1. What inspired you to write this book?
I have an amazing family who have always encouraged me to be myself, and whose unwavering support and love have given my life true meaning and shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up, I was extremely close to my grandparents, especially my grandfather. The best part of my childhood was spending time with them during the summer. When I saw the same connection between my father and son, I was so moved and inspired that I felt compelled to write about it. I wanted to share these happy-magical moments and their emotional connection with everyone so that they could see how being so close to someone can have a significant impact on your life. Hence, Molu and Naanu came to be.
2. What exactly is it about — and who is
it written for?
Molu and Naanu is a children's picture book that presents a refreshing perspective on how to have fun with your family. It explores a unique bond between a baby and his grandfather, as the dynamic duo embark on an exciting adventure while spending the day together. Though the book is geared toward babies to 5 years, it is a story for anyone, adult or child, with a playful spirit and a beautiful smile.
3. What
do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?
Sheer enjoyment. I sincerely hope reading Molu and Naanu brings a smile to their faces and fills their hearts with immense joy. I would love for them to lie back and laugh as they read about the characters' hilarious antics. I genuinely hope that the book inspires readers to start their own family traditions by embarking on silly adventures with their little ones. Nothing is more heartwarming than forming lifelong bonds with your loved ones and cherishing those priceless memories forever.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?
Molu and Naanu is based on real characters, my son and dad. Therefore, the title bears their names. Molu is my son's nickname, while Naanu refers to his grandfather in Hindi, an Indian language. When I was writing the book, I had a mental image of my father and son connecting and having fun. My son loved piggyback riding on my father's shoulder; it always tickled him and made him laugh. And carrying his young grandson around made my dad very proud and happy. This is how I saw them; a cover photo that captured the true essence of their free spirit and emotional connection. The colors brought out the vibrancy of their special bond.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow
writers – other than run!?
Believe in your work and persevere. We authors come from all walks of life, bringing with us our very own unique perspectives, and narratives to tell. Some readers will like our work, some will not but that does not mean our stories are not good enough. To reach the right audience, we must voice those stories from our hearts, with all our conviction. Because if we have faith in ourselves, others will too.
6. What
trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book
publishing industry is heading?
The newest trend is the demand for a broader range of book genres, which includes an increase in multicultural/multilingual books and nonfiction books like self-help books. There was a time when only books with traditional publishing houses were successful. However, with the rise of numerous platforms such as Amazon and Apple, there is a sizable market for self-published books. Despite the fact that competition has increased, this allows authors to connect directly with their audiences.
7. Were
there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when
writing this book?
Being a parent has brought out many wonderful aspects of myself, storytelling being one of them. To entertain and engage an inquisitive mind like my adorable young son's, I found myself telling stories I didn't realize I knew. This really helped me come up with a plot for my story, thus strengthening my resolve to write this book. Plus, witnessing the bond between my son and dad firsthand really helped me craft a thorough description of their time together for the book. I was able to narrate the story vividly and convincingly.
8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or
books is your writing similar to?
I'd like to say it's funny. I have added a comedic element to the story through its silly narration and cartoonish spot illustrations. I wanted to create a simple and relaxed atmosphere in which my readers could truly connect with the characters as well with each other while participating in the hilarious adventures. Though my writing style is my own, I have been greatly inspired by Robert McCloskey's "Make Way for Ducklings," Beverly Cleary's "Ramona series," and James Dean and Eric Litwin's "Pete the Cat series."
9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?
The main challenge I faced was writing the story concisely. Given that it was a picture book, this was especially important. There were so many more things to talk about and adventures I wanted the two to go on that I couldn't decide what to leave out to keep the story short. I was eventually able to do so because the dynamic duo's adventures would continue in the next book in the series. I tried to keep it as concise as possible, but the book is still long by industry standards. However, I would like to think that good stories can be the exception rather than the rule, much like the classic novel Make Way for Ducklings by renowned author Robert McCloskey.
10. If people can buy or
read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?
There are so many wonderful children's picture books to choose from and I would sincerely like to believe that my book is among those that will bring everyone absolute joy! Molu and Naanu is an easy-to-read book that teaches about unconditional love, friendship, and the importance of imagination and play. It's a book you can relate to. You will find yourself engrossed in this hilarious and endearing tale that puts a new spin on grandbaby-grandpa duo adventures, leaving you hooked and wanting to keep turning the page. It will inspire you to appreciate and enjoy the small things in life, spend quality time snuggling with your children, and building cherished bedtime or story time rituals. The charismatic duo's silly antics will captivate you so much that you'll be curious and itching to embark on more adventures with the pair. And perhaps one day it will encourage you to write a book about the time well-spent and journey well-travelled with your little ones, as I did. Now that my son is twenty-four, it fills my heart with pure delight as I fondly reflect on the many moments I have shared with him and the relationship he shared with my father.
About The Author: I am a yoga practitioner, enthusiastic storyteller, amateur baker, nature lover, and adventurer. Children's books have always inspired me, and I have wanted to write one myself as far as I can remember. Molu and Naanu is my first book, with many more to follow. As my dad and son are the true sources of inspiration for writing this book, it holds a very special place in my heart. I believe that childhood is a very magical time. You should let your imagination run wild, let your lovely mind wander and explore! You can find me having my fun adventures in a charming little town in Massachusetts, with my adorable family—my husband, son, and our golden retriever puppy, For more info, please see: www.tippybhan.com
Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?
Brian
Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page
views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors like you to promote your
story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience
in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your
advocate, teacher, and motivator!
About Brian
Feinblum
This
award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts
over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by
BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021
and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” Copyright
2025.
For
the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He
formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the
head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director
of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time,
self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors
and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine
Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren
Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy,
Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.
His
writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s
The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).
He
hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and
has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah
Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association,
Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and
Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the
2024 IBPA Book Awards.
His
letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester)
and The Washington Post. His first published book was The
Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook. It
was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.
Born
and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids,
and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.
You
can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum