#WriterWednesday with Author LaTonya Richardson

Today I'm chatting with children's author, LaTonya Richardson. Read her interview and get to know this ray of sunshine!

Photo by Deborah Horn

AT: Where do you live? What’s your town’s claim to fame?
LR: I live in Pine Bluff. My town's claim to fame is the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff... The Golden Lions.

AT: Okay, homegirl! Love me some Golden Lions!! What genre do you write?
LR: I write children's books.

AT: Nice! Are you a published author or aspiring to be published? If published, how many books are out there with your name on them?
LR: I am a published author of three books, only one being available mainstream. My first book, which I'm currently working on reproducing is 'Mama's Got Eyes In The Back of Her Head,' 'Lirocatchamella,' and my recent project 'Going On A Bear Hunt.' 

AT: You've been busy! What inspires you to write?
LR: My surroundings, and children inspire me to write. My grandson is my latest muse. He's curious, and very funny. Children see things differently, and their view of the world provides loads of fun ideas for telling stories. 

AT: That's so true! Name one book you wish you’d written.
LR: One book I wish I'd written... Ummm ... That's a difficult question, and I cannot come up with a really cool, or profound answer.

AT: Lol, no problem. What was the last book you read?
LR: The last book I read is 'Ante Up' by Christina C. Jones.

AT: Oh, I love her! Who is your favorite author? Why?
LR: My favorite author is J. California Cooper. She paints vivid pictures and is super funny.

AT: I'm a fan of her work, too. Now for the fun questions! You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
LR: If I were a new edition to the crayon box I'd be tangerine bliss. I'm vibrant, energetic, and just the right amount of POP!

AT: I hear you! Keep popping, lol. What would your autobiography be called?
LR: My autobiography would be called Don't Worry, Be Happy.

AT: Sounds like it would be a wonderful read! Do you believe in love at first sight?
LR: Of course I believe in love at first sight! I'm a hopeless romantic.

AT: Me too...me too (sigh). If a genie granted you three wishes, what would they be? (can't ask for more wishes)
LR: Three wishes... 1. I'd like to win the Coretta Scott King Award (I'm actually submitting this year), 2. Win the lottery, for sure! 3. Perfect vision. I have an eye disease that causes my sight to deteriorate.  I've had one cornea transplant, and will soon have another. You don't realize how precious your vision/sight is until it's jeopardized.

AT: Amen! So glad to see you persevering despite it all! Are you spring, summer, fall, or winter? Please share why.
LR: I'm Spring for sure! Spring is refreshing, alive, and bright, just like moi.

AT: Love it! Tea or coffee?
LR: Tea... Southern and syrupy sweet tea.

AT: Yesssss. Tell us about your most recent/current project.
LR: My latest project, 'Going On A Bear Hunt', is children's picture book about an adventure of two young city boys who are bored with county living. They hunt for bear with unconventional means. Amazon 

EXCERPT: 

"Hey buds. Why such long faces?" Uncle Eddie Ray asked the boys.

"We're bored," Austin said.

"I've kicked the ball all over the yard," Aiden fussed. "And Austin has chased all the squirrels up the trees."

"We've both tried to count the ants marching up the hill in the backyard. Days ago we picked all the flowers off the bush right outside of the kitchen window.”

"I see your problem," Uncle Eddie Ray said. "You guys have done all there is to do in this neck of the woods. Except hunt for bear."

AT: How can readers connect with you?
LR: Readers can connect me www.larichmedia.com; Twitter, & Facebook: @LaRichMedia; Instagram: @LaRichMediaGroup; email latonya@larichmedia.com

AT: Any final words?
LR: I enjoy reading, and losing myself in a great story. And even more than reading, I enjoy writing a great story. For me writing is as necessary as eating and breathing.

AT: I feel you. I truly do.

Virtual #Book Tour - Adunni Dares to Dream

Write Now Literary is pleased to announce Adunni Dares to Dream by Taiwo I Ajao, Virtual Book Tour, June 5-30, 2017.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Kids, Youth

Author/Illustrator Bio

The Dr. Ajaos are a husband-wife, doctor-nurse team who have a joint passion for health literacy, preventative healthcare, and education for at-risk groups in the Global setting. Mrs. Taiwo I Ajao, the Author, is a Registered Nurse with a Master’s in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health, while Dr. ‘Wale Ajao, the Illustrator, is an internationally-trained medical doctor with a Master's of Arts in Communications & Producing for Film and Video. Together, The Dr. Ajaos intend to address health literacy via it’s most fundamental forms: using the arts of writing, entertainment, and communication to educate children and their parents. Adunni Dares to Dream is the beginning of a beautiful merger of not just a celebration of educational achievement, but also of Faith, Hope, Love and Miracles.

About The Book

Adunni Dares to Dream is the true tale of a poor African girl who just wanted to go to school. Although she was a part of a very hardworking family, Adunni just could not have the finer things in life, like school, books, & literacy. In her culture, girls were just expected to look pretty, get married and have children. But Adunni wished for something more.

