“Kids will connect with
Sam's need to "recharge" during winter-and wish to have superpowers
to escape to a place of endless summer-while drawing inspiration from his
willingness to open up about a disorder that too many are reluctant to share. Takeaway:
Easy-to-follow introduction to Seasonal Affective Disorder, from a kid's
perspective.” — Publishers Weekly Booklife
1. What inspired you to write this book?
I wrote a children’s book for two reasons. One, it has been on my bucket list
to write a children's book. Two, I suffer from SAD or Seasonal Affective
Disorder which is a form of depression. SAD is related to the body not getting
enough vitamin D caused by lack of sunlight during the winter months. I wrote
this book during Covid, when everybody was shut in. During this time. I felt I
didn’t have a purpose, I was just going through the motions of life. To be
honest this book became the inspiration to get up during those dark days. It
was very cathartic.
I have always been able to relate to children. That is why I
became an elementary school teacher. As a former teacher, I am on a crusade to
educate the public about SAD through my story. I wanted others who suffer from
SAD to know that they are not alone. My hope is that by discussing depression
earlier with kids when they encounter it, they can better deal with it. While
researching for this book I noticed that there are not many books about
depression catered to children without the human element. The books I did find,
the characters were animals or inanimate objects
.
2.
What
exactly is it about and who is it written for?
It’s about a child named Sam, who has Seasonal Affective
Disorder, which is a disorder that makes him sad or depressed during the winter
months caused by the lack of sunlight. The reader follows along with Sam as he
takes the reader through all his struggles during the long dark winter months.
I wrote the book for tweens and possibly teens, but this book is for anybody
suffering from depression or knows somebody suffering from depression and wants
to better understand the effects of SAD and how to combat it. Those who I can
see benefitting from my book are: parents, children, grandparents, teachers,
psychologists, counselors, particularly friends and family who wonder why this
person suffering from SAD is pushing them away from loved ones and good
friends.
Furthermore, I have received feedback and reviews from all kinds. I received
feedback from a parent who came from the hot environment of California to the
cold environment of the Midwest. He told me that his boy who is in Preschool
told him when he picked him up “I was charged today! I was not charged
yesterday.” Being charged refers to the page where Sam introduces himself and
compares his feeling to the weather. I also received feedback from the elderly
who enjoyed learning from my book. I even have a review from a psychologist
from Readers Favorites. ”. . . Author Daniel
Granger highlights the impact of SAD in Why Is Sam so SAD? and how Sam copes
with it. Sam explores the effects of SAD, including wanting to sleep all the
time, just not caring about things that used to be important, grumpiness, and
more. Too many people think that the person suffering from SAD can just get
over it. This book does a wonderful job of explaining the complex issues in
dealing with SAD and techniques to help and relieve the symptoms. I counseled
families for over forty years and wish I'd had this book to give to my young
clients with SAD. . .” Philip Van Heusen.
3.
What
do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?
I hope they have a better understanding of those suffering from
SAD. I hope they are more empathetic to those suffering from SAD and
depression, especially during the times when they are pushed away during the
winter season. I hope they remember it’s not the person, but the SAD that is
pushing them away. I would love it if the readers obtained a good grasp on the
power of gratitude, and how choosing to be thankful can have an effect on one's
happiness. Having the population notice gratitude and make their own lists is
part of my crusade.
4.
How
did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?
I knew from the get go that I wanted the title to be called, Why
is Sam So SAD?.I especially wanted SAD to be all caps. I picked the name
Sam because it could be a boy or a girl. I was undecided if I wanted to write
about my main character Sam as a boy or girl. The name Sam is only three
letters long and so is the word SAD. Using alliteration in both the words along
with the same letter count in Sam and SAD I felt that made the title pop.
Since I don’t have any drawing talent I initially
wrote/illustrated my book using clipart pictures during the rough draft
process. The picture on the cover is based on a clipart picture I found of a
kid who is sitting kinda like that who looks just as depressed and sad as what
you see on the cover.
5.
What
advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers - other than run!?
My biggest advice to fellow writers is be passionate about what
you are writing about. If you are passionate, you will push through the writing
hardships and hurdles. On the other hand, if you don’t care or your heart is
only half in what you write, you will probably be more tempted to give up
during the unexpected setbacks. If you are passionate about what you write, you
will enjoy the journeys including the setbacks and the hurdles and see them for
what they are a pitstop for learning along the way. Because you are passionate
you will press on at all costs and see the long-term outcome.
Also, as someone who had many edits or additions along the way,
which cost money. I would say to edit something and then stop and leave it for
a week or at least a few days to let your decision to edit sink in. Once you
come back and look at it you'll know by then if you want to change it or keep
it and send it onto the publisher as completed.
6.
What
trends in the book world do you see - - and where do you think the book
publishing industry is headed?
