The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.
In May 2010, her article “How to Write a Children’s Book” was published in Alt Daily.
Sheila: Sure. My niece Sarah and nephew Will inspired the books. Watching their points of view with the innocence of a two-year-old reminded me that every day we can choose how we want to see things. WE decide it if will be from a positive perspective or a negative one. They treated summer rain showers as a sprinkler, not as a reason to run inside. They provided me with the seed, and over time Anastasia’s story was born.
MCA: What are your goals for your Anastasia’s Rain
Sheila: My goal is to market this book to the best of my ability. I want to make enough money to pay all the fees that are involved in self publishing and publish book two. Of course, I am always looking for standard publishing opportunities as well. I honestly believe the life lessons in my books are helpful to children. Just having discussions with them after reading in schools proves to me I am on the right track.
MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to read Anastasia Pickering, Anastasia’s Rain
Sheila: I would ask parents to stop for a minute and think about one question. “Knowing your most important job in the world is to do a the best job possible in raising your children, how many times do you just manage to get through the day. Our lives have become so rushed and many times at best all we have time to do is to get through homework and read our children a bedtime story or have them read one as a way to end the day. Anastasia’s “Thinking in the Rain” adventure stories are an enjoyable way share a life lesson with your children and not have it taste like medicine!”
MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning children’s book. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?
Sheila: Looking back, developing the idea and reading my manuscript to a local third grade class was the easiest. Those third graders gave me lots of feedback and even illustrated their ideas of my characters. I appreciated their involvement so much that I included their pictures in the back of my book.
The hardest part was putting the actual book together and going through the publishing process. In self-publishing everything is left up to the author. So being the Type A personality that I am, I wanted it to be as perfect as possible. I was so fortunate to have a great editor and very talented illustrator.
Being honored with the Mom’s Choice Award® was my biggest surprise…a fantastic surprise indeed!
MCA: Since launching your Anastasia’s Rain, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Sheila: I get to relive my most enjoyable experience every time I read my book to children at schools or other venues. We talk about the lesson of the book afterward, and I love hearing their perspectives and stories.
One of my favorite memories was when Will decided Anastasia Pickering needed a shorter name and announced it should be Pickles. At that moment, her nickname was born!
MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for your children’s picture book?
Sheila: I chose Mom’s Choice because it is an award program of high standards. The company puts a strong emphasis on celebrating family-friendly media and that is important to me. The Mom’s Choice Awards® also has a very strong reputation for excellence.
MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Sheila: To be a part of the Mom’s Choice Awards® family is a true honor. I realize I may have new opportunities due to the credibility of this awards program, but the full scope of being an honoree may be ahead and I really look forward to it!
MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning book?
Sheila: Writing a book was a huge learning experience and it was not easy. I had to practice what I preached (patience) for two and a half years, but it was well worth it in the end. I discovered just how determined I am. Having an already-published, lifelong friend as my editor and a brilliant illustrator was invaluable. Harmony definitely existed among us in this project and it kept me focused.
MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Sheila: I would recommend Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs. It is such a worthy recognition and will be so invaluable in promoting your product.
MCA: How have you benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Sheila: Being an MCA honoree allowed me to attend BookExpo America in New York City last month. I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity. It was a great experience! I also sent out press releases announcing my award and was given the opportunity to publish some articles online because of it. I have recently been asked to create a cooperative children’s story with the readers of an online newspaper because of the credibility from this award. I am totally sold on the value of MCA.
MCA: Thanks for stopping by today, Sheila. We look forward to seeing what’s next for Anastasia Pickering!
Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors
Anastasia Pickering, Anastasia’s Rainwritten by Sheila Kilpatrick
illustrated by Perry Delglandon
Contact and Connect with Sheila Kilpatrick
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |