How This Children's Book Authors Podcast Started (Origin Story & Mission)

Welcome to the first episode of "Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors," in which we explore the journey of becoming a children's book author through personal stories and life lessons.This episode focuses on a living legacy, emphasizing engaging with and shaping one's legacy while still alive instead of merely leaving behind material possessions or messages after death.The narrative unfolds through the adventures of Kyra, the author's granddaughter, and how her imaginative spirit inspired the creation of their first children's book. Listeners will discover how everyday experiences can spark creativity and storytelling, leading to meaningful connections and lasting memories.Join us as we delve into the heartfelt journey of writing children's books and the joy it brings to the author and their young audience.If you can support us in any way, please click on the Tips in the Cookie Jar: " link; we appreciate all contributions.Episode One – Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors, The Story Behind the Story.Welcome to Episode One of the Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors podcast. (Our podcas show can be found on Kaboose on the Rocky Mountain Bear website.)The idea for this podcast show resulted from our journey to become a published Children's Book author and how to reach children's book readers.Children's Book readers are extraordinary people; without their support, we could not bring our stories to life as children's book authors.There are many great children's book authors, and readers couldn't possibly read every book written.Our dedication to introducing children's book authors to primarily first-time children's book authors and giving you a chance as a reader to decide if each children's book author we introduce you fits with the type of story and characters you would like to teach your children or grandchildren to.By sharing the inspiration and story behind each children's book author, you can lower your risk when purchasing this book author's book.When we started our journey to publishing our first Children's book, The Adventures of Kaboose the Rocky Mountain Bear, we soon learnt from the saying, "There is no right or wrong way to create, write, publish or market a children's book."Over the years, I have read many different children's books; however, I never considered how the authors assembled and published them.Only when I became a grandpa, did I think creating a children's book would be fun?Our first grandchild, Kyra, took a few years to develop into a little person. She became my imagination guide.I share our story to demonstrate that our path is only one of many paths to becoming a children's book author or a proud supporter of children's book authors.This podcast will help give you, as a listener, a glimpse into the story behind becoming a children's book author.Our Story Behind the Story Our children's book author's adventure started because of Kyra's first daycare.What happened next kickstarted a legacy for my wife, our grandchildren, and me.Living Legacy versus LegacyYou might be asking, what is a living legacy versus a legacy?When I think of the word legacy, I always think of what you, as a human, leave behind after you die, such as a transfer of wealth, a lesson or a message.A living legacy is where you are engaged while alive and participate in developing your legacy.Let Our Living Legacy Story BeginThe birth of Kyra was a special event for my entire family.As a first-time grandparent, a special bond of adventures was about to start, and my transformation was to begin; I didn't even know this.My wife constantly mentions that Kyra was born with an old soul. Over the years, Kyra has taught me many life lessons, including how to be a grandparent.How many have purchased a stuffed animal for your children or grandchildren?Or have you tried to win a stuffed animal for a child or grandchild at your community's fair, no matter what it costs you, even if you can't make your next month's car payment?When Kyra started daycare, something magical happened, and I was touched by the same magic 🪄 wand.This magical wand was not the same as Harry Potter's; it took a different form.One common thing between Harry Potter's wand and ours is that the wand chooses you; you don't choose the wand.Kyra's daycare had a stuffed animal they would loan to children going on a short vacation or trip.The idea was to take the stuffy on the child's trip. The child and the stuffy were travelling companions and created different adventures. Upon returning to daycare, they were asked to share their experiences.When Kyra was 4, we planned our first granddaughter and Papa's trip to the Rocky Mountains.On this trip, we would pull something magical from a hat.Kyra has a kind heart and is always looking to share. So, she asked me, "Papa, could a friend come on our trip."I told Kyra, "I am unsure if her parents would be okay with this."I thought it would have been challenging to be responsible for another 4-year-old when I was learning to be a grandpa or Papa, as Kyra called me.Kyra said, "Oh yes, Papa, the daycare said it was okay. "I laughed and said, "I don't think your daycare can speak for your friend's parents."Kyra responds, "Yeah, they can because they are Georgia's parents."You probably guessed by now that Georgia was a stuffed animal, a bunny, who would accompany us on our first trip to the magnificence of the Rocky Mountains.The daycare couldn't have been happier sending Georgia the Bunny on this trip. They knew Kyra would come back and share her and Georgia's adventures.On the day of our travels, Kyra made sure Georgia had her seat belt on and joined Kyra in the back seat of our Jeep.Kyra was singing and said, "Papa, can you join Georgia and me in singing songs?"I said, "Sure, but I can't hear 👂 Georgia singing."Kyra said, "Don't worry, Papa, someday you will."Kyra could hear Georgia loud and clear. I was learning that as a child, you use your senses differently when you are young.No, it wasn't because my granddaughter was younger than me and had better hearing, even though my hearing sometimes is a little suspect.Her creative mind was one sense my granddaughter had that worked far better than mine.Our road trips to the mountains opened a new world to a grandpa's imagination.The Rocky Mountains were our canvas of many adventures, allowing all our senses to run wild.On some of our trips, we went from Georgia, the Stuffy Bunny 🐰 to George, a Stuffy Bear 🐻 as our adventure guides.Because the idea was so popular, the daycare had to get a second stuffed animal for the children to take on trips.When first introduced to George, I asked Kyra, "Who is George?"Kyra said," George is Georgia's brother."How is this possible for a 🤔 bunny🐰, a bear 🐻 siblings?In a child's mind, anything is possible. This was my granddaughter's belief.So, I have tried to adopt anything possible as part of my mindset because of my love for my granddaughter.As Kyra entered her school age, the need for daycare lessened, and the chance of Georgia and George staying in our lives soon disappeared.However, Kyra had other thoughts and encouraged us to develop our stuffed animal friend, who would be in our family forever.A friendship with a new family member we could enjoy together and who would accompany us on our trips, wow!Trains are a big part of the history of the Rocky Mountains 🏔️ which included the love 💕 of Banff National Park, where we had many of our adventures with Georgia and George.In our Rocky Mountain home, we had a framed shadow box of my dad's childhood train set, and a caboose was at the end of the stream engine train set.Kyra was fascinated by the caboose on my father's train set, and she loved saying, "Caboose, caboose, caboose."Kyra and I created a character named Kaboose, Kaboose spelled with a "K." So the first letter in Kaboose is a K, representing Kyra.Kyra has never seen a caboose on a real train 🚂. Cabooses were excellent in the past but are long gone and retired from service.She said, "Papa, what is a caboose, and why do trains travelling through the Rocky Mountains not have one?"I said, "Kyra, a caboose was a special part of the train and always at the very end of the train." The caboose was the home and kitchen of the people who worked on the train. The train's employees would sleep, eat, play games, and share stories in the caboose. Like many things in the world, technology has replaced these items.Kyra nodded as she understood, but she had not lived through the disappearance of 8-track tapes, cameras that used film, VCRs, and so many other items from the past that our technological world has replaced.With a little bit of fortune, on a trip to San Francisco, my wife and I found a stuffy store and created a stuffy of Kaboose, a stuffed bear 🐻 wearing a train engineering outfit. What a cute bear, if I do say myself.We brought Kaboose, the