Author Interview : Charity Tober

Today I have author Charity Tober with me fore an interview. I am very excited to share this interview with all of you readers. She recently has published the cutest children's book, Roly-Poly Monsters, the name might sound familiar because I recently reviewed on this blog. You can check out my thoughts on the book, but for now, let's get to know a little more about author Charity Tober. 

 Where do you get your ideas? 

     

Everywhere really. I have gotten ideas for stories from something I read, something I saw, something I heard and even from dreams. Inspiration is everywhere.

What is your writing process like?

I am big on outlines and organization when it comes to my writing. Typically when I get a new idea for a story, I spend a few days just jotting down ideas, coming up with characters, potential scenes and just thoughts about where I envision the story going. Then I like to write out a broad outline, so I have a sense of how the story plays out, and go from there. Writing every day is very important I think, even if it’s just a few hundred words, you just have get something down.

What are the upsides and downsides to being an author?

The upside about being an author to me is just the exciting process of creating characters, worlds and stories from your imagination. It’s so fun to see your characters almost take a life of their own during the writing process and just the journey from vague idea to final draft. It is always amazing how a story typically ends up so different and so much better than you initially envisioned it.

The downside is that writing can be frustrating at times (writer’s block is the worst!). There are some days that you love your story and some days that you wonder why you even started it. You just have to remember to take a deep breath and realize that your first draft will not be perfect. It takes many, many hours or writing and rewriting to get an idea to where it needs to be.

Tell me about your book Roly-Poly Monster? 

Roly-Poly Monster is a story that I wrote for my son when he was around four years old. I had just finished reading him a library book that had monsters in it and he was rolling around the living room floor. I jokingly called him a roly-poly monster and the idea of a little red furry monster kid that rolls everywhere he goes just popped in my head. 

The book is basically just that. The character of Roly-Poly Monster is a cute, fun and curious little monster kid that loves to roll. The book starts when he wakes up and rolls out of bed and follows him throughout his adventurous day and ends when he sleepily rolls back into bed that night. I tried to capture the fun, carefree and curious way that children view the everyday world around them. 

My husband, Andrew Tober, is an industrial designer and did all of the illustrations for the book.

 How did you come up with the title of your book?

The title of the book is the name of the main character and is pretty self-explanatory. He’s a little round furry monster who likes to roll everywhere he goes—so the name Roly-Poly Monster fits him pretty well!

What inspired you to want to write children’s literature? 

I have always loved children’s books because the plots are typically very fun and silly and never seem to take things too seriously—Dr. Suess is a prime example! It wasn’t until after my son was born though that I actually started to get into writing for kids. 

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

If readers enjoy reading Roly-Poly Monster, they can continue the fun in Roly-Poly Monster Goes to the Zoo! I am also working on my third children’s picture book set to be released this year (with a different character).

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website: http://www.rolypolymonster.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rolypolymonster/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharityTober

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/charitytober

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7260050.Charity_Tober

Book Review- Roly Poly Monsters (Children's Series)

This is a series I will be running for a little while, highlighting some excellent children's literature. During the coming months, there will be many children's books. Stay tuned to learn more about it. Read previous posts in this series here. 

Book Description:

Come meet Roly-Poly Monster, a curious new monster friend, and join him as he rolls throughout his day - playing, exploring and of course, rolling! This colorful, rhyming picture book introduces children to a new fun-to-follow furry friend and is recommended for both boys and girls ages 2-6 years old.

• Print Length: 36 pages
• Publisher: Charity Tober (September 7, 2013)
• Publication Date: September 7, 2013
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English

This is literally one of the cutest picture books I have read in a long time. The artwork is vivid and will keep your child's interest throughout. Basically, RolyPoly is a cute fun little monster who rolls everywhere and has a pretty exciting life. Your child will love watching Roly Poly go about the day rolling here and there through Monster Land. 

Roly Poly will roll out of bed, then have breakfast. Then roll out the door down to the park to play, after an adorable picnic lunch with mom and dad monster. A quick trip to the beach to swim and play in the fun sand, then it is time to go. Have to have a quick, dinner then it's off to bed. 

The only real downside I see is that some of the sentences where "wordy" for a kids book. This could cause your child to potential loose interest, and throws of the best part of a children's picture book which of course is the rhythm and rhyming nature. 

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest and completely unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.

Links for purchase: Amazon // Barnes and Noble // Abe Books  // Book Depository 

A Little Bout the Author: 

Charity Tober has been creating and writing stories for as long as she can remember and became a professional freelance writer in 2010. She published her first children's picture book titled Roly-Poly Monster in 2013 and followed up with Roly-Poly Monster Goes to the Zoo in 2014. Both picture books were illustrated by her husband Andrew Tober.

She is currently working on a YA novel set to be released in 2017.

www.charitytober.com
www.facebook.com/rolypolymonster

Classics Review: Anthony and Cleopatra

Hey Guys, I have decided to come out with a brand new series that I think you all will enjoy. This is a year-long series, for now, I might extend it at some point, who really knows. I am itching to read more classic literature. You can follow the series here.

Presenting the classic play of Anthony and Cleopatra, by Willam Shakespeare. Please note I am not at all claiming to an expert or even worthy of critiquing him, I am simply going to share my view on this very interesting and fascinating play. I feel that this is one that is often overlooked, and very rarely read.

A little bit of a description of the tragedy, as explained by Goodreads, Anthony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. It was first printed in the First Folio of 1623. The plot is based on Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Life of Marcus Antonius and follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony from the time of the Parthian War to Cleopatra's suicide. The major antagonist is Octavius Caesar, one of Antony's fellow triumviri and the future first emperor of Rome. The tragedy is a Roman play characterized by swift, panoramic shifts in geographical locations and in registers, alternating between sensual, imaginative Alexandria and the more pragmatic, austere Rome.

