Interview with Jan Walker, columnist of "An Inmate's Daughter"

Prison parent/family educator, Jan Walker, is speaking with us today about her newly published book. Jan is trained in child and family studies and has spent the past 18 years as a correctional educator for adult felons in medium custody prisons. Welcome to Reader Views Jan.

Irene: Jan, your book, "An Inmate's Daughter," is being launched now. Your book speaks out for children who cope with a parent's prison term. Tell us the gist of your book.

Jan: The protagonist, Jenna MacDonald and