From Dream to Reality: The Journey to My First Published Book
Firstly, I would like to thank Authors Lounge for inviting me to submit an article about my new children’s book – Luna Starlight and the Glowing Bookcase, which is now available to purchase through Amazon.com (a direct link to the book can be found below).
It has taken me many years to finally gather the courage and commitment to write and publish my first book. It has been my dream since I travelled the world in my early twenties. While travelling I fell in love with reading, and to help pass the time on long journeys I started to write about my travels and pen short fiction stories. Fast forward twenty (yes twenty) years and I have finally realised my dream of becoming a published author.
Inspired by Parenthood: How My Daughter Sparked the Creation of Luna Starlight
My main motivating factor for finally plucking up the courage to write and publish a book was my daughter, the book is both about and for her. Since she came bursting into my life, I have spent time with other parents and young children, riding the highs and lows of parenthood.
I have always been extremely interested in mystery and adventure and love any book that is based on these genres. Somewhere along the line the idea of merging mystery and adventure, with helpful and practical learning for young children struck me, and Luna Starlight was born.
Target Audience and Themes: Teaching Young Kids About Frustration Through Magic and Adventure
The target audience for the book is 3-7-year-olds, and whilst I would hope the book would appeal to everyone it is based around the themes that my daughter is most interested in currently – namely fairies, rainbows, and unicorns! The learning theme for this book is dealing with frustration and understanding that things do not always go our way.
In my short life as a parent, I have seen these areas be a particular area of difficulty for young children. My hope is that this book will help them to learn some practical ways to deal with these everyday problems, as well as enjoy a magical mystery adventure to a new world.
A Series Begins: Introducing Luna Starlight’s Adventures and Future Plans
This is the first in a series of Luna Starlight books I plan to write, each one involving a different adventure into the ‘Glowing Bookcase’ and a different developmental theme. My second book ‘Luna Starlight and the Singing Unicorn, will be published very soon and will focus on giving young children the confidence to display their talents, and to also be kind and encouraging to others who may be shy and left out. The idea and story have many potential creative options I can explore. From books to audio and even TV and film.
Inspiration and Influences: From J.K. Rowling to Julia Donaldson
In terms of inspiration, I would have to say that I am a huge fan of JK Rowling and The Harry Potter series (who isn’t!). While I am a huge fan of the series, I have to say that her personal story and writing process are a major inspiration for me, I would love to meet her one day. If I were to liken my books to other authors, I would say that Julia Donaldson would be at the top of the list. The Snail and the Whale is by far my favourite children’s book. Her rhyming style and the touching story that highlights our importance and meaning in this world make it magnificent. A brilliant, brilliant message for young children.
And finally, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this article, and I would love to invite you to have a look at the book yourself using the link below and find out just where this glowing bookcase leads!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Starlight-Glowing-Bookcase-Matthew-Charles/dp/B0D5MN8VHG/
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