Interview With Children’s Book Author Binky Wellington

 

 

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?

 

It started with my own childhood. I grew up in a neurodiverse household with a father who rarely approached life the conventional way, but he always showed up with creativity, curiosity, and love, and the joy and unpredictability that came with that stayed with me long after I grew up. It took years, and a career in psychiatry, for me to understand that what sometimes felt confusing back then was simply a different way of thinking. So, I wasn’t inventing a character so much as finding words for something I already knew.

 

Most of us recognize the dad who is certain he can fix just about anything with a roll of duct tape. I loved the humor in that image, and I also saw a deeper message in it: the unexpected detours and the things that go hilariously wrong are often the ones families remember for years. More than two decades as a psychiatrist have reinforced what my childhood taught me. Children don’t need perfect parents. They need connection, warmth, and adults who are willing to try, make mistakes, and try again. I wanted to write a book children could laugh at and parents could recognize themselves in. If it gets families reading together, laughing together, and worrying a little less about getting everything right, then it has accomplished exactly what I hoped.

 

2. What exactly is it about, and who is it written for?

 

Duct Tape Dad is a playful, rhyming picture book about a dad who is convinced that duct tape can solve almost any problem. His home repairs start out reasonable and escalate, with a little counting along the way, until things get decidedly sticky for Mom. Then a warm twist at the end shows that the silliest fixes can hold a family together best. Underneath the humor, it’s a story about creativity, perseverance, and connection. Dad isn’t precise, but he is resourceful, optimistic, and willing to adapt, and that’s exactly what his family needs.

 

I wrote it for children and the adults who read to them. It’s made for bedtime read-alouds, and it’s a natural gift for Father’s Day or from grandparents; it has even turned up in Father’s Day gift guides. There’s plenty of silliness for younger readers, and I hope adults will recognize a little of their own family life in it, too.

 

I also wanted the book to celebrate different ways of thinking and solving problems, especially for neurodivergent children and families. Families don’t all operate the same way, and there’s something wonderful about finding your own approach rather than feeling pressured to do everything by the book.

 

Ultimately, the book is about the imperfect, unpredictable, and often hilarious moments that make family life special. It reminds us that being resourceful doesn’t mean getting everything right. Sometimes it simply means being willing to try.

 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

 

I hope readers come away with two things: a good laugh and a gentler perspective on parenting.

It’s easy to feel pressure to get everything right, especially when social media is full of beautifully organized homes, perfectly planned activities, and parents who seem to have it all under control. Real family life is messier than that. Things break, plans change, and sometimes our best attempt at a solution creates an entirely new problem.

 

I want parents to feel free to let go of some of that pressure. Children don’t need us to be flawless. They need us to be present and responsive, even when things go sideways.

 

For children, I hope the story encourages creativity and flexibility. Problem-solving doesn’t have to be perfect to count; the willingness to think, adapt, and keep going is a life skill, and making a mistake doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Most of all, I hope the book creates chances for families to laugh together. A shared story becomes a shared memory, and play and laughter quietly say something every child needs to hear: I’m here. I’m with you. You matter. After all, the things that hold a family together aren’t always the things that work perfectly. Sometimes, they’re the things that stick.

 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

 

The title Duct Tape Dad felt like a natural fit because it brings a character to mind immediately. Most people know the dad who believes he can repair almost anything with a little ingenuity and whatever happens to be in the garage, and there’s something universally funny and endearing about that confidence.

 

Duct tape also works beautifully as a metaphor. It’s practical, adaptable, and capable of holding things together in unexpected ways, which made it the perfect symbol for a story about resourcefulness, imperfect parenting, and the love that keeps families connected.

 

The book’s visual direction draws on a vintage, mid-century children’s book aesthetic, with bold primary colors and a playful, distinctly American sense of humor. I wanted it to feel energetic and whimsical while staying inviting to both children and adults.

 

The title and cover needed to communicate the spirit of the story before anyone opened the book. I wanted children to be curious about this dad and his adventures, and I wanted parents to sense there was more to the story than a series of funny repairs. The tagline, “Love That Sticks,” captures the idea in just three words. It’s playful, memorable, and closely tied to the book’s central message: perfection isn’t what holds a family together. Love does.

 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers—other than run?

