TINY GREEN UNICORNS by Renée James

Please welcome Renée James author of TINY GREEN UNICORNS

Renée James will award a $15 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

TINY GREEN UNICORNS

by Renée James

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GENRE:  Children’s

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INTERVIEW

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

From the moment I first learned to talk, I knew that I had a love for storytelling that would never wane. As a visual learner, I have always been drawn to the creative arts, thriving on the freedom of expression that they provide. Growing up, my parents would read to me and my brothers each night before bed, and I vividly remember the feeling of getting lost in those stories, never wanting them to end. It was that magical feeling that has stayed with me throughout my life and has been the driving force behind my desire to write, create, and share the joy of Storytime with other families. There is nothing quite like the power of a good story to captivate the imagination and transport us to another world. And I am grateful every day for the opportunity to share that experience with others.

2. How did you come up with ideas for your books? 


I draw inspiration from the most hilarious and relatable moments of my family life in my hometown of Yamba, Australia.

Seeing my own children’s amusing interactions with the pelicans and seagulls over the years became the basis for my first published children’s book, Patroosh, the Cheeky Pelican. The success of this book led to a series of Patroosh books that are entertaining for children and relatable for parents. My latest book, Tiny Green Unicorns, was inspired by my daughter’s surgery and our quest to search for magical unicorns in her ears, nose, and throat as a way of making her specialist visits seem less anxious and more fun. It was this that moment that inspired me to create this book.

3. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I have an extensive background in communications and the commercial television industry, including years working in preschool television, so I feel like writing Children’s Picture Books comes naturally to me.

4. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

Writing children’s books is such a fun and fulfilling experience! The joy of creating characters and stories that can capture a child’s imagination is truly priceless. I plan on continuing down this path in the future. I’m also working on branching out into another genre too! Writing is always a work in progress.

5. If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

I would be Patreesh, the little sister of Patroosh the Pelican! Patreesh is known for her blazing speed, quick wit and hilarious antics that keep everyone on their toes. She’s funny and surprising.

6. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

Since I can remember, publishing a children’s book has been a lifelong dream of mine. Although I kept busy for the past 15+ years helping others achieve their creative visions through video production, 2020 brought a unique opportunity. With the onset of the pandemic, I finally had the chance to focus on my writing goals and make my dream a reality. Now, I’m proud to say that I haven’t looked back since.

7. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

Best advice is that there’s always room to grow, learn, and improve. Keep writing, keep creating, and keep having fun! Don’t give up.

I’m not sure I could say it was the worst advice I’ve received but it has been dismissive and discouraging. Such as “Children’s books aren’t real literature” or “Writing for children is easy, anyone can do it”.

8 . Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I keep notebook or record my ideas in voice memo on my phone so that I can keep track of my creative thoughts. When I have a collection of ideas, I revisit and revise them until they start to take shape. For me, writing ideas down is a great way to make them more concrete, and that way as I start to put them together, I can begin to see a story emerge.

Once I feel confident with the emerging story I then break it down into beginning, middle, and end  to ensure that your story has a clear structure and direction.

9. Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series.

With the release of my second book in the Patroosh series, Patroosh, the Hungry Pelican, I found myself feeling a strange sense of pressure. Despite my prior success and the support of my adorable existing Patroosh fan base, I still felt vulnerable. Writing the Patroosh series brings me pure happiness, with each new character and storyline bringing more excitement, but there is always an underlying concern about meeting little readers’ expectations.

10. Anything else you might want to add?

    Thank you for having me here on your beautiful blog. So without further delay, let’s embark on this magical adventure together. I hope that you enjoy reading Tiny Green Unicorns as much as I enjoyed writing it.

BLURB:

Have you ever seen a green unicorn?

Tiny green unicorns are really, really small. They might be the tiniest unicorns of all.

They are here every day, and if you keep searching for magic, you might even find one yourself today.

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EXCERPT:

Because this is a picture book, the excerpts are image files. Please choose one of the attached files to use on your post.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Renée James is a multifaceted talent with an extensive communications and media background. She is creative to the core and treasures her family and friends. Her children are her greatest inspiration, as they are constant reminders to never stop searching for magic.

CONNECT WITH Renée James

WEBSITE: https://reneejamesbooks.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/reneejamesbooks

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/reneejamesbooks/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21279212.Ren_e_James

PURCHASE LINKS TO TINY GREEN UNICORNS:

AMAZON – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228884705

BARNES & NOBLE – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tiny-green-unicorns-ren-e-james/1143242754

ABEBOOKS – https://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9780228884705

BOOKTOPIA – https://www.booktopia.com.au/tiny-green-unicorns-ren-e-james/book/9780228884705.html

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

PLEASE MENTION THE PRIZE THAT THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY:

Renée James will award a $15 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4651