Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Hamster Cheeks

Author: Cathy DeLittle

Illustrator: Adam Milicevic

ISBN: 13: 978-1-892633-14-9:  10: 1-892733-14-0

Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Cathy DeLittle author of Hamster Cheeks.

Good day Cathy and thanks for participating in our interview. Thank you, Norm. I’ve enjoyed reading the book reviews of other authors you have interviewed and it’s nice to be included in the group.

Norm:

When did your passion for writing begin? What keeps you going? Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

Cathy:

I have always had a passion for writing and creating especially when I can add in a mix of humor. In high school we had a substitute for a week in our creative writing class. I told her I was a foreign exchange student to get out of the assignments but instead had to write everything in broken English.

After college I initiated a Company newsletter where I worked, and invented fictious bio’s as well as fictious employees as we were not a very colourful group. It included contests and awards that did not exist. Management received such favorable comments on the newsletter they ended up implementing some of the awards.

When I left the corporate world to be a stay at home Mom I was amused with how my son saw the world. Dominic spoke at an earlier age and the way he expressed his thoughts just amazed me. For example, when he was three years old and wanted to go outside he would say, “Take me where the wind is”. Board books were wonderful for initiating interest in story time but as my son began to understand and speak in sentences and we advanced to picture books, I found many books to be too “wordy”.

Additionally, most simply did not register any interest to his world and what it included. It got to the point that I did not even read the words to him in books, but instead made up stories based on illustrations in the books we read. Sometimes it was similar to the author’s story and other times it would be completely different. I ended up writing the recreated stories down because my son would ask for “Mommy’s Words” if someone else read to him. That of course lead to creating our own stories and illustrations and Delittle Storyteller Company was born.

I laminated all the pages so they would still turn like a paper page but would not tear and they could also be wiped clean of germs. I ended up publishing 10 books between 1998 and 2000 and distributing them regionally as people began asking where they could get these books. They were sold through regional bookstores, doctor offices, hospital gift shops, preschools and other shared book environments. They have since gone out of print and my son is obviously much older, but I have never given up my love of picture books. This year I decided to continue my passion with Hamster Cheeks. I think the thrill of creating and seeing a thought come to life keeps me going.

The humor of the books appeals to adults as well as children and it’s really a pleasure when someone reads your book that makes you want to do the next one. As far as being influenced by anyone to become a writer it would be Oprah. That sounds corny since I have never met Oprah, but her influence on living your best life and finding the thing that brings you joy and doing it is the influence she has provided. I often send emails to her website as if I’m writing to a friend and say I’ve done this today or I accomplished that. So far she hasn’t answered but I know she’d be proud that I’m following my passion…

Norm:

How and why did you become interested in writing children’s picture books?

Cathy:

The picture books were like snapshots of my son Dominic’s life. Every book was inspired by an event we experienced together. The books are our memories. I have 1000’s photos in boxes and dozens of half put together scrapbooks… but the books I have written tell the story of how we marched around the house like elephants, If You See Some Elephants, and Jungle Parade explains how I would find Dominic’s stuffed animals lined up for a Parade in the morning, There’s a Skunk in my Diaper and It’s My Potty I’ll Cry if I Want To reminds me of how Dominic transitioned into a “big boy”, What Do You See When You Sleep reminds me of Dominic’s dreams. It’s all there…

Norm:

How did you get the inspiration for Hamster Cheeks?

Cathy:

Dominic and I went to visit one of my best girlfriends and her two boys. They had a pet hamster named Poptart who had a sweet tooth. Poptart was in “Time Out” for escaping and helping himself to the boys Halloween candy. He was a sticky mess and had a stash of who knows what in his cheeks. The boys tried to bathe him but the out come wasn’t good for Poptart. That is when the boys learned that “Hamster cheeks should only store, hamster food and nothing more”.

Norm:

How did you integrate your words with Adam Milicevic’s illustrations into Hamster Cheeks?

Cathy:

Adam did a wonderful job with the illustrations. I’m a little unconventional in my approach to picture books and I sketch illustrations as part of my writing process. I met Adam one day at the office store where he worked part time and attended college to become a graphic illustrator. He showed me his work and I knew immediately he had incredible talent. I showed my rough sketches to him and asked him if he wanted to illustrate Hamster Cheeks.

We discussed what I was looking for and he brought the story and the hamster to life. His use of color, action and expression moves the story along even without the words, which I believe is what a picture book should do. Adam has since graduated and was hired as a Corporate Illustrator for Hard Rock Café. He’s brilliant and will be doing the illustrations for our next book, Parrot Pizza, due out in 2008.

Norm:

Why do you believe that the message you are conveying in Hamster Cheeks is important at this time?

Cathy:

Hamster Cheeks is pure fun but when Dominic got his first pet hamster, I say first because no one ever has just one hamster, we had a long discussion on what hamsters are not supposed to eat. We learned everything we could on how to raise a healthy pet and surprisingly it was the same instructions we should follow to be healthy as well.

If we care enough about our pets to want them to be healthy we certainly should apply the same care and concern to our own nutritional requirements. Hamster Cheeks is a fun approach and lead in to pet care and nutrition. Parrot Pizza does the same thing and was inspired by customers that use to come in to my cousin’s Pizza Place. They would order pizza for their parrots and I thought that was too funny.

Norm:

How do you approach the work of writing?

Cathy:

When something amuses me I just expand on it. The writing comes very easy as I try to observe how kids look at things and play. The imagination at age 3 is incredible. Nothing is impossible and I try to keep that element when I write. For picture books I do like very simply rhyming patterns. I think it holds the child’s attention at that age and helps them anticipate and retain concepts.

Norm:

What has your experience been like with self- publishing? Do you recommend it over traditional publishers?
 
Cathy:

The journey of self publishing has been long and the sense of accomplishment at this point does give a bit of satisfaction in being able to sell a product that people want and ask for.

When I go to book festivals and parents choose my book for their children over a book published by a main stream publisher at the table next to me, I think I’m Sally Fields and want to shout out “They like me, they really like me”.

Self publishing has been a way for me to do what I think I was meant to do; it’s a road to get where I would like to be one day. I recommend self publishing if your in it for the joy it brings you.

You’ll need that joy as you invest your time and money and question if anyone besides your Mother will want a signed copy of your book. I like the freedom of creating the whole story process that self publishing allows but I certainly would prefer the marketing resources and financial backing a traditional publisher would provide.

Norm:

Will there be any unique ways you'll be marketing your book that is different from how others authors market their books?

Cathy:

With everything involved in wearing so many hats in self publishing, I feel stretched thin for time to do school visits, which is very rewarding. So, I would like to find the time to schedule visits to the schools. I would also like to market my book to pet stores.

As a mother who has purchased just about every small pet that pet stores carry including newts and an assorted variety of other spotted amphibians, reptiles, and furry animals with tails of different lengths I have never seen books that share in the humorous elements of pet ownership.

As cute as pets are, there are no cute books being sold in most pet stores. I do have book signing events scheduled at Hamster Ball Derby’s taking place at local pet stores in my area so I guess that is a start.

Norm:

How have you used the Internet to boost your writing career? If so, how?

Cathy:

Well I do have a website but I think I’m a little behind the technical band wagon when it comes to the internet. I know a lot of authors participate in blogging and I often see some wonderful sites I would love to link to. That is the part of self publishing that is difficult without the resources to promote your book that would make it available to more people.

Norm:

Where can we find out more about you and Hamster Cheeks?

Cathy:

My website is www.delittlestoryteller.com . There is pet forum on the website and I would love to hear from pet owners on some of the antics their pets have got into. Signed copies of Hamster Cheeks are available by ordering direct on my website. For other orders, GDG Publishing distributes my books as well as Amazon.com and Baker & Taylor.

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Cathy:

Just a big thank you to Delittle Storyteller fans and be sure to check the website for other Delittle tittles for 2008.

Norm:

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

Cathy

Thank you.

To read Norm's review of Hamster Cheeks CLICK HERE

Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Hamster Cheeks