Hello everyone! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sherry Ellis. She has a great writing style. I follow her blog, "Mama Diaries." It is a whimsical description of her family life. So, Sherry…
1. Tell us a little about your book, That Mama is a Grouch: It’s a picture book for kids ages 3-7 about a Mama who’s nearly out of control. Toys are everywhere, finger-paint handprints are on the walls, and the house looks like a tornado just touched down. The protagonist, a precocious child, can’t understand why Mama is upset. After a little explanation, the girl learns that by following a few rules, Mama tantrums can be prevented.
2. What inspired you to write this book? Real-life experience! About nine years ago, when my kids were little, they had left toys strewn all over the family room floor. I came in, with a basket of laundry. Not seeing one of the toys, I tripped. The clothes in the laundry basket flew out, and I ended up whacking my toe on the couch, breaking it. Yes, I was one very grouchy mama!
3. What is your hope for this book? I would like to see it used as a tool to initiate discussions about the importance of cleaning up, and also about following household rules. If there aren’t rules in place, I’d like to see this book serve as an inspiration for creating them. Additionally, I’d like kids to realize that parents are human, with feelings and emotions, and I’d like parents to realize that kids are kids, and messes are to be expected.
4. Do you have other books? Yes. I’m the author of That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN, which is a very good book for helping kids get used to a new baby in the house.
5. What is a little known fact about you? I used to be a PADI Scuba diving instructor. I logged over 800 dives. That’s a lot of time under water!
6. What are some of your other hobbies and interests? I am a professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. I also enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, bike riding, and gardening.
7. Are you a morning or night person? I am definitely a morning person. My husband jokes that I’m solar-powered. When the sun comes up, I’m ready to go. When the sun goes down, that’s it - my “on” switch goes “off.”
8. What literary character are you like, and why? Since I write for children, I’ll have to liken myself to a children’s literary character. I’d say I’m like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. My nose is always in a book, and I try to look at the inner character of a person, rather than the exterior appearance.
9. What are you working on now? I’m working on a series of chapter books for kids ages 7-10. I call them the “Bubba and Squirt” series. The first book is Big Hole to China. The protagonists, two kids named Bubba and Squirt, travel via magic through a hole and end up in different countries, where they have an adventure, and learn a little about the language, culture, and history of the country. I have an agent, and he’s been working to find a publisher.
10. Where can readers connect with you? They can find me at my website, www.sherryellis.org and at my blog, http://sherryellis.blogspot.com. Links to my Facebook fan page can also be found through either of these sites
Thank you for having me as a guest!
You are most welcome! I enjoyed it!
Sherry’s Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Ellis/e/B002BLHFN6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1391391440&sr=8-1
1. Tell us a little about your book, That Mama is a Grouch: It’s a picture book for kids ages 3-7 about a Mama who’s nearly out of control. Toys are everywhere, finger-paint handprints are on the walls, and the house looks like a tornado just touched down. The protagonist, a precocious child, can’t understand why Mama is upset. After a little explanation, the girl learns that by following a few rules, Mama tantrums can be prevented.
2. What inspired you to write this book? Real-life experience! About nine years ago, when my kids were little, they had left toys strewn all over the family room floor. I came in, with a basket of laundry. Not seeing one of the toys, I tripped. The clothes in the laundry basket flew out, and I ended up whacking my toe on the couch, breaking it. Yes, I was one very grouchy mama!
3. What is your hope for this book? I would like to see it used as a tool to initiate discussions about the importance of cleaning up, and also about following household rules. If there aren’t rules in place, I’d like to see this book serve as an inspiration for creating them. Additionally, I’d like kids to realize that parents are human, with feelings and emotions, and I’d like parents to realize that kids are kids, and messes are to be expected.
4. Do you have other books? Yes. I’m the author of That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN, which is a very good book for helping kids get used to a new baby in the house.
5. What is a little known fact about you? I used to be a PADI Scuba diving instructor. I logged over 800 dives. That’s a lot of time under water!
6. What are some of your other hobbies and interests? I am a professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. I also enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, bike riding, and gardening.
7. Are you a morning or night person? I am definitely a morning person. My husband jokes that I’m solar-powered. When the sun comes up, I’m ready to go. When the sun goes down, that’s it - my “on” switch goes “off.”
8. What literary character are you like, and why? Since I write for children, I’ll have to liken myself to a children’s literary character. I’d say I’m like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. My nose is always in a book, and I try to look at the inner character of a person, rather than the exterior appearance.
9. What are you working on now? I’m working on a series of chapter books for kids ages 7-10. I call them the “Bubba and Squirt” series. The first book is Big Hole to China. The protagonists, two kids named Bubba and Squirt, travel via magic through a hole and end up in different countries, where they have an adventure, and learn a little about the language, culture, and history of the country. I have an agent, and he’s been working to find a publisher.
10. Where can readers connect with you? They can find me at my website, www.sherryellis.org and at my blog, http://sherryellis.blogspot.com. Links to my Facebook fan page can also be found through either of these sites
Thank you for having me as a guest!
You are most welcome! I enjoyed it!
Sherry’s Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Ellis/e/B002BLHFN6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1391391440&sr=8-1
Here is the cover of one of Sherry's wonderful books. Here is the Amazon.com link to "That Mama is a Grouch." Also, here is a short bio with even more information about Sherry.
Sherry Ellis is a freelance writer and children’s author. Her first book, That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN, was published in 2005. Her second, That Mama is a Grouch, was published in 2010 and was honored as a finalist in the 2010 USA Book News Awards as well as in the 2011 International Book Awards. It also took first place in the parenting category of the 2011 Pinnacle Book Awards, and was the recipient of the silver award in the 2013 Mom’s Choice Awards.
Sherry is also a professional musician who plays and teaches violin, viola, and piano. She has appeared as a soloist in Germany and was a semi-finalist in the 2004 International Viola Competition in Paris, France. Sherry is also a former PADI SCUBA instructor. She has travelled to many exotic places and has seen much of the world above and below the water.
Sherry lives with her husband and two children in Atlanta, Georgia.
You can learn more about Sherry Ellis on her website, www.sherryellis.org
Sherry Ellis is a freelance writer and children’s author. Her first book, That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN, was published in 2005. Her second, That Mama is a Grouch, was published in 2010 and was honored as a finalist in the 2010 USA Book News Awards as well as in the 2011 International Book Awards. It also took first place in the parenting category of the 2011 Pinnacle Book Awards, and was the recipient of the silver award in the 2013 Mom’s Choice Awards.
Sherry is also a professional musician who plays and teaches violin, viola, and piano. She has appeared as a soloist in Germany and was a semi-finalist in the 2004 International Viola Competition in Paris, France. Sherry is also a former PADI SCUBA instructor. She has travelled to many exotic places and has seen much of the world above and below the water.
Sherry lives with her husband and two children in Atlanta, Georgia.
You can learn more about Sherry Ellis on her website, www.sherryellis.org
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