My Darling Child Shiloh
1. What really
inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience
and conveying it into a book? In my earlier years, crafting picture books
portraying obscure narratives about mythical heroes and talking animals was
merely a precursor to my future career as an author. Little did I know that my
adventures in writing and publishing would lead me to become a bestselling
American poet having published ten books and claimed six world records all
before entering my sophomore year at the College of DuPage. And even though my
talent for the written word developed around children's literature, it never
seemed logical to simplify my poetry for younger readers, but to my surprise
after being influenced by those closest to me, My Darling Child Shiloh emerged
from the furthest reaches of my creativity. The basis for my first children's
book didn't just originate from the desire my readers expressed for a more
youthful extension of my work, but from the fact that one vital element was
missing from my creations – the love for my mother. Everything I've achieved
since birth is because of her and is a debt that weighs gracefully on my
shoulders that I may never be able to repay but certainly deserves the
attention of my inherited abilities. Dedicating this book to my mother is more
than a gesture of respect for a parent but a heartfelt honor that lies beneath
my duty as a devoted son. Ever since My Darling Child Shiloh was
officially released through Lulu Press back in August 2016, it has been ranked
on six different bestseller lists and continues to receive national acclaim
from prominent media outlets capturing the highlights of its growing success.
2. What is it about
and whom do you believe is your targeted reader? The underlying story of My
Darling Child Shiloh focuses on a particular day a boy named Shiloh and
his mother are spending together in the wilderness enjoying the wonders of
nature. Experiencing the simplicity of life by observing the pleasantries of
their environment, they begin to understand the value that rests within the
love shared between them and what it truly means to be joined as a family. The
intended audience of a book like this would primarily be children anywhere from
6-8 years old aiming to connect their developing minds to the purely concocted
messages behind the series of events that gradually unfold throughout the story
in the most intriguing way.
3. What do you hope
will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book? What should
remain with them long after putting it down? There are many benefits associated
with reading a book, especially when that book pertains to a topic you find
interesting and can relate to in one way or another. Books are more than just
tools of personal entertainment or education but are gateways to other worlds
apart from ours that allow you to express yourself without fearing the impact
that everything in your exterior may have on your life. And giving that My
Darling Child Shiloh depicts such a spirited, innocent, and lovable tether
between mother and son, it grants the reader an opportunity to relive their greatest
childhood memories word after word. When parents read this book to their
children, it is my sincerest hope that they sense the commitment my mother had
for me growing up and ultimately feel the tenderness of the love we continue to
share. The idea of maintaining the balance of family is not typically a
priority that our generation cares about but shouldn't taint the changing
perspectives of those who look up to us. If there's anything that should be
taken from my book, it's to appreciate those closest to you and never forget
where you came from.
4. What advice or
words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? My advice to any aspiring
author is simple: once you get going don’t stop rowing. Meaning that when you
make your first move to enter this space you can never go back because once
your name is out there it’s out there for good. Trust me, when I published my
first poem on PoetryNation.com and shared it with all of my Facebook
friends, I was nervous that they might think differently about me as an
individual, but when the feedback started to roll in, confidence was the only
thing that remained. You have to understand that anyone can publish a
book nowadays and be given the same opportunity as everyone else to make a name
for themselves. The art of this equation that most fail to realize is that even
though anyone can make the first step, how are you going to figure out what
happens next? There’s no one there to stand beside you and walk you through the
process from start to finish. It’s just you. For instance, I didn’t have
someone advising my every decision as I published my first book when I was only
15 years old. I was still in high school and didn't have the slightest clue
what I was doing. But within the vast networks of the miracle we know today as
the Internet, anything was possible and nothing stood in my way from success. If
you really want to become the best writer you can be, you need to utilize the
information already available to you. Don’t try to go the traditional route,
submit your manuscripts to big publishing houses, eagerly await their approval,
and then find out they won’t accept works from unknown authors. Use your time
wisely and do exactly what I did five years ago. Become best friends with your
computer and go on an adventure you’ll never forget.
5. What trends in
the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry
is heading? I’ve always had a passion for the written word being pressed unto
printed paper. There’s just something about it that stimulates the senses
differently compared to reading a book digitally. The publishing industry has
definitely taken a turn recently and has begun to explore alternative avenues
of manuscript distribution through the production of eBooks and audiobooks,
which in their entirety, are promising in terms of accessibility and
portability but just aren’t the same. Picking up a freshly bound book and
caressing the matted paper and ink with your own two hands as you soak in the
beauty behind every page is priceless. You can’t do that with a tablet. The
common misconception that consumers and even industry professionals alike have
is that print is dying and will not be a medium of choice ten or twenty years
from now. But actually, they’re mistaken. We live in a physical world that is
focused around an epicenter of touch and without it would be not much of a
world at all. You can’t take away an aspect of life from a daily enjoyment such
as reading a book. That would be unspeakably cruel. And that is exactly why
print media is far from going out of style and will certainly last longer than
some might expect.
6. What great
challenges did you have in writing your book? My Darling Child Shiloh assumed
a firm poetic identity when it was drafted and was intended to be the headliner
of a new anthology focused on the timeless qualities of life at its finest, but
oddly pivoted at the last minute to a more gentle, serene, and
visually-dependent piece. Now, my area of expertise depends on my ability to
professionally compose and connect the rhythm of words, but hardly on the
creation and placement of original illustrations.Partnering with Mallory Clark,
the artist commissioned to visually represent the morals carefully inserted
throughout My Darling Child Shiloh, was necessary for the completion and
survival of the publication. You can’t craft a quality children’s book without
unique artwork, and considering each picture was produced by hand over the
course of three years, there’s nothing but originality in the book. Even though
assembling imagery required the most effort, its debut in the marketplace
proved that patience pays and is explicitly vital to the manufacturing of any
masterful work of literature.
7. If people can
only buy one book this month, why should it be yours? The merit of a book
should be decided not by attractive casing that cloaks the pages or the
description stamped on the back previewing what awaits within, but the
dimension that lies just beyond the title. In My Darling Child Shiloh,
there is more than meets the eye and is a gift that keeps on giving regardless
of how many times you read it. You’re always uncovering details that you
previously overlooked and seeing the finer realities that have been
unnoticeably positioned in every word and illustration that collectively makes
the story worth the wait as you follow the trail the characters place before
you. If you’ve be searching for the perfect book to ease your thoughts or share
with the family, you need look no further.
For
more information, please see: http://www.aaronozee.com/
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog
are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter
@theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more
important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2017©. Born and raised in Brooklyn, now resides in
Westchester. Named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs
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