Children's books
I got my first place in my twenties. I had no money and was going to college and working as a substitute teacher. I had an old Corona typewriter and built a desk out of 1″x 2″ lengths of pine, a picture of Jack Nicholson hung on the wall and my grandmother’s pull out couch took over most of the studio. I sat behind the desk looking out the window dreaming, “I would write the next great american novel.” Well, what appeared, was a “A Rose Without Thorns.” I sent it off to a few publishers, got a few rejections, then decided to make the book myself. The book was printed in a guys garage on a one color press, the pages sewn together on my mom’s sewing machine and the book bound by hand in my parents garage. It was an amazing experience and one that would change my life.
I became a High School Graphics Arts teacher and continued to write and make books. In each of my classes over 20 years, each student had to write, illustrate, design, print and bind their own book. Many of the students the project at first, but by the time the book was complete and they held it in there hands, they were happy and proud. I think there is nothing like creating a book.
“The Day the Sky Turned Green,” is a celebration of the imagination. Join two delightful characters as they experience the mind opening wonders of a unique world. Have fun with the bountiful bouquet of colors as “The Day the Sky Turned Green” reminds both children and adults that, “anything is possible.”
“I remember always,
the greatest thing I’d ever seen,
I looked up one day
and the sky had turned Green.”
Author’s note:
My wife and I were visiting her relatives in Minnesota, just sitting around the house, when a tornado warning was announced. Everyone ran down to the basement, but I stayed by the window upstairs. I’d never seen a tornado. It turns out that when a tornado nears and as it whips up the dust and what ever else it likes, the particles rise into the sky and the sky can turn Green. That gave me the idea for the story.
“ABC and 123” magically creates characters from numbers and the alphabet and tells the adventurous tale of two friends, a storm, a shark, a seagull, and a whale. The story presents a colorful and unique way to practice the numbers 1-10 and the letters of the alphabet.
In a small town
by the sea,
There lived a boy
named 123.
And on an island
across the sea,
Lived his friend
ABC.
Author’s note:
The idea behind this story was, to create a fun way to practice numbers and letters. The characters and story line were definately influced by my love for surfing, the ocean and Alaska.
In a world that seeks instant gratification, Timothy discovers there is fun in trying and joy in accomplishment. “I Can Do It, I Know I Can” is the story of a boy and his father and the sometimes painful steps of learning something new.
One day, Timothy and his dad went outside to play. “Throw the ball really high,” Timothy said to his dad, “I want to catch it.”
Author’s note:
Everytime my son and I would play, read a book or do just about anything, it’d always end the same. “Again, again, again,” he’d say over and over. Definitely, again, again, again inspired this story.
“A Rose Without Thorns,” is the story of a boy’s search for the perfect birthday gift for his mother. Despite disappointment after disappointment, Timothy perserveres through out his search, until he discovers the perfect gift.
Timothy woke up very early this morning. It was his mother’s birthday and he couldn’t think of anything nice to give her.
Author’s note:
Really a couple favorite classic points: It’s the thought that counts and a present from the heart.