 

My advice is to write about something that genuinely matters to you, and don’t underestimate the power of humor.

 

Starting from something true helps. Duct Tape Dad grew out of my own childhood, and that gives even the silliest story a heartbeat. It’s tempting to believe a meaningful story has to be serious, especially when you’re writing about family relationships or emotional well-being. But playfulness, surprise, and a character who makes us laugh are some of the most effective ways to carry an idea. In my professional life, I’ve seen how humor can make people more receptive to ideas they might otherwise resist. Storytelling works the same way: when readers recognize themselves in a character, they can reflect on their own experiences without feeling judged or lectured.

 

If you’re writing for children, embrace the editing process, and read every page out loud. Every word has to work, and a rhyme that looks perfect on paper doesn’t always sound right when spoken. Rhythm, pacing, humor, and clarity all matter, and sometimes removing a sentence does more for a story than adding three more. And finally, give yourself permission to be a little unconventional. You don’t have to follow every established rule to tell a compelling story. Sometimes the strangest idea is the one worth exploring. You never know where a roll of duct tape might take you.

 

6. What trends in the book world do you see, and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?

 

I think readers are increasingly drawn to stories that feel authentic and reflect the realities of their lives. Families don’t need more stories suggesting there’s only one right way to parent, learn, or solve a problem. They need stories that leave room for different personalities, different perspectives, and the wonderfully unpredictable nature of everyday life.

 

In children’s literature, I’m especially encouraged by the growing emphasis on emotional connection and representation. For many children, a book is one of the first places they see someone who thinks, feels, or lives the way they do, and that matters enormously for kids who are neurodivergent, anxious, or navigating big changes. It matters for every other child, too. Stories that celebrate different kinds of minds show children that creativity, curiosity, resilience, and humor can look many different ways, and that people who think differently make families,

classrooms, and communities stronger.

 

Humor can make these themes accessible without turning a story into a lesson. A child can laugh at a character’s antics while absorbing something meaningful about frustration, perseverance, or the value of thinking differently. The way books reach readers is also changing. Digital platforms, social media, audiobooks, and online communities give authors new ways to connect with families who might never encounter their work in a traditional bookstore. I suspect the

industry will keep experimenting with these formats, but I don’t think technology will replace the fundamental appeal of a good story.

 

A parent reading aloud to a child, two people laughing at the same moment, a story that becomes part of a family’s shared history—those experiences are difficult to replace. Whatever direction publishing takes, I believe stories that are emotionally honest, entertaining, and genuinely human will continue to find their audience.

 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?

 

Absolutely. My personal experiences growing up in a neurodiverse household and my professional experience as a psychiatrist both shaped the perspective I brought to Duct Tape Dad.

Growing up with a father who rarely approached life conventionally taught me that two people can look at the same problem and see entirely different solutions, and that the unconventional one might be the one that works. I’ve carried that understanding into my clinical work, where I care for children and adults with ADHD, OCD, and autism spectrum disorders. I see how often neurodivergent people learn to hide the very qualities that make them unique, qualities like creativity, resilience, curiosity, humor, and inventive problem-solving, which are often strengths.

 

My work in psychiatry has also deepened my appreciation for connection, emotional safety, and the way children learn through their relationships with the people around them. And I’ve seen how powerfully a story can reach a child. A diagnosis can explain how a mind works, but a story can help a child feel what it’s like from the inside.

 

Still, I never wanted to write a clinical lesson disguised as a children’s book, and I didn’t set out to write a mental health book. I wanted a story that was funny and enjoyable in its own right. That’s where whimsy became so important. Humor lets children recognize themselves in a character without feeling criticized, and it lets adults reflect on their own experiences without being told what they should have done differently. It also gives a family a shared reference they can return to later, in a gentler moment, when real life gets bumpy.

 

With Duct Tape Dad, I could bring those perspectives together through a character who meets life’s problems with enthusiasm, creativity, and perhaps a little too much confidence in his favorite tool.

 

The book isn’t about teaching parents to be perfect. It’s about celebrating the fact that we’re all figuring things out as we go, and that the process itself can become a source of connection.

 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?

