Callen Kropp's Blog, page 4
July 23, 2023
Where's YOUR candy stash?

I saw a post on Facebook the other day: “Feeling guilty because last night I helped my husband look for the chocolate that I ate.”
So why are visions of opened chocolate chip bags tucked in the far reaches of my freezer floating through my head right now? Along those lines, have you seen Jimmy Kimmel’s Halloween show in which he calls for videos of parents breaking the news to their children that they’ve eaten all their Halloween candy? It’s bittersweet—a part of you feels bad the kids are so heartbroken. But you can’t help but laugh at their reactions: down right desperation.
So, what’s your candy stash story? Everyone who knows him realizes my husband, Oren, stashes his sweets in a slot on the inside of his pickup door. I don’t know if it’s a throwback to the years he thought he was fooling our kids, but he still acts like an undercover sleuth sneaking up on a meth lab when he taps into his “secret” candy stash. The same guy who overwhelms the surround sound in a movie theatre when retrieving popcorn from its paper bag manages to soundlessly slip from the crinkly wrap in the slot in the pickup door complete fistfuls of gum drops-- undetected! The candy man, at it again. And here I am, at it again too—bragging about the release of my first children's' picture book--Ozzy Ox: Candy Stash. Coming July 31 on Amazon. You can check out my Author Page (still a work in progress) ahead of time at authorcentral.com/callenkropp . In the meantime, it’s late. At night. Do you know where YOUR candy stash is?
July 16, 2023
Announcing Ozzy Ox, the best children's picture book series to launch on Amazon!

Ozzy Ox is finally on the move—his debut is coming to Amazon on July 31! To celebrate the launch of one of the best children's picture books to go on Amazon, we are offering an introductory special. Beginning July 31 through August 13, Ozzy Ox: Candy Stash, a 32-page full color beautifully illustrated picture book, will be a vailable for $7.99—that’s $3 off the regular price of $10.99! And there’s more: For the same time period, you will be able to download an E-book copy of Ozzy Ox: Candy Stash FREE of charge. The only thing we ask in return for this is that you leave an HONEST REVIEW on the Amazon page where you order! So set your calendars for this special introduction and stay tuned to learn more about Ozzy Ox: Candy Stash as it goes live on Amazon (link to be shared on callenkropp.com when it becomes available).
—Ozzy Ox: Candy Stash Releasing July 31
—Ozzy Ox: Toy Trauma Releasing August 31
—Ozzy Ox: Moody Morning Releasing September 30
—Ozzy Ox Takes a Stand Against Socks Releasing Autumn 2023
July 9, 2023
It’s. H E R E ! The FIRST copy!

It was quite a day—the day I received the first copy of my first Ozzy book. I didn't scream or jump up and down or anything the minute I got my hands on it.
Ok, fine, I may have jumped and screamed- I did all of that, but only after I looked around. Wouldn't want to set off sirens or anything. It felt good to finally see it in print! With any luck, it’ll be available on Amazon and on other outlets on July 31.
So who is this dude Ozzy? He’s a pre-school oxen who is just like the typical human kid—living his life, trying to follow the guidance of his MomOx. It doesn’t always go well. In the first book, Ozzy’s sweet tooth gets the best of him. Who hasn’t had a child who relentlessly tries to sweet talk you into feeding his sweet tooth? Which of us adults hasn’t secretly stashed our own cache of sweet relief? But, when it involves her beloved boy, MomOx never gives up. Through sickness and in health, through good times and bad, MomOx—like her human parent peers—doesn’t ever give up on her Ozzy. Her relationship with her beloved son is best summed up this way: “In the land of oxen lives a lad Whose MomOx teaches good from bad.
She won’t have Ozzy misunderstood. Even when he’s bad, he’s very, very good.”As a parent, can you relate to that? MomOx is a lot like every parent out there—thinking that parenthood is the best gig she’s ever had, and then, moments later, shaking her head and thinking parenthood is the hardest gig she’s ever had. She, like so many parents, goes to the ends of the earth to take every mistake her child makes and turn it into a learning moment. To distract her child in order to avoid the next meltdown. To be thunderstruck by the way a child can go from the sweetest, most charming child to a puddle of frenzied flesh. Even those of us whose days of parenthood are blurred by years can still relate to the challenges that come with raising children to be responsible, accountable, kind and considerate. You’ll see that struggle - along with sweet resolution-- in the four Ozzy books that will be coming to the market in 2023. I don't expect you to jump up and down the first moment you encounter an Ozzy book. I don't expect you to scream or set off sirens. But I do hope that you'll check Ozzy out, to see if you and your child can relate to the rollicking young ox. Check it out on Amazon beginning July 31!