Sparking Creativity in Young Readers

One of the coolest and most rewarding experiences as an author so far happened after my blog was sent out last week. It might sound silly or dramatic, but when I opened the email I received and saw the picture attached, I got choked up. I immediately called my husband to tell him, but it is hard to articulate what the feeling was like--pride and gratitude come to mind. I'm sure at this point, you are just wanting to know what actually happened...

Last week was "Read Across America Week." Many schools across the country celebrate. My kids' school tied this in with the celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday--green eggs and ham, anyone? Some schools have students dress up and bring their favorite book. As you know, I had the first read-aloud of The Adventures of Ella Bella at the Story Collective a couple of weeks ago. It was a lot of fun, and quite a few families attended, but you never know who you might inspire.

After my blog posted last week, I got an email from a mother who attended the event with her daughter. She wanted to share a picture of her daughter dressed up as her favorite character—none other than Ella Bella! The outfit was spot on, and don't worry, I asked before sharing this picture with everyone. But how cool is that? It is such an exciting concept to think about how I created something that is sparking joy in someone else.

I want to express my gratitude by showing a sneak peek of the second book in the series, The Adventures of Ella Bella and the Brand New School. This story hits close to home as we prepare to move from Missouri to Nebraska. My kids will start at a new school, but there is an overall theme that will resonate with all little readers—that new experiences can be scary, but if you believe in yourself, you are capable of conquering your fears.

I hope you enjoy this preview. Pre-sale should be ready in the next couple of months, and the books will be available just in time for the new school year.

If you haven't already, be sure to follow along for updates, sneak peeks, and exclusive content! You can sign up for my newsletter or follow me on social media (@authorkatiemarie) to stay in the loop. And if you or your little reader dress up as Ella Bella, I'd love to see—tag me in your photos!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and, as always, happy reading!

-Katie Marie