1. What inspired you to write this book? Sam the Sunflower was born from a moment of love
and hope. While Chris was in hospital recovering from hamstring surgery, his
daughter gave him a sunflower balloon. When Julie came to visit and shared her
dream of writing a children’s book, Chris looked at the sunflower and
suggested, ‘Why not make it the star?’ And just like that, Sam came to life.
Sam is more than a sunflower, Sam is a symbol of strength, courage, and
unconditional love, the very things we hold onto when life feels challenging. These
books are here to bring parents and children closer, soul to soul. It begins
with a vision, followed by words, then action and of course love.
2. What exactly is it about — and who is it
written for? Sam the Sunflower in
Summer is a heart-warming
story for children aged 2 to 5. Set during the sunny days of summer, it follows
Sam and friend Coco, who is facing a tricky challenge.. With kindness and
teamwork, Sam and friends come together to help Coco, showing young readers
gentle ways to solve problems, support one another, and always lead with love.
3. What do you hope readers will get out of
reading your book? Sam
the Sunflower in Summer is
more than just a story, It is a favourite waiting to happen. Full of sunshine,
friendship, and fun, this joyful book gently teaches little ones how to be
kind, help others, and shine their own special light. With Sam by their side,
children will feel inspired to use their own “flower power” to love,
support, create, and grow. A heart-hugging tale that gives hope, sparks
imagination, and keeps little readers coming back for more. Sam looks authentic
with petals that are a little different—perfectly imperfect, just like
life.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and
cover design? We have already shared how
Sam grew up, and now it’s time to see Sam in summer, the season that many
kids love most! It’s a time for holidays, friends, fun, water, freedom, fruit,
and sunshine. A season full of adventure and joy. For the cover we wanted
something fun, colourful that includes all characters in the book. A cover that
brings a smile to the faces of the children and parents.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have
for fellow writers – other than run?
Other writers are not competitors, they are colleagues. Every book
has a purpose: to uplift humanity and make the world a better place. Write from
your heart. It doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be true. When your
words come from lived experience, their depth will shine through and connect
deeply with readers. As writers, our role is to share what we know, to inspire
change, and to help people come home to themselves.
6. What trends in the book world do you see --
and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? The book industry continues to grow, both
digitally and traditionally. With so much time now spent in front of screens,
we believe parents will increasingly want to make bedtime a screen-free time.
There's something irreplaceable about holding a real book; it doesn't need
charging, and it can be read any time, day or night. The simple, tactile
experience of a physical book is a comforting ritual that screens can’t
replicate.
7. Were there experiences in your personal
life or career that came in handy when writing this book? The main experience that shaped this journey was
Chris’s surgery. Due to the physical restrictions he faced, we spent a lot of
time talking and creating together. This unexpected time allowed us to reflect
on our own life challenges and, in the process, we were given the gift of time
- time to share, to connect, and to create something meaningful. Our hope
is that this story becomes a way to send a message of love, hope, and strength
to children all over the world
8. How would you describe your writing style?
Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Our writing is playful yet carries a deep, loving,
and powerful message. We aim to educate through humour, using positivity and
joyful words that spark imagination. Quite simply — it's magic. We were
inspired by a Dutch writer who wrote Woezel en Pip.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the
writing of this book? The
main challenge we faced was Chris’s surgery. However, without it, we would not
have had the precious time to focus on creating this book. When it comes to
writing and creating, we don’t see any challenges. For us, writing these books
feels like magic — it’s never a challenge or a chore, just a joyful and
fulfilling process.
10. If people can buy or read one book this
week or month, why should it be yours?
We believe that a favourite book can have a healthy and positive
impact on children. Our books are filled with humour, and the characters are so
lovable. At the same time, they carry a deeper message of helping, laughing,
and joy — ideas that are easily understood by both children and their parents.
It’s a beautiful way for both worlds to connect, making it fun for everyone.
That’s magic!
About The Authors: Chris is a multilingual father of three (ages
16, 18, and 19) who spent over 20 years working as a plasterer. A lover of
travel and sport, he now dedicates most of his time to writing and creating the
Sam the Sunflower books. While he enjoys all sports, his current passion is
padel. After undergoing hamstring surgery last year in 2024, Chris was
introduced to yoga and Pilates by Julie, which he now includes as part of his
rehabilitation. His greatest wish is to reach as many children around the world
as possible. With English becoming an essential part of early education, Sam
the Sunflower offers a fun and meaningful way for young children to begin
learning the language.
Julie is a Yoga and Pilates teacher, as well as a teacher trainer.
In June 2024, she published her first book, Change — a book for yoga teachers.
Writing children’s books had always been one of Julie’s dreams, and with Chris,
that dream came true when Sam the Sunflower was born. While she enjoys sports
and travel, her heart now lies in creating the Sam the Sunflower books. Julie’s
mission is to reach as many children as possible with joyful, positive messages
that inspire kindness, confidence, and connection.
For more info, please see: www.samthesunflower.com
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About Brian Feinblum
This award-winning blog has generated over
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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.
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