. You can always find something to do. It can however be busy and fast paced. I work in a busy and populated area which many people do enjoy. At the end of the day, I thoroughly enjoy winding down in a quieter setting.

Q8. What suggestions do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?

My advice would be to always set up a consistent time to read with your children. Take trips to the library and make reading important. Reading builds up their imagination, vocabulary and literacy skills. But most important, kids love to spend that individual bonding time with their parents. Time goes by fast so create those moments as often as you can.

Q9. What does literary success look like for you?

For me as an author I ask myself these questions:
Did I stimulate interest in the book?
Did I get children thinking about a concept I presented?
Did I encourage children and parents to engage in dialogue?
Was something learned?

Q10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

My inspiration in life are my daughters. They are very talented individuals. They have grown into bright and beautiful women inside and out. They encourage me to stay relevant to the times!

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

The Faith of a Mustard Seed

Book: Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot

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Q1. Can you please introduce yourself so that the readers can know you better?

I was born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. I started off my career as a primary school teacher, and now work in the field of online education.

Q2. From where did you have the idea to write your book “Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot”?

I started thinking about my first house as a child, where I used to love wandering through the back woods and discovering hidden places. So that is where the book starts off…Amber wandering through the back woods with her dogs and stumbling upon a magical, hidden place.

I have always been obsessed with magical “otherworlds” I guess you could call them. My favorite movie has always been “The Wizard of Oz” so obviously the Land of Oz was an inspiration. And I also loved “Brigadoon” about a magical Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years. All inspiration for my “Land of Laugh-a-Lot” for sure!

Q3. What do you hope your readers will take away from your book?

At its core, the book is about friendships lost and new ones found. It is also about transition in one’s life and how difficult it can be, and how it seems things will never get better…but they do, in time. And good friends are always worth the wait.

Q4. What are your hobbies apart from reading and writing?

I love being outside in nature, exploring the natural beauty of our world – beaches, waterfalls, mountains. I also love road trips, music, dancing, watching good TV and movies, and spending lots of time with my family. And I insanely love dogs.

Q5. Please tell me something about yourself that will astonish me and the readers?

That I didn’t start publishing my writing until my forties…although my mom said technically I wrote my first book when I was like 5 or 6. I always wrote in some form or another growing up, but on my fortieth birthday I had some kind of mid-life epiphany, I think. I promised myself I would start writing more and actively pursued it. I started writing and publishing articles for online platforms like Blasting News and Medium. I created a personal blog, Life Lessons for My Daughter. Then from there, just started writing children’s stories.

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Q6. How do you select the names of your characters?

I really wanted to write a book with a character based on my daughter, Amber, who is now 7. Then our two dogs, Bandit and Roxy, got added in as well. “Amber Tambourine” was a nickname I gave my daughter as a toddler – I don’t even remember why now, to be honest – I have just always made up cutesy nicknames for her – this one just kind of stuck.

Q7. How is life in Canada?

Canada is a beautiful country and being such an outdoorsy person, I truly value and enjoy all of its breathtaking scenery. I think my best writing ideas have come to me while walking and being out and about in nature.

Q8. Can you please tell me and readers about your debut book publishing journey?

I was so fortunate that Austin Macauley Publishers USA believed in my little book and took a chance on me as a first-time author. It really is difficult to get your first book published but Austin Macauley is all about giving first-time authors a chance, and they are fantastic! I will be forever grateful to them.

Q9. Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?

I definitely want to keep writing children’s books, so my goal for the next 10 years is to keep writing and hopefully get more books published.

Q10. Who inspires you the most in life?

My daughter Amber is my biggest inspiration – I love watching her grow and play and dance and discovering her own unique talents and interests. I find myself jotting down story ideas all the time just from things she is interested in.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot

Book: The F Word

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Q1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know you better.

My name is Paris Chanel and I’m a writer from Chicago, Il. I write humor books, children books, and YA Fiction. I can write anything.

Q2. What is your inspiration behind your book “The F Word”?

My son was my inspiration. He repeats everything and much like his parents, he adds a comical spin to everything he does, even when he’s being mischievous. This story is based on a true story, condensed down to one day.

Q3. What are your hobbies apart from writing?

Apart from writing, I love to read! LOVE to read. Reading relaxes my mind and opens the world (this world and factitious worlds) up for me.

Q4. Are you planning to write your next book soon?

My next humor book and four children’s books are COMPLETED! They just need to be illustrated. I want to keep my same illustrator, @Taiye_okoh, because he’s the best and understands my vision for the stories. Hopefully we can have three more out by the end of this year. I’m also in the middle of re-writing a couple of YA Fiction books that I can’t wait to introduce to the world. There’s nothing like them.

Q5. For which age group your book “The F Word” is suitable?

Good question! This book is targeted to any adult with a sense of humor. The book is funny! I am also targeting parents, who I think will find the book most relatable. They can decide if the book is suitable for their child to read for a laugh.

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Q6. What is your favorite Quote?

I don’t really have a favorite quote. The scripture that screams at me all the times is, Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.”

Q7. What is your reaction when you hear a kid using bad word around you?

If it’s not my kid, I don’t have much of a reaction. I wonder how the parent feels because I’ve been there. When it’s my kid, I’m shocked and feel bad because I hope they didn’t pick up the word from me or their dad. The point of the book, if you pay attention *wink*, is that we parents can’t fully control what your child hears, sees, and picks up from the world we live in.

Q8. What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?

Hmmm…I say find books about something that they have an actual interest in, and their child will read it on their own. Enjoying reading came naturally to me, but not to all my kids. I don’t understand that at all, but I had to accept it. They have other passions that I love.

Q9. What does literary success look like to you?

Literary success to me is producing a book that you are proud of and not only sharing it with the world. Everything that I write has an intention. I wrote The F Word to make people laugh. The next book is to make people remember and understand that they are a part of history. My YA fiction books were written to make people think on a new level. If I can reach people through my literature, people I’ve never met and will probably never meet, to me, that is literary success.

Q10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

I have so many…Simply put, I want to be the Beyonce of writing.

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

The F Word