Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Author: Kevin Scott Collier 

ISBN: 0975288024

The following interview was contributed by:  E.Dian Moore &  To read more about Dian Moore’s reviews and interviews click HERE 

To read Dian's review of the book  CLICK HERE

Author, Kevin Scott Collier, has made a grand entrance into faith-based publishing with his Juvenile Fiction book barthpenn@heaven.org (BART) released in November 2004 by Baker Trittin’s Tweener Press division www.tweenertime.com. “Tweeners” are children between the ages of 8-12.

47-years old, Collier became inspired to write children’s books for his niece, Corina, so she wouldn’t forget her uncle, he said in another interview with WOTV 4 in Michigan. Collier has no children of his own, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing three books designed to entertain and enlighten children, as well as adults, about the things that are important in life, such as forgiveness, hope, kindness and believing that miracles can happen.

Collier gained the attention of Tweener Press by accident. In February 2004, he was in the process of mailing a book to his niece at the Post Office and the publisher overheard Collier talking about the book. Intrigued, the publisher asked Collier to email the story about an angel emailing in heaven. Two days later, Collier signed a book contract and BART was published eight months later. Since then, Collier has published two more books, both due out in 2005: Esther’s Channel-A Tale of Courage and Friendship; and Danderdaul.  

Kevin co-owns and operates the Leap of Faith website with Jeffrey A. Cooke, an online original cartoonist and storyteller Christian website. http://community.webtv.net/LegacyInk/leap . He also writes and illustrates two online stories at www.tweenertime.com, The Adventures of Tommy Tweener” and “Esther’s Channel.” He designs all the graphics and illustrations.

An avid sportsman, Collier enjoys sand boarding on the Michigan Dunes, parasailing, bicycling, tennis and water-skiing.  

Interview with Kevin Scott Collier, author of barthpenn@heaven.org

Interviewed by Dian Moore

Q. What was your inspiration for a book written entirely in e-mail form?

A: It just came to me, from a joke I told a child. He asked me if I prayed to God, and I responded, “No, I email him instead!” Then, the wheels in my head started turning. I started seeing the entire concept in my head, of a book that is both inspirational, and tech oriented for children.

Q. What is your ultimate dream - your hopes from the publication of this book?

A: To inspire children. To reach out and make people think, both young and old. I’m not in it for fame or fortune, I’m on a pathway my creator has put me on. This is about using my gifts for a spiritual purpose. 

Q. When did you begin to write, and what types of things did you write?

A: I actually began as an artist, at age 5. But, with the creation of characters, stories had to be told, so writing was a natural companion to illustration. I mainly created, wrote, and illustrated Super Heroes, and

made my own comic books which I sold to neighborhood kids. I pretty much had my own humble little publishing company by age 13.

Q. Tell us a little of your background - where you grew up, family composition, hobbies and current life.

A: I was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan in 1957. It was a foundry town, my dad worked as an automotive pattern maker, and mom was a full time mother raising us five kids; I have 3 brothers, 1 sister. I was really into art as a kid, cartooning in particular, and still am today. I have a lot of strange and dangerous hobbies, like Parasailing and Sand Boarding to name a few. My family has a cottage on a lake, we pull a parachute behind our powerboat, and go sailing up to 500 feet in the air. I have a few surfboards I surf down huge sand dunes with too, some hills as high as 10 stories. I’ve had a few mishaps there! I love to ride my mountain bike everywhere too, and average 1,500 - 2,800 miles a year recreational biking. 

Q. Will there be a sequel to Barthpenn?

A: The ending of the book is set up to lead to a sequel, and my publisher, Baker Trittin Press has opened the door for one. We’re just going to see how much impact it has before I begin a second one. And, I have many other books for them in the works, so I’d like to get out new things before revisiting something I’ve done.

Q. How about a book for adults, in the same format - would you do one? If so, why, and if no, why not.

A: Actually, “barthpenn@heaven.org,” and all of my upcoming titles, are for parents, too. My publisher is aware of this, and supports the concept. It’s a way to reach and touch kids and adults for more of a blanket audience. My next book, “Esther’s Channel,” on the surface, looks like a little tale about a turtle and her friends, but it’s really about adult behavior that unites and divides us. 

Q. When determining what type of job an angel might hold, how did you come up with the "workforce."

A: It all sort of fell into place. Heaven was going to be shaken up with a breach in security, and thus there has to be an angelic food chain as well, different levels all trying to manage a crisis. It’s whimsical! I think the funniest part is Bart the angel’s superiors (St. Andrew and St. Hawthorne) trying to keep the “misguided email” sent to Jordon Mink a secret of sorts from God Almighty. Yeah, right! God knew this all was going to happen before  any of it did!

Q. Who is the inspiration for Jordan's character?

A: It’s me, but I didn’t do it intentionally. My wife says I drew so much on my past that Jordon became me. I did have a situation when I was 16, where I had a burst appendix, and spent a month in the hospital. I almost died, and I was very spiritual, and felt I had a guardian angel there watching over me. 

Q. Feel free to talk at length about anything you would like readers of this book to know.

A: There are many messages in BART (as I call the book), but perhaps the best message is to never make negative assumptions. There are so many situations in the book where assumptions are made about others that turn out to be totally wrong. Get to KNOW others. Negative assumptions caused Jordon to misjudge Mr. Baxter, the elderly man with Alzheimer’s disease, and a misjudgment of Brandon’s character (Jordon’s friend) nearly cost the two their friendship. It isn’t until we get to know others, and use compassion and wisdom and hope as our guide, do others begin to unfold for us in our lives. You really begin to see what life is all about when your heart becomes your eyes. And, we all affect one another, and influence others. It’s like they book says, “by the end of our lives we become a collection of everyone who ever loved us.” You will miss out on many good people by misjudging them or making assumptions.