Interview

Q & A with Author

 1. What inspired you to write The Hidden Swan: A Tale of An Ugly Duckling’s Journey to Find Himself and Ways You Can Too!?

I have homeschooled my children for most of their education. I was an associate pastor and youth pastor, as well, so I have always searched for books that taught personal development concepts to children at a young age. I discovered few of them and decided to write one.

2. Do you think personal development is a concept that may be over children’s heads?

Children can learn anything that we teach them. The problem is not in the children’s ability but in the adult’s belief that children won’t understand. My experience has shown me that children can learn personal development.

3. At what age should children learn about personal development?

The first five to eight years are vey important. That is when children’s foundations are formed. Common wisdom holds that personality may be set by age five or six, but parents have the opportunity to help change their children’s behavior, which in turn influences personality, at any age.

4. What if a parents don’t know how to teach personal development to their children?

That is why The Hidden Swan is so valuable. It provides a way for any parent to lay a foundation for their children. Before children are eight years old, they are extremely impressionable, almost like wet cement. Parents can purposely or unconsciously leave their marks. Have you ever heard someone say, “I sound just like my mother?” Those incidents are among marks left unconsciously in the cement by their parents.

5. How can a parent consciously leave marks in their child’s developmental patterns?

Parents need to consciously decide what kind of impressions they want to leave in their child’s development. Once the conscious mind becomes aware, it tries to achieve its goals. Second, parents need to be consistent with their decisions. Sometimes it seems difficult to enforce decisions and remain consistent; however, consistency reinforces a strong developmental foundation. Third, never give up. Parents may not see results right away, but the efforts make a difference. My 16-year-old daughter as told me, “I can see the principles and values you have laid in my life coming out in the things I do.”

6. Why did you retell the Ugly Duckling story instead of writing a new one?

When I was seven, I developed a love for storytelling by retelling the classical stories. During the time I was a home-schooling parent-teacher, I used the books we were reading to teach personal development to my children. I would ask questions from each book that applied to their lives. The Hidden Swan is a combination of what I have been doing for the last 40 years.

7. Why did you home-school your kids?

I was a single mom and received no child support so I had two jobs. I wanted to have an influence in my children’s lives, so I home-schooled them during the day and worked at night and on the weekends.

8. Two jobs and home-schooling — did you ever sleep?

I have a personality type that functions very well on five to six hours of sleep. Most importantly, I believed that it was possible for a single mom to raise two exceptional children, even if she had to work two jobs. Like most single moms, I did what I believed I had to do for my family.

9. What makes The Hidden Swan a must-read?

Most parents want the best for their children. The best thing they can give their children is a strong foundation. The Hidden Swan offers children the tools they need to make good decisions. It helps them to believe in themselves. The message to readers is, “If you believe in yourself and what you want to do, you can overcome anything.”

10. What sparks your creativity?

Having a problem to solve inspires me. I get a great rush trying to solve something in a new or better way. I also love coming up with metaphors.

11. What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing?

The foundation I had as a child told me I wasn’t good enough. It’s difficult when you are older to change that foundation, but it can be done.

12. In your dedication, you mentioned that your ex-mother-in-law was a great encouragement in your writing. How is that?

Since she lived in Australia and I was in America, I would write her a letter every month from my children. I started before my oldest was born. She said that the letters were delightful, and every time we talked, even after the divorce, she would ask whether I had started on my book yet.

13. What authors have inspired your writing?

Og Mandingo could take a story and line it with so many lessons. Jim Rohn also is a master at teaching concepts is a fresh way. I have read everything he has written and listened to all of his CDs. He has been a mentor to almost everyone in the self-help industry. I wouldn’t have been able to get through my divorce if it weren’t for him.

14. What are your dreams for writing?

I want to gather the people needed to create a new industry within the children’s book market. Many great children’s literature authors have produced incredible books. If we could join forces and work together, we could have an enormous impact on childhood development.

15. How has writing this story affected you?

An old saying states that without dreams a person perishes. My children gave me a sense of purpose, but I had lost many of my own dreams. Working on The Hidden Swan renewed my spirit and gave me a new sense of purpose.