I create stories that I feel my own children will enjoy.  While reading age appropriate (0-8) children's books to my own children, I started to pick up on their likes and dislikes through their reactions.  I noticed my kids enjoy the suspense of what happens next in a story and also enjoy comforting endings.   Each story I create is "tested" on my own children.  Stories are adjusted based on my very honest critics' feedback and only once it receives the "Kid Stamp of Approval" is the story written and shared for all kids to enjoy.

The Strange Thing Forest was inspired by my second grader's homework.  When he brought home a drawing of a forest with a sentence describing the forest as "terrifying and smelling like dead fish," I thought, "that's strange."  When he asked for a bedtime story that evening, the idea of a forest where strange things happen popped into my head.  Since it was bedtime, I embraced kid-friendly "strange" with a comforting ending.  What started as an impromptu creation of the imagination evolved into a story book when my kindergartner declared, "I love it."  I figured if my own children love the story, perhaps other children will love it as well.  Wishing young readers joy in reading The Strange Thing Forest.

The critics determine the process.  Honest feedback is the only only feedback they offer and only when both critics give the kid stamp of approval, does the story move forward. 

The one word response from the 8 year old determines what happens next:

"Good," means the story moves forward.

"Lame," means the story needs some work.

To get the details of the good, bad or ugly parts of the story, ask the 6 year old.  His detailed feedback may be longer than the story itself!  Never short on words, he will tell you what he liked, what he didn't like, and how to change the story to make it better.  Once changes are made, the edited version is read to the 8-year old to receive his updated one word feedback that determines what happens next:

"Good,"  means move forward with publishing or

"Lame," means edit again or scrap the story. 

Most parents can tell you that life changes after kids and indeed it does!   Reading with my kids has been a most enjoyable part of parenting and creating and writing with my children has become a newfound passion.  Involving my children in the creative process has become a family fun activity and it's an incredible experience to share our creations with the world.  Thank you for reading!