1.
What inspired you to write your
book?
KEVIN
My inspiration for writing this
book came from my oldest son and a childhood toy.
Just before my 8th
birthday I spent over a month in the hospital with a bone infection in my leg.
One morning during that stay, a friend of my father’s woke me. Hanging-on the
curtain rod around my bed was a cute stuffed animal, a monkey named Kookabuk.
My father’s friend went on to tell me a wonderful story about how Kookabuk was
there to help me get better. During that time, I developed an incredible bond
with my new friend. Kookabuk became a cherished source of friendship and
strength. I improved and was discharged from the hospital not long after. Fast
forwarding to adulthood, I always wanted to create children’s stories using
Kookabuk as the main character, but could not come up with a storyline.
Many years later I married and
started a family. My first born was diagnosed with Autism at
two-years-old. As he grew he began
displaying challenging behaviors. Struggling to figure out how we could
understand what’s was going on with our son, we sought the assistance of many
therapists and professionals. One of his therapist suggested using social
stories. She explained that social
stories are tools used to help children understand and prepare for new
situations. Taking her advice, I began creating social stories for my son. The
first one was about a child going to the doctor to have his blood drawn. We
read it together several times before visiting the doctor’s office. It worked!
My son had his blood drawn without incident. Other social stories followed.
While writing one of them, I realized I finally had the storyline for Kookabuk!
My friend Kookabuk helped me
through a very difficult time as a child, and now I am very happy he’s back (47
years later) to help others.
JESSE
As Kevin described, the inspiration
for the book series and the characters within are really from his personal
experiences, as well as his relationship and journey with his son (my nephew).
Kevin discussed the concept with me years ago and we had always planned on
writing the series. Life as teachers and parents can be very busy, and we
finally had some time to dedicate to Kookabuk over the last year or so.
Personally, my greatest inspiration is to entertain as many children as
possible while simultaneously putting forward the idea that friendships can
develop between all different types of children.
2.
What is it about?
KEVIN and JESSE
The Kooky Adventures of My Friend
Kookabuk
is a wonderful collection of social stories created as a guide to help you and
your special child approach new experiences and challenges in a positive way.
Successfully navigating through a world filled with uncertainties is difficult
for all children. The struggle is often magnified for children who have Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A social story is a fun and powerful tool in helping
to address specific challenges that your child may encounter. Our social
stories are thoughtfully designed to encourage the participation of all those
who love and support your child.
In this story, Emily helps
Kookabuk learn how to share one of his most prized possessions. Most children
are inherently very protective of their toys. While Kookabuk’s reluctance to
share his green shovel is very typical, his reaction is elevated and prolonged.
Fearful that Emily is confused and afraid to play with her son, Kookabuk’s mom
steps in to guide their social interaction.
3.
What do you hope will be the
everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book?
KEVIN
I hope readers recognize that
embracing similarities and accepting differences makes the world a much better
place for everyone. And, random acts of kindness turns ordinary people into
heroes.
JESSE
I hope children reading the book who have Autism
themselves come away from the book with increased self confidence and a greater
desire to share when playing with others. For neurotypical children, I hope
they recognize how much fun can be had playing with a child with Autism or any
child who is different from them. With a little patience, understanding, and
kindness, they can forge a friendship with someone who may seem different from
themselves.
4.
What advice do you have for writers?
KEVIN
The advice I would share with
writers is: Be true to your work. Do not let self-doubt or the doubt of others
interfere with your creative thought. In the end, it will be your name next to
the title and you don’t want to have any regrets.
JESSE
Simply keep at it. I now
realize that I did not publish anything until I reached the advanced age of 36
because many times I would have an idea, start writing, get frustrated, and
give up. Having a great idea is a huge first step, but dedicating time and
energy to see that idea through to completion is the challenge for me. But if I
can do it, so can you. That’s just the truth. Also, you really have to deeply
believe in your ability to write and be true to your writing style. Your level
of education and training don’t matter as long as you have a unique voice.
5.
Where do you think the book
publishing industry is heading?
KEVIN
I am not an expert on the
publishing industry; however, after my experience I would bet that many writers
would choose to self-publish as I did. Cost, time, and control were all factors
that made self-publishing attractive. Because information is easily accessible
and technology is more user-friendly, people are now more empowered to do
things on their own. Consequently, the DIY (do-it-yourself) crowd is causing
the dismantling of many established systems.
