Sometimes our family history provides the best inspiration for our writing. Today we talk to Jeremy Angelo about his camping book with an important message. A very personal story has created an amazing book and author journey for Jeremy.
Tell us about your book?
A Trail of Honesty teaches children the importance of honesty and outdoor safety in a funny way. It takes place at a state park during a camping trip. While there, the three Angelino brothers lie to their parents about throwing their apple cores away that cause personal property damage by an unexpected visitor.
Why did you want to write this story?
A Trail of Honesty started out as a part of my dad's eulogy in November 2011. It took me a while to get the story right, and it caused people at the viewing to laugh taking away some of the pain associated with losing a loved one. After the service, the pastor approached me and said that it would make a great children's book. It took me eight years to share this story.
What's been the best reaction from a reader so far?
A former supervisor that has never offered me a compliment in the 18 years that I have known him said that he really enjoyed A Trail of Honesty and shook my hand. He even asked if I could sign his grandson's book as a Christmas present.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration through my social media following. My followers play a huge part in what I write, the charities I donate 20% of my royalties to, and the illustrator and cover art I use, among other choices.
What's the most fun part of being an author?
The most fun part of being an author is getting to share my story with my friends and family members. My stories also share a message regarding social skills and their importance in the community and with families and friends.
What's your tip for parents to encourage reading?
While reading to your kiddos, encourage them to take part in reading the story. In addition, make the reading time interactive, such as asking questions throughout the story. One question I like to ask is "What do you think will happen next?" A great reading app for children is Raz Kids. It has quizzes at the end of the story and correct answers allow the child to earn stars to build a boy and a rocket ship.
What's your favourite children's book of all time and why?
My favorite children's book is the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. These are my favorite children's books because they are investigative series allowing you to determine if you know who the suspect is in the story. I am stoked that Nancy Drew is adapting into a television series this fall. I cannot wait to watch it to see if it follows the series.
Jeremy Angelo is an author on a mission to help children with their social skills. He is an active board member with the Frederick County Public Policy committee improving K-12 education in his local area.
Bullying is also a hot issue for Jeremy, as a victim of bullying during my years in school and a parent of a child who was bullied. He was published in Communal News in 2019 with an article on bullying entitled "The United States Imposed Laws on Bullying, But is That Enough". It was an Editor’s Pick.
You can find out more about Jeremy by following him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and you can pick your copy of A Trail of Honesty from Amazon.
Where to Next?
We hope you enjoyed this insight into Jeremy Angelo's life as an independent author. We'll be sharing more author stories and the best way to keep in touch with these is through signing up to our author newsletter. You can also get tips on publishing in our free indie author guides. Plus of course, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.