Ellwyn Autumn's Blog, page 18
February 1, 2019
January 31, 2019
Interview With Author/Teacher Dean Russell-Rands
Dean Russell-Rands is a teacher, a writer, and an advocate for the under-represented. He discovered his passion for performing arts at a young age and has taken this creative zest with him wherever he goes, whether it be teaching in an elementary school classroom, writing a picture book, or reading children's stories on his Youtube channel.
Dean lives in Essex with his husband and their cat named Shadow.
Now that I've introduced you to Dean let's get to know him a little better.
Pin Me Please!Hello, Dean, welcome to Lemon Drop Literary. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.Thank you for having me.
What inspired you to be a writer? I’ve always been a creative person and a bit of a dreamer, really. I guess some people would say I had an overactive imagination (and hopefully I still do).
I started writing and performing at a young age–I had a poem published at age 9, a short story published at age 11, and then another poem at age 15.
Is writing your full-time profession? It’s not my full-time occupation yet. I’m a teacher and I’m currently working as a supply teacher.
How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing since I was young but I’ve taken it more seriously since completing my performing arts degree. I have a catalogue of stories saved and recently I put my hand to illustrating so I could self-publish.
Photo courtesy of: Dean Russell-RandsHow has teaching influenced your writing?I had settled into a lovely school which I miss dearly but I realized that I was telling children to follow their dreams and I hadn’t fully chased my own.
Also, I told my last class I was getting married to a man, and they were so accepting but together we noticed that there aren’t many books that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
I decided then I’d focus on my creative dreams and publish books that all children and families could relate to.
Photo courtesy of: Dean Russell-RandsHow many books have you written? At the moment, I’ve self-published one book ‘Love, Cuddled & Tickled Too!’. However, I have a catalogue of stories I continue to develop and tweak.
Can you tell us a little about your Youtube Channel Big Box Of Books? I very quickly discovered that self-publishing requires a lot of effort and a lot of promotion. I turned to social media and my YouTube channel was born.
Big Box of Books is a tool I use to promote lesser known books including my own. There are so many great books out there that deserve to be read many times over.
What inspired you to start your Youtube Channel? It was primarily my own struggle to promote my book but also seeing so many new children’s authors on Facebook pages and Instagram.
How can an author have their book read on your channel? They can contact me via my Facebook page, Instagram or my website www.deanrussellrands.com.
Photo courtesy of: Dean Russell-RandsWhich genre do you write? I write children’s picture books.
What do you find most challenging writing for this genre? I think it’s about keeping an open mind to the age range of books–it’s important to remember the age of your audience but with important topics like ‘equality’ you want to remain as accessible as possible so that the right message can be spread to lots of readers.
What are you working on now? I’m currently working on a book that’s all about being different. It begins with everyone and everything looking the same but someone has an idea and it all starts to change…
Where do you find inspiration for your characters? With my first book, it was a lot about the families I worked with. I had a multi-racial girl in my class and I included a multi-racial family in the story so she could feel included.
With this book, it’s mostly people on the street and clowns. I think my inspiration is usually what I see around me and parts of myself that I want to explore too.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work? Recently, a girl at the school I’m currently working in told me she’d found my book. She said she really liked it and that it was a very important message for others to hear.
If I can make one child realize that love is love then I did my job.
What advice would you give to authors just starting out? Just do it, take the plunge–once you put the effort into getting your work out there, more opportunities will come.
Is there anything else you'd like your readers/viewers to know about you? I have two beliefs–everyone has the right to be happy and everyone has the right to be treated equally.
Photo courtesy of: Dean Russell-RandsWhat message are you sharing in your books? Hopefully, exactly what I’ve written for question 16. We’re all different but deserve to be treated the same.
What are your favorite books/authors? I have soooo many. I love Rachel Bright and Tom Fletcher.
As for adult books, I love an emotional story–Cecelia Ahearn and Rowan Coleman are great for that.
What are your favorite movies, TV shows? I’m a total Netflix fan–Grace and Frankie is fantastic. I’m also desperate to watch Homecomingbecause I LOVE Julia Roberts.
When you're not writing where can we find you? If I’m not writing, I’m usually watching tv or a show. I love Wicked the musical. I also like travelling and this year I’ve got trips booked to New York and Disney World.
Do you have a website/Facebook page, etc? There are links to all of my social media on my website: http://www.deanrussellrands.com/
Where can we find your books? Search for me on Amazon.
I’m currently organizing book signings with a certain Highstreet store and I’ll post the details on my website as soon I have finalized the details.
Thank you, Dean, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck!
Photo courtesy of: Dean Russell-Rands
Story Starter!
PixabayWho lives here?
My answer:
Who is asking such a silly question? I live here of course. Mr. Shirley Tims, Keeper and Composer of the Maps of the Great Realms, at your service.
A wonderful little spot isn't it? Don't you love how the the great roots keep groping forward? They grow about two feet every year. It's widely rumored in Fawnwood that my tree house has the best roots in the forest. They're perfect for storing my favorite ale and other valuables that I'd rather not mention.
How long have I lived here did you ask? Oh, about 200 years now. Wonderful neighborhood. Not much changes around here, except for the leaves on my roof.
I hate to dash off in the middle of our conversation. You seem like the perfect conversationalist but my dear nephew Simpson is on his way. He and his friends are off on a merry adventure to search for The Fountain of Fair Fortune. And I have the map he requires to get there.
Do drop by anytime. I adore company. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find that map before he arrives.
January 30, 2019
January 29, 2019
Story Starter!
PixabayThis would be the perfect setting for:My answer:
An elf prince returning home to his fatally ill father.
Writing Quote By Terry Pratchett
Pixabay "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."
Story Starter!
PixabayWhere does the stone path lead?
My answer:
A pretty cottage, speckled with golden sunlight, nestled among a copse of trees. It's a quiet place where a poet can collect his thoughts or a couple can share in a private rendezvous.
The Curious Lyle Lunarman
https://pixabay.com/en/boy-jeans-shirts-moon-balloon-1262989/Lyle Lunarman was a curious child. He had a curious mind, read curious books, and played curious games. But, the most curious thing about him was how he came to sit upon the milky sliver of moon each night.
When passers floated by and asked him how he got there his answer was always the same. He'd shrug in that lackadaisical way only eight-year-old boys can then cast his long silvery line into the endless ocean of space.
"Search me," he'd say, "but it's the best spot in the whole galaxy to catch starfish."
Who do you think this boy is?