With Artificial Intelligence advancing more and more each day it
is more efficient and cheaper to create book covers, images or interior art.
This process used to be expensive and time consuming. In addition to AI’s
impact on images, I have seen more cost saving by recording audio books with
it. Artificial Intelligence capability is moving so far and so fast that it is
going to be interesting to see where it takes us.
7.
Were
there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when
writing this book?
Yes, this book would’ve never been written had I not had been in
the position to feel so down and lack purpose. I credit my extreme down feeling
to my body adapting from eighteen years of living in the hot, always sunny
climate of Arizona with no SAD symptoms. Compared to now living in the dreary,
gray, cold environment of Wisconsin where my symptoms were overwhelming. What
made my SAD worse was working my first two years during the shut-in Covid era.
During this time, I was working fourteen hours a day seven days a week.
Therefore, I never saw the sun. I was at work before the sun came up, and I
left work after the sun had set so those two years took a toll on me.
Also, as a former teacher and someone who understands children
and understands empathy, I was able to use Sam as an instructor to teach others
about the struggles, experiences and feelings of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Because I am Sam, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about since I was
writing from personal experiences. All the experiences that Sam goes through.
I’ve gone through and more.
That’s not to say I didn’t do research because I did. In fact,
after the book was written in hard and soft cover book form, I looked up
something and found I was wrong which bugged me.
All my family and friends said, “Just leave it. It's a
children’s book” I would have left it except the character who was giving
the description was an expert so I couldn't in good conscience just leave it. I
had to pay a pretty penny to make the change.
Initial written as:
My doctor says I like to be in the sun because my body craves or
loves vitamin D, which the sun rays give off.
Changed to:
My doctor says I like to be in the sun because my body craves or
loves vitamin D, which is made when the sun rays contact my skin
8.
How
would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing
similar to?
I’m not really sure what my writing style is similar to. This
book and my next book are written, breaking the fourth wall as the character
explains, describes and teaches the main topic(s). In this case, Sam tells all
about Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression. I’ve read a lot of children’s
books in my time as a former Elementary and Preschool teacher in fact and I
have 300 books in my personal library. But none of them break the fourth wall
and instruct like my book.
9.
What
challenges did you overcome in writing this book?
There are a few challenges I addressed writing this book. First,
I became a faster and more efficient typist, which I never thought was
possible. I was such a horrible typist in high school and college. I had my
family members type up my papers. I was so horrible at my typing skills that I
even paid my friends to type my papers for me in college. Handing off the
typing process for a cost to someone was more effective than having me take
several hours to do what someone could complete in an hour if that.
The big challenge I overcame by writing this book is to be more honest and more
willing to open up about my SAD, because it is something that is so personal.
This is especially difficult since opening up is the exact opposite of what
somebody who suffers from SAD and depression wants to do. What I found out
while writing this book was that it was very freeing and cathartic.
I lacked sleep because my creative brain did not power down for
sleep and was still in overdrive. I would think of something when I was
supposed to be sleeping, and unless I wrote it down it would stay in my head.
As far as money, all the multiple editions were costly so I had to work the
long hours and OT.
I also saved money by not eating my three-square meals a day. Of
course, I do not recommend anybody go this route if it can be avoided.
10.
If
people could buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?
Readers should buy my book if they themselves suffer from SAD,
know a family member or friend who suffers from SAD or for those who just want
to learn more about the experiences and remedies to combat SAD.
My book is an easy read narrated from a child's point of view
about living with SAD and depression. I believe that the readers should buy my
book because the remedies and experiences or advice that Sam gives or goes
through may be beneficial to someone who is depressed or beneficial to somebody
who knows somebody who is depressed and is being pushed away. The remedies that
Sam uses have been beneficial to me and can be beneficial to others when they
get depressed.
It will help those with SAD make a list of daily gratitude. By
being conscious and creating a list of all the good things I am grateful for
that occur on a daily basis, I have become more positive. I am thankful for
little things, such as making the green lights on my way to work, free lunch at
work, being provided chances to give back, like helping someone or making them
smile, etc. I remind myself when I’m SAD that my negative thoughts have no
power and are just thoughts. That's where my being positive and grateful
combats the negative thoughts.
In short, reading this book, and knowing somebody who has SAD or
depression, just being there for them being a comforting shoulder or a
listening ear is priceless.
About The Author: Dan grew up in the Midwest and has coped
with SAD every winter since he was a child. However, that has not stopped
him from achieving his goals. He received his bachelor of special education
from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He received his master's degree in
early childhood education from Northern Arizona University. He is a certified
reading specialist. He was a former teacher with fifteen years of experience
teaching students from preschool through high school. In addition, he even
tutored college freshmen. Teaching is in his blood and it even comes out in his
writing. He has lived in the Arizona sun, but today he lives in a suburb of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Go Packers!” For more information, please consult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTJkvHaVZ6w and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saTYirpmnjA
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