Many consider the role of Cleopatra in this play one of the most complex female roles in Shakespeare's work.[1] She is frequently vain and histrionic, provoking an audience almost to scorn; at the same time, Shakespeare's efforts invest both her and Antony with tragic grandeur. These contradictory features have led to famously divided critical responses 

And onto my humble thoughts about this wonderful tragedy, that is such a masterpiece. 

Wow, this one was so good I don't even know where to begin. It is such a mysterious play, on that will spark your interest and fuel your imagination. A play that is full of drama, foolishness, pettiness, and desire. A story that is weaved so beautifully it has withstood the test of time.

The protagonists in this story are quite hard to describe. They are both noble, narcotic, and entirely self rightous. They are never really short of petty or foolish in their actions and their webs of deceit. It is hard for me to determine if Anthony and Cleopatra are my favorite characters that Shakespeare develops, but they are easily in the top five.  I also believe that one of the reasons we find Cleopatra so fascinating is that Shakespeare creates this deep complexity to her. In his work, she is vain and self-centered. She is scorn, but also tragic and grandeur. It's almost as Shakespeare wanted his audience to be torn about her, due to her contradictory behaviors.

They play itself is a masterpiece and entirely complex. There is a tone that is consistently maintained throughout the play. Set in a complete ironic and heroic tone, it's almost paradoxical in thinking. The language involved is breathe taking, and it shifts naturally and almost seamlessly from something that is imagery to full monologues, that at points are adorned with beautiful humor. I am beginning to believe Shakespeare created the art of sounding casual all the while talking about a topic that is very complex. I also believe what is most interesting about the language is that this play is one of his most modern, and also witty. There is a ton of humor that is so ingrained and effortless.

The issues of lovers is such a central theme of this tragic play. I find that part of this is due to the larger than life characters, and semi-obnoxious storyline. There is such trial and tribulation between their love, you almost think, it can never work. There is so much privilege to these characters. For me they were my favorite part of the play.

Honestly, for me, Shakespeare has done it again. Just such a wonderful piece of literature. Overall I believe this is something everyone must read once. Even if you think you will hate Shakespeare or have no hope of understanding, I urge you to give it a chance, it might just surprise you. 

Links for purchase: Amazon // Barnes and Noble // Book Depository // Abe Books // Thrift Books // Better World Books 

Classics Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream (long post)

Hey Guys, I have decided to come out with a brand new series that I think you all will enjoy. This is a year-long series, for now, I might extend it at some point, who really knows. I am itching to read more classic literature. You can follow the series here.

Presenting the classic play of A Midsummer Night's Dream, by Willam Shakespeare. Please note I am not at all claiming to an expert or even worthy of critiquing him, I am simply going to share my view on this very interesting and fascinating play. Random fact about me this is my favorite Shakespeare play.

A little bit of a description of the play, as explained by Goodreads, Shakespeare's intertwined love polygons begin to get complicated from the start--Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Helena).

 In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the faeries) are having a spat over a servant boy. The plot twists up when Oberon's head mischief-maker, Puck, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. Throw in a group of labourers preparing a play for the Duke's wedding (one of whom is given a donkey's head and Titania for a lover by Puck) and the complications become fantastically funny.

And now moving on to my personal thoughts on this play, 

My first thought after finishing this play, was aww that was really cute. I know super academic and groundbreaking stuff. I read this play in four days,  thanks to a grueling advanced Shakespeare class. Then I decided to really analyze what I thought of it. This play is often considered a soft, kind of lightweight play due to the magical storyline and the length but if your really look at the bones of it, it really is a polished achievement. It is such a great piece of poetic drama, laced with the right amount of whimsy to keep it interesting. There is so much humanity in this piece. 

I find it interesting that it has quickly become one of Shakespeares most popular comedy plays. I believe the magic is what gives it that interesting appeal. The undertones of magical worlds and tongue in check comedic social satire. I believe that most of the worlds that Shakespeare creates are magnificent but there is just something about the deliberate comedy that just makes this comedy so appealing. 

This play is an Archetypal, where violence, sexuality, charm, and magical innocence combined to create something that just feels right. It is a masterpiece, that is diverse and complex. The speeches, the characters and combined in a way that is truly incredible. The amount of imagination and poetry taking place is almost mind boggling. The power of complex issues and reasoning create a moral lesson that is far from dogmatic. It truly is something that has a strong message. 

The central theme that is explored is love, and it is explored across five different couples, well six if once would choice to include Pyramus and Thisby, who are all representing the different powers and wonders of this alluring topic. We see moments when love is just blossoming, we follow a journey of lovers finding their way, there is the sweet forbidden love moments, as well as the trials and tribulations that all too often get in the way.  

I found that there was such an in-depth look at the topic of the trial and tribulation involved in love. This play showed us the difficulties that encompass true love. Issues such as family, restrictions by custom, faith, and maybe even propriety. The issue of unreason and blind love, the issue of love between different classes, or maybe even species if we want to acknowledge that one lover was once a donkey. Then the pressure does love prevail or does love just become a fantasy. Something that can't be attained. Due to this, we see a major conflict between love and reason. 

Overall I believe this is something everyone must read once. Even if you think you will hate Shakespeare or have no hope of understanding, I urge you to give it a chance, it might just surprise you. 

Links for purchase: Amazon // Book Outlet // Barnes and Noble // Book Depository // Abe Books // Thrift Books // Better World Books