 

I’d describe my writing style as whimsical, playful, rhythmic, and heartfelt, with a minimalist touch. I enjoy the energy of rhyming storytelling and the way humor can carry a story forward while a more meaningful message emerges naturally. Children respond to rhythm and repetition, and I love how a silly, catchy pattern can stay with a child long after the book is closed. With Duct Tape Dad, I wanted the language to be accessible to children, the situations to be delightfully exaggerated, and the character to have enough personality that readers would want to follow him through each new mishap. I’m drawn to the imaginative absurdity of Dr. Seuss, the mischievous, larger-than-life storytelling of Roald Dahl, and the playful humor of David Walliams.

 

Each shows how children’s literature can be entertaining, unconventional, and memorable without underestimating young readers. That said, I wanted Duct Tape Dad to have its own identity. Its humor comes from a familiar family archetype: the dad who is absolutely convinced he can fix anything. Beneath the exaggerated situations is an affectionate recognition of real family life. My background in psychiatry also influences how I think about storytelling. I’m

interested in how characters respond to challenges, how they make sense of the world, and how a story can help readers recognize something about themselves. I hope the result feels lighthearted and funny on the surface, with a little more to discover underneath.

 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

 

One of the biggest challenges was balancing the humor with the heart of the story. A dad who believes duct tape can fix almost anything lends itself naturally to absurd situations. I wanted to embrace that silliness without losing sight of the message about family, creativity, and imperfect parenting.

 

Writing for children also demands a surprising amount of precision. Rhyming stories have to sound natural when read aloud, and the rhythm needs to carry the reader from one moment to the next. A rhyme that works on paper doesn’t always work when spoken, and a funny idea isn’t necessarily effective if it disrupts the pacing. Another challenge was trusting the story to communicate its message without explaining everything. My professional background has taught me to analyze behavior and look for patterns, but a children’s book needs room for imagination.

Children should be able to enjoy the character and laugh at his antics without feeling that they’re being given a lesson. I wanted the meaning to emerge through the experience of reading rather than through a long explanation at the end.

 

That process reinforced something I believe strongly: meaningful communication doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes a playful story, a memorable character, and a shared laugh can open the door to a much bigger conversation. 10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

 

Because Duct Tape Dad offers families something simple but increasingly valuable: a chance to laugh together and appreciate the imperfect moments that make family life memorable.

 

It’s a story about a dad who believes he can fix just about anything, but its message reaches well beyond duct tape and do-it-yourself projects. It’s about creativity, perseverance, and the understanding that things don’t have to go perfectly for an experience to be meaningful.

 

For children, it’s a playful adventure full of humor and imagination. For parents, it’s a reminder that they don’t have to get everything right to build a loving, connected family. And it’s a book made for being read together. Bedtime is one of the few moments in a child’s day when the body is winding down and the child feels close to someone they trust, which makes it a wonderful time for a silly story and a shared laugh.

 

I also hope it encourages readers to appreciate different ways of thinking and solving problems. Not every solution has to look conventional, and not every mistake needs to become a source of frustration. Sometimes, trying something unexpected is part of the fun.

 

Most of all, I hope the book inspires families to put down their devices for a little while, read together, laugh at the ridiculous situations, and share their own stories about the times things went wonderfully wrong. We often remember the moments that didn’t go according to plan more vividly than the ones that did. Those are the stories we tell again and again, the ones that become part of a family’s history. Duct Tape Dad celebrates those moments. Because parenting isn’t about holding everything together perfectly. It’s about showing up, adapting, laughing when you can, and making sure the people you love know they matter.

About The Author: Writing as Binky Wellington, the author is a double-boarded Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatrist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She has spent her career caring for children and adults with ADHD, OCD, and autism spectrum disorders, and she also supports adults under the pressures of demanding careers and caregiving. Her approach is practical, structured, and individualized, combining evidence-based psychiatric care with modern tools and systems that build sustainable routines and reduce mental fatigue. She brings the same warmth and humor to children’s storytelling. Her rhyming picture book Duct Tape Dad (Beyond Publishing, 2026) celebrates perfectly imperfect parenting and the many different ways families think, solve problems, and show love. She lives and practices in Texas. Her rhyming children’s picture books are for all ages, best loved by ages 4-8. Tagline: “Love That Sticks.”  Website: https://ducttapedadbooks.com/

 

Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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 11 million page views. With over 5,700+ posts over the past 15 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 2026, 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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