As Adunni dares to dream , she inspires many others to dream too, including a handsome young man who couldn't stop dreaming about her! So Adunni has choices to make. Does she give in to her society's expectations? Does she chose the status quo? What are Adunni's dreams and where do her dreams take her?

__________________________


Guest Post:

“Adunni Dares to Dream” is a story about a young girl who grew up poor in the village in a time when expectations were different for girls than from boys. Girls were (and in many places still are) expected to help in the home or on the farm and learn to become a mother and homemaker someday. They simply were not a priority when it came to formal education. It was rare for girls to develop a determination to break those gender barriers, even more so for a girl in a poor family. This is what makes Adunni’s journey very compelling.

This is my first time illustrating a book for this age range so, naturally, I assumed the book would have to be colorful, clear/clean/crisp, and easy for a child to digest what’s going on.

In hindsight, I may have been wrong but that was the summary of my strategy.

I harked back to my college days when I was in charge of the art department in our student fellowship. We used to make a lot of posters using cardboard cutouts. I’d make a sketch of the illustration and then figure out what colors of cardboard we would use, and then cut them accordingly.

Using Adobe Illustrator to digitally make the basic shapes really brings back those memories. Each illustration was to look as if it was made out of cardboard cutouts but I couldn’t resist adding a little bit of realism (a shadow here, a gradient there, and a bevel here) which I believe gives it a unique look even if that strict cardboard look is missing (meh...maybe on my next book).

Again, the idea was to use simple shapes with fine gradient colors and a hint of caricature here and there. I hoped the real kicker would be the use of patterns. Nigerian attire is very rich with patterns and instead of highly detailed backgrounds, we have patterns. Some of the patterns in the attires are based on real cloth patterns. If you look at the photo of young adult Adunni, you will see that the pattern on her dress was applied to the illustration of Adunni. I hope this blends well with the touching story Taiwo wrote and the decision to include some of the original language.

Overall it’s been an eye-opening collaborative experience all the way. And we are proud to announce the birth of this book which is our first-born baby as it were. Like a real baby, it takes a village to raise it and this book has been no exception.

We hope you love it...er...her, and she grows into the phenomenon that the inspiration for her truly is. We’ve seen that phenomenal inspiration in action and we hope you do to.

_______________________________


Excerpt

Whenever Adunni brought up the idea of school, somehow Mama found a way to end it. Despite the fact that she was illiterate, Mama was sharp, hardworking and very resourceful with money. Mama had married young, as was common in the culture, and she started to bear children as a teenager. It was unfortunate, however, that she experienced the loss of many of those children during childbirth. Only Adunni and her sister had survived, and Adunni wondered often about what she could have done to save those who hadn't made it. Adunni was tearful as she remembered how her mother had nearly died last year during childbirth. Was every girl expected to get married and have children, even if it killed her? Adunni didn’t want to be like other girls: she wanted to be great! Adunni believed that to be great, she must be smart and be able to read, and learn great things. 

Amazon Link 

for Reviews Only

Website

Tour hosted by Write Now Literary

Follow the tour here 

Outside, Inside Cover Reveal

Children's Book (4-8)

Date Published: August 25, 2015

Have you ever felt like all of your friends had forgotten about you?  Have you ever felt left out?  This is exactly what happens to Birdie in Outside, Inside.  When Birdie does not see his friends around, he decides to go out and look for them.  He quickly finds that something strange is going on.  Birdie’s friends are really planning a super fun surprise that gives Birdie a change of heart.  Outside, Inside is a simple story about the joy of friendship and giving.  Using 35 easy words and vivid, colorful characters, this story is enchanting for the youngest of readers.

EXCERPT

About the Author

Cindy Helms is a visual artist, author and illustrator known for designing unusual projects. For Cindy, art is created from curious and whimsical combinations of shapes, textures and colors.  In her unique and simple children’s books, Cindy’s art work comes to life in characters that enchant children and adults alike. Cindy lives in the Denver, CO area with two artistic boys and two fat black cats.  She loves road trips, camping and discovering new places.

Contact Links

Website

Guest Post - Laura Maw, author of Ollie the Orca

Children's Book

Date Published: October 2014

Come along and join Bubba the Bottlenose dolphin as he makes a new buddy while sharing a day they won’t soon forget. Grade 1-2 Reading Level

Bubba is out on one of his undersea adventures when he finds a frightened Orca trapped by a fishing net! In this attention gripping yet comical tale, Bubba works with his buddy Sammy the Seagull to free Ollie. Come along and join Bubba the Bottlenose dolphin as he makes a new buddy while sharing a day they won’t soon forget.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Ollie the Orca

1. Ollie the Orca received a 5 Star Seal in March 2015 from Readers’ Favorite. This is an awesome achievement!

2. The character of Ollie was created through daydreaming about Bubba’s new adventures.

3. The project took about one year to complete from rough draft to published book. The writing process included a rough draft, word evaluation for grade level, edited drafts, final copy, and book dedication. The illustration process included pencil sketches, edits to sketches, and colour illustrations. Then once the story and illustrations are completed book layout brings everything together and gets the book ready to print. After a proof is printed and everything looks great, you are finally ready to publish!

