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Featured Author - J.W. Edwards III
For Sunny Bee, being truly helpful means going anywhere and everywhere. When his beautiful sunflower friend Myah becomes very ill, Sunny travels to the “far side of the hills” seeking help. Faced with a series of challenges including a raging storm, large spiders, or even the intimidating Grandfather Oak, Sunny’s dedication never wavers! (ages 4 - 8) Softcover: http://amzn.com/0991325303 Hardcover: http://amzn.com/0991325311
1. Tell us about your latest book.
Bee Helpful is my first published work. I wanted to make a children’s book that
parents would also enjoy reading while including some subtle life lessons that I
learned from my mother when I was a growing up. I believe it is important to
profile the characteristics we want our children to develop.
2. Where did the idea for the book come from?
My wife came up with the idea of writing a story about a bee and a sunflower at
our kitchen table one afternoon in 2013. She also named the bee Sunny. I was
then tasked with building a story around these two characters. I began working
on it immediately and recorded the first story on my phone that same day.
3. Who and what inspire you to write?
I discovered several years back that I really liked to create stories. I started
writing a screen play and a novel. My wife originally gave me the idea of writing a
children’s book for our youngest son Elijah, who loves stories. That’s how the
Sunny Bee Book series was born.
4. Each author has his or her own inspiring journey. How did you begin writing?
It happened several years back at a retreat while I was kind of at a crossroads in
life. I discovered that really liked creating stories and the way I felt while doing it.
It took me while understand this because I didn’t like writing much in school or
college. A few years later I found myself working on a movie script and my first
fiction novel. Which led me to writing Bee Helpful, by first children’s picture book.
5. What has been the most pleasant surprise about writing? How about an
unexpected down side?
Seeing my son, children, and parents enjoying something you created is a feeling
I hope to experience for the rest of my life. Also, I was taken back by the level of
support and emotional reaction from my friends and family. I still remember the
feeling I had when someone unexpectedly asked me to sign a copy of my book.
The unexpected down side was my awakening to how much work it really takes
to publish a book. How many times the story had to be reworked and downsized
during the editing process. There is a whole story on just on the making of this
story.
6. Do you have any writing rituals?
For some reason, a great deal of the content for my stories come to me when I
am taking a shower. I have no idea why. Frequently, I have to get out of the
shower and write the stories down.
7. Do you write your books in order?
Not for the Sunny Bee Book series. I actually wrote and published book 3 (Bee
Helpful) first. Afterwards I wrote book 4, then book 1 and 2 last. Book 4 will be
published next, then books 1 and 2.
8. What is on your writing playlist for this book?
I have a small one for my novel I am still working on, but not for Bee Helpful.
9. Any favorite writing snacks?
I mostly drink Genmaicha and Kukicha twig tea when writing. No sweetener, just
a pinch of salt. Sometimes a Justin’s peanut butter cup.
10. What advice would you give writers who aspire to be published?
Writing is the easiest and perhaps the smallest part of what you do. I feel it is
more important to be a successful author than just a published author. There are
tons of published authors and books, with the vast majority not making much
money. So you should work hard and complete your writing projects but do it
because you enjoy it like your main hobby. You should also define what success
in this field means to you and not just in terms of dollars and cents. Learn to have
a lot of patience.
I had to confront many dragons while working on Bee Helpful. I used the book
and it’s lessons as a source of motivation when things got very difficult during the
process. It really helped me stay determined and focused.
11. Are you working on anything new right now?
I am working on two movie scripts, a fiction novel, and the remaining five or so
books in the Sunny Bee Series. I am also working on another children’s Book
called Elijah and the Ant Kingdom.
I am really excited about my new projects especially the novel. Preliminary
feedback has been very encouraging.
I should also mention that we have a self reading/animated app version of Bee
Helpful that should be released sometime in June or July 2014. I believe children
will love it.
12. Who is your favorite character in your current book?
It is difficult to pick just one for me. I am a big fan of Sunny, Myah the sunflower,
and Grandfather Oak.
13. What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s a really tough one. Let me get back to you…
14. Tell us in one sentence why we should read your book.
As someone told me, “It’s a beautiful story told in an adorable way.”
About the author:
J.W. Edwards III was born in St. Louis, Missouri and spent the majority of his childhood there. Eventually he left St. Louis for engineering school and job opportunities. He has traveled across most the U.S. in search of a place to call home. He currently resides in northern California with his wife and three boys and works full-time as a software engineer while writing stories for his youngest son in his spare time. J.W. Edwards is busy these days working on a variety of writing projects which includes the Sunny Bee Book Series. Book number three, Bee Helpful, was the first one to be published. Books 1, 2, and 4 will follow soon in 2014.
Learn more about this series at www.sunnybeebooks.com.
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