Summary
Count
Sugular is delighted when the Sugarpop Bats invite his family to a
Halloween party at the Haunted House. He and his wife, Witch Honey,
decide to hire a caravan and enjoy a weekend away with their family.
Includes some fun limericks to introduce the various characters.
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Interview
Some writers write for the "moral of the story."
In your children's books, do you write for the imaginative aspects of the
narrative, or do you also prescribe to having a teachable moment in your books?
If so, how and why?
Thank you, Dawn, for this interesting
question. My books do all have elements that can be picked out as teaching
points. I think that all stories have these elements as they all rely on
certain human behaviours and characteristics to bring the plot to a successful
conclusion.
My characters meet new people and form
friendships and working relationships with them. They identify issues, solve
problems, and find ways around obstacles in their path. They learn to be
patient and understanding as well as determined and resolved, depending on the
circumstances.
My plots, however, to not revolve around
morals or ethics. The settings and storylines in Michael and my children’s
books are fantasy adventures.
In Haunted Halloween Holiday, Count Sugular
and his family are invited to a Halloween party and take the opportunity to
turn it into a family holiday. At the party, they meet up with old friends,
dance and have fun, and see some beautiful artwork.
Everyone at the party is different and has
a unique skill set. Some bake, some cook, some make music, and others are artists,
but they are all appreciated for their talents, and they all contribute towards
making the party a big success.
It is all about teamwork and acceptance as
well as not pigeonholing people. Trolls can learn to cook and can open a
restaurant if they work hard at it and are determined. People who are sad and
depressed can find ways of seeing the brighter side of life and sharing their
talents with the world.
I deliberately chose to write fantasy books
and I want the books to be fun and engaging and expand the imaginations of the
readers.
The illustrations in Haunted Halloween
Holiday are all made from Fondant, biscuits, sweets, and cake. I have found
that my illustrations encourage creativity in children. Some children want to
replicate what I have done, others attempt to make the characters from other
mediums like play doh and even mud.
It is amazing how innovative and creative
children can be from all sorts of different backgrounds and economic circumstances.
___
What is a lesson from your childhood that comes out in
your writing, as a conscious or unconscious theme? When did you notice this
trend?
I was a lonely child. I moved schools
fourteen times over my twelve-year school career and only two of those moves
were during my high school years. During my primary school years, I sometimes moved
schools twice in one academic year. My shortest stay at a school was six weeks.
Moving schools was not easy for me. It was
new environments, new peers, and new teachers all the time. The schools don’t
teach the syllabus consistently so I would miss sections and repeat sections
following a move.
I didn’t form close friendships and I was a
lonely child, playing mainly with my three younger sisters.
To this day, I don’t have close female
friendships. I don’t think I ever learned how to deepen friendships with
people. I have always viewed all my relationships outside of my direct family
as transitional. I have closer friends in my on-line world than in my physical
world. I can take on-line friends with me wherever I go and reach them often
and timeously.
I think my childhood loneliness and anxiety
to fit in comes through in Michael and my stories. They all have a strong focus
on acceptance of difference, teamwork, being helpful and supportive, and
friendship. I have taught my sons to be kind to others, to invite them into
their friendship groups and offer them support when they can see a need.
Thank you, Dawn, for the great questions
and for hosting my book tour today.
(Anytime!)
_____
Review
Another wonderful installment of Robbie Cheadle's children's book series. This time, it's autumn for her sugarland family! The sinister season is not complete without a Haunted Halloween Holiday.
In this story, everyone in the community works together for a common goal: well, a party of course! Join in with her culinary characters as they win over your heart, and appetite, with their rhymes and times. Because people who play together stay friends forever!
If
you like family friendly content, then her children's series is for
you. It is a family affair as Robbie and her son, Michael, write these
fantastical stories for other children to enjoy.
Be sure to purchase your own copy!
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For a chance to win one of three US$10
Amazon vouchers or one of three paperback copies of Haunted Halloween Holiday just
leave a comment to show you were here.
Follow the tour and comment at each stop
for more chances to win.
The prizes will be given away in a
random drawing.
******
Robbie Cheadle is a South African children’s author and poet with ten children’s books and two poetry books.
The eight Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by
Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are
easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of
delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple
recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult
supervision.
Robbie has also published two books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.
Robbie has two adult novels in the paranormal historical and
supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton
Cheadle. She also has short stories, in the horror and paranormal genre,
and poems included in several anthologies.
Robbie Cheadle contributes two monthly posts to https://writingtoberead.com,
namely, Growing Bookworms, a series providing advice to caregivers on
how to encourage children to read and write, and Treasuring Poetry, a
series aimed at introducing poetry lovers to new poets and poetry books.
In addition, Roberta Eaton Cheadle contributes one monthly post to https://writingtoberead.com called
Dark Origins: African Myths and Legends which shares information about
the cultures, myths and legends of the indigenous people of southern
Africa.
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