I wrote my first story as a grade schooler, about Perdita and a carousel. My sister likes to remind me that it consisted of only two sentences - "All on the merry-go-round! All off the merry-go-round!" My scope has expanded a bit since then.
"Herbert Loves Sherbet" is a poem created for my own grade school kids. They loved it. My daughter (now with her own children) even committed it to memory. Now, that's a fan base! Even before I retired from manufacturing marketing, I began revamping "Herbert" for my grandchildren. With my son-in-law graciously providing coaching about digital selling and advertising, I created Slow Tag Press and then found Jim Steck online, His first drawing of Herbert was so spot-on that he's been illustrating our books ever since.
I've used photos of my grandchildren, my years as a sailing instructor in the New Hampshire mountains, my job as a Park Ranger at Mount Rainier National Park, family, friends, and travel adventures to create more stories (not all of them published yet). Slow Tag's next book is a collaboration with my son about his son's fascination with trucks.
This is a labor of love. My children, my husband, my brother-in-law, my friends, my local bookstore (The Book Bin in Northbrook, Illinois) and too many writing professionals to list continue to contribute to the success of Slow Tag Press. My thanks to them and to you for all your support.
Now, cuddle up with your favorite little readers and enjoy a good story!