4. Did you know that the use of Smart Boards in elementary school classrooms is on the rise? This definitely had an impact on the decision to publish Ollie the Orca in e-book format in addition to paperback.

5. It is completely coincidental that the page count and publication month matches Bubba’s Balloon. When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be! The two books fit so well together.

6. The author and illustrator are both Canadian.

7. The name Owen was also considered for the Orca character. Ollie was chosen because it fit best with the character’s personality.

8. The illustration of Ollie turned out exactly how the author had imagined him.

9. In the initial pencil sketch of Bubba and Ollie meeting with the net in between them, Bubba was accidentally positioned inside the net instead of Ollie! It was really funny and an easy fix!

10. Sammy the Seagull is the senex in the Bubba n’ Buddies stories. He is the wise older character that helps Bubba learn about himself and his surroundings in a safe and enlightening manner. Yoda and Gandalf are examples of famous senex.

Purchas Link

Amazon

About the Author

When Laura Maw was a child, her favorite activities were going to the ocean and picking out another stack of books from the library. She loved reading from a very young age and could never seem to satisfy her craving for another new adventure, another new imagination landscape. Writing is a passion that seemed to come naturally with her love of reading. She too wanted to be able to help someone through a bad day, or to have a unique and thrilling experience on a good day, through the written communication of a story. She has a very vivid imagination that often takes her on wondrous adventures in her dreams. In fact, the idea for Bubba’s Balloon came to her in the form of a very funny dream. She woke up laughing and felt that it was a story that must be shared with others. The character of Ollie was even developed through daydreaming about Bubba’s adventures.

https://www.facebook.com/BubbanBuddies

I WON’T CHANGE MY HAIR AT ALL & KOOL MINDS FOR GIRLS #BLOG TOUR

About The Books:

Title: I Won’t Change My Hair At All

Author: Tiana Bunnell-Mumford

Publisher: Creative Minds Work Publication, LLC

Pages: 38

Genre: Children's Christian Fiction

Format: Paperback

Sometimes as little girls it’s hard to accept yourself the way God created you to be when there are so many other girls who have something you desire. Walk with me on the journey through the book to find out how four girls who came from four different cultures discover how to accept and love themselves.

Title: Kool Minds for Girls

Author: Tiana Bunnell-Mumford

Publisher: Creative Minds Work Publication, LLC

Page: 38

Genre: Children's Christian Fiction

Format: Paperback

Kool Minds for Girls is an empowerment journal for young girls. It is filled with scriptures and activities that will help young girls with self-esteem and self-worth.

Purchase Links:

http://www.creativemindswork.com (bookstore)

Amazon: (Kool Minds for Girls)

Amazon: (I Won’t Change My Hair At All)

The Book Patch: thebookpatch.com

About the Author:

Tiana Bunnell-Mumford is the creator of the Beauty Beyond the Eyes Mentoring Program, interactive workshops designed to equip young children and teens to believe they can succeed, believe in themselves, be bright in their thinking and be bold in their creativity.

Bunnell-Mumford is a freelance writer, teacher and mentor who has worked with children of all ages for the last ten years. She believes empowering children to be their best selves will lead them to success in their future. This is the subject of her debut novel, I Will Not Change My Hair At All. She is also the author of Kool Minds Journal for Girls. 

Bunnell-Mumford has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Assistant and is pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree in Social Work. She stands by her faith that young readers and adults will be impacted by the message within her books. She resides in Indianapolis, IN with her husband and children. 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: Mrs. Tiana1

Twitter: @Creativemindz01

Website: www.creativemindswork.com

Tour Host: Got’cha Covered PR

#WriterWednesday - Be Calm Be Brave Don't Be Afraid Book Tour with Imari Douthit

About The Book

Ally and Max are a sister and brother adventure team that helps towns in distress. When a rock lands in Ally’s bedroom to give them their mission, the duo is off to solve the problem. This mission has them going into the future and once the duo arrives they are in for a surprise. Will Ally and Max be able to save the town under siege? Or will they become the town’s next victims?

My Review

This was a cute little adventurous story penned by a talented young lady with a vivid imagination. This story follows a brother and sister duo, Max and Ally, as they embark on a journey to, ultimately, save the world. It did read as if it was the sequel to another book for me, but I do believe children will enjoy this book and if she works hard to hone her craft, this young author has a promising career ahead of her.

As a caveat to parents, I want to share that this book did include lots of magical realism and may not be appropriate for younger children.

3.5 Stars

About Imari Douthit

Imari Douthit is a young author wanting to entertain others through her words. She is a creative writer with an exciting and adventurous imagination. Imari’s love for story telling prompted her to become a published author. She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with her family.

Site: www.imaridouthit.wordpress.com

Facebook: Imari Douthit

Twitter: @imaridouthit