Do you remember the monster that was under your bed when you were a child? Or that ghost in the closet? Or that creepy man behind the curtains? All of us had something imaginary that terrorized us when we were kids. And it is the same way for kids today too. But now there are people like the author, Sharon Walton who are encouraging kids to be brave through her stories.
Sharon has recently published her first storybook for children by the name of ‘Nate and the Super Duper Pajama Kids Adventure’.
After the release of her book, Nate and the Super Duper Pajama Kids Adventure; we, at Vowelor, had an interesting conversation with Sharon about her writing. But, before we continue with her interview, let us know a little more about the author.
About the Author: Sharon Walton
Sharon Walton is an author from Cincinnati, Ohio. She has recently published a children’s storybook named Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure. And you know the good part? This book is of the interactive kind, which means you can choose the ending of your story each and every time.Â
Sharon Walton is a mother of three and a grandmother of seven. Currently, she lives with her husband, and the couple owns a small, kids’ ride-on toys business.
Further, Sharon has shared about her childhood, her writing journey, her inspirations, and more interesting things about herself. Here are all of her interesting answers.
Tell us about your parents and family.
My father was Geechie, and my mother was Creole. Both are southern cultures of mixed, African, Indian, French, Spanish, and or German descent, depending upon the specific geographical location of residence.
When and where were you born and brought up?
I am a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. I have spent a considerable amount of my life here.
What were you like at school? Any childhood memory you would like to share?
I am a graduate of the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts, where I studied Theater, Music, Dance, Art, and Media along with the traditional educational training of high school. This experience enriched my ability to create vibrant engaging story worlds that color the landscape of the imagination.
What are your educational qualifications?
I attended Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative writing for Entertainment, and a Master of Science degree in Innovative Business Entrepreneurship.
What is your biggest achievement till today?
My biggest achievement to date is the launching of the Super-Duper Pajama Kids project and the development of its next digital phase; soon to be disclosed.
Which writers inspire you?
Frank E.Peretti, and Hanna Hurnard are two writers who have inspired me because of their ability to write stories that unfold across my frontal lobe, like, a picture screen.
Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?
I browse real-life experiences on various social media platforms to relax my mind. It is a way of refueling my imagination for the next go around.
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
There comes a time when you are either going to have to do what you’ve always dreamt of doing, or quit dreaming.
When you don’t know your value, you give yourself away for free.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Trust Yahweh sooner, not later.
What books do you like to read personally? What are you reading currently?
I am currently reading Reverse the Slavery Curse, by Paula Holland. I like books that either provide information to grow on or that feed my desire for an expansive imagination.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
If I could have been the original author of any other book, it would be the book on which I am presently working because it is a prolific Sci-Fi/Fantasy with amazingly vivid, off -planets and civilizations that stretch the far-reaching boundaries of imagination to carry the reader to an unsuspecting, unfamiliar place of unusual familiarity, and that’s all I can say about that right now.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing?
My decision to sit down and start writing was a direct result of a personal experience that enlightened me about the need for ethnic children to see themselves in the stories they read. Everyone in my sphere of influence had been telling me that I should write, but I was unable to see it until that one, pivotal experience sparked somewhat of an outrage. After that experience, the stories began to write themselves and I followed.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I like to write in a stream of consciousness, so whenever the vein is full, I bleed it for every drop of words and phrases there until it is time for me to replenish from real-life experiences.
What is the reason you write for; is it for the readers or yourself or some other thing?
I write for entertainment, but with a purpose or a cause.
About your Book: Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure
Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure is a children’s fantasy book by the author, Sharon Walton. The book was published in 2021. It is targeted toward a very young audience and follows the bedtime shenanigans of Nate, and his fear of the dark.Â
The book is focused on children’s fear of the dark or maybe it’s the fear of what actually lurks in there. It encourages kids to be brave and win over all the monsters that make them feel unrest.
What genre is your book? What draws you to this genre?
The genre of my first book, Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure is Children’s Fantasy/Adventure. I was drawn to write this book from the humor and amusement of my grandson’s fear of the dark and of bedtime, as well as other family members’ similar fears over the years.
Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure seems to be a good read for children who actually struggle with the fear of the dark. So was there something specific that made you choose this backdrop for your story?
Yes. My grandson’s fear of the dark made me choose the designated backdrop for Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure.
What makes ‘Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure to stand out in this genre? What should a reader expect from it?
The SDPKA story stands out by nature of its ability to support autonomy and good decision-making in children as a choose-your-own-adventure book, the exposure to global-mindedness, and the phenomenon of relational bonding resulting from the interaction between older family members and the children who interact with this book.
The book promotes qualities like fearlessness, decision-making, and more. What were the hardest and the easiest things or ideas to incorporate?
The hardest thing in writing this book was the sequencing of the various choices in making sure that the outcome remained consistent with the various storylines.
Is there any special experience throughout the writing process of ‘Nate and the Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventure ’ that you’d like to share?
Look out for more Super-Duper Pajama Kids Adventures coming soon.
Future Plans
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
As I continue to expand the SDPKA brand, I hope to venture into animation and or video games.
Are you working on your new project? What will your next book be about?
Yes. I am working on a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Adventure entitled Ouranos, a screenplay adaptation of the same story, and on future SDPKA books.
What does success mean to you as an Author?
Success means global acknowledgment of my brand as an author.
Do you prefer self-publishing or traditional publishing and why?
I prefer self-publishing because I own the rights to my work.
One learning that you’d like to pass on to young debut authors.
Keep writing. Don’t stop, read the material of successful writers in your genres of interest and be like them.
Your opinion about Vowelor.
My opinion of Vowelor is still in development at this time.
Want to know more about Sharon Walton? Connect with the author on Instagram and Facebook.Â