I believe traditional publishing may begin to fall apart as well.
JESSE
From my limited
experience, I really do think self-publishing is the way of the future. In
publishing our first book together, Kevin and I have worked endless hours,
spent lots of money, and have had daily phone conversations that last hours at
a time to get the job done over a 14 month or so period. But it was worth it.
We controlled every aspect of the project, chose who we wanted to collaborate
with, and in the end the final product truly turned out better than we had
hoped for. Also, being first time authors, I am glad that we went the
self-publishing route because we were forced to learn so many things. In general, with social media and online
retailers, etc, it’s hard for me to imagine that traditional publishers will
continue to dominate the market over the next 25 years or so. They will
probably always have a role, but that role may change, much like record
companies in the music business.
6. What
challenges did you have in writing your book?
KEVIN
In many ways the challenges I
faced in writing this book were similar to those I’ve experienced in the past.
The usual excuses and customary distractions repeatedly presented themselves
throughout this process. The biggest hurdle, as with any of my previous
undertakings, was finishing. I have learned over the years that persistence,
perseverance, and determination are not just words, but rather instructions to
live by. I did not allow time, money,
family, or work-life deter me from my goal.
Anytime I felt overwhelmed and wanted to stop, I referred back to one of
my favorite quotes: “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking
places.” Accepting some “roadside
assistance” every now and then, I managed to stay on course. Now equal to my
other accomplishments, the first installment of The Kooky Adventures of My Friend
Kookabuk is finalized.
JESSE
For me, the biggest
challenge was making our partnership as co-authors work smoothly and
effectively. It certainly helps that we are brothers and have the kind of
relationship where we can say anything to each other and know that it won’t
change our feelings towards each other. There are times when we don’t agree and
the discussions can be intense and passionate. I also tend to be a bit
impatient and have some obsessive compulsive tendencies, so luckily my brother
knows that about me and takes it all in stride! But I can honestly say that I
am incredibly excited to continue working with my brother on this series and on
other future projects because we have designed our own unique approach to
co-authoring, and it works for us amazingly well.
7.
If people can only buy one book this
month, why should it be yours?
KEVIN
I believe this book has the
ingredients for the making of a classic children’s book: stunning
illustrations, adorable characters, a fun meaningful storyline, and a memorable
name. Additionally, this book has the unique combination of being entertaining
and instructional. Included, at the end
of the story, are strategies that provide helpful suggestions to guide
parents/caregivers through challenging situations.
JESSE
It’s truly unique. There are thousands of social
stories for children, pretty much all children’s books are social stories.
However, our book has the combination of being entertaining and fun, while also
sharing a positive message for all children (be patient, kind, and
understanding and you can play nicely with anyone). Also, we add tips and
suggestions for parents and caregivers at the back of our book. These
suggestions are from our personal experiences and are intended to help parents
to begin to think in terms of behavior management strategies. For parents of
children with Autism, behavior management can be a particularly daunting
challenge, so we hope our advice provides some relief.
Jesse Howard is a special education teacher in
Westchester County, NY who received his Masters in Education (Childhood/Early
Childhood/Students with Disabilities) from Manhattanville College. Raised in a
family of special education teachers who embraced their passion to live a life
devoted to the well being of all children, his career has focused mainly on
early childhood and students with disabilities. He made learning creative and experiential
for his students and developed a strong connection with parents. Realizing
the importance of the role of the parent as “First Teacher,” Jesse encouraged
parents that time spent reading with children was a critical as well as a
rewarding experience. From these experiences, plus his love of writing,
grew the foundation of his philosophy surrounding the Kookabuk series.
Kevin Howard graduated twice from the University of South
Florida, receiving both a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a
Master’s Degree in Education. He spent the first 14 years of his early
professional life in private industry, and is now approaching his 20th year as
a public school teacher, trainer, and coach. While his resume is packed with a
wealth of experience and education, Kevin confesses that his most rewarding
experience has come from fatherhood and being the parent to a child with
Autism. Kevin created and co-authored The
Kooky Adventures of My Friend Kookabuk to share the knowledge he gained
raising his son. The Kookabuk series
is a collection of social stories that serve as a source of information,
inspiration, and guidance for parents and children alike.
For more
information, connect with Jesse and Kevin on their website, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Continue to follow the Kookabuk Shares His Shovel
blog tour tomorrow at Motherhood
Moment!
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Brian Feinblum’s views,
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