Welcome to Day One of Michelle Hall’s 6-Day NWFCC February Author Showcase Tour

MEET AUTHOR MICHELLE HALL

‘‘Well, Really, Mr. Twiddle.’’ I smile as I remember my love for the books whose author was Enid Blyton. I was fascinated by Enid Blyton books and collected them as a child. Mr. Twiddle was the funniest, silliest, most enjoyable character I have ever read about in any children’s book. Then there were the stories about fairies, gnomes, talking animals, and going off to faraway places (possibly on a broom). Between Enid Blyton and Mr. Twiddle my love for reading and my desire to write such entertaining and quality books for children bloomed.

My decision to write children’’s books came from a great desire to see children’s delight as they visualize the characters in each story. An exciting story that thrills them and expands their imaginations, while having an inspirational or moral lesson behind it is a great and effective learning tool. There are so many electronic devices existing in their lives today that not enough effort is spent in the creativity in their minds that comes from reading.

From the time I had my daughter I made a decision that she would have that love for reading and get that thrill that every child should experience. Every child should have books in their rooms that makes their imaginations peak with the adventure, the enchantment, the humor and definitely the happily ever after. I started reading to my daughter when I was carrying her and continued doing so after she was born. I made reading and buying a new book exciting for her and I watched as she became in love with her books. The thrill she got from them reminded me of myself and I began writing small stories just for her at home. Then one day I looked over at her beautiful face and decided I was going to go after my dream, I was going to publish a children’’s book; and I did.

City Dog and Country Cat “And So We Meet Again” is very special to me. I love my first book “Alyssa Says” very much because it was written out of thankfulness for a child I wanted dearly and thought I never would have, and now here she was. It was my kick-off book to what I believe will be a successful future in children’’s book publishing. It was also a way of testing the waters to see what the publishing procedures were all about.

City Dog and Country Cat was written with so much more confidence and I believe will reach children in a greater way. This book, however, and I write this with a big grin on my face, started out as just a fun activity between my daughter and I. She said that we should write a story together and initially we had more animals and people doing the weirdest things my daughter could come up with; but as we did this together suddenly I saw a great children’’s story developing. I had to make some necessary changes and iron out a few kinks, but City Dog and Country Cat “And So We Meet Again” was born.

Follow Day 2 of Ms. Hall’s tour tomorrow at http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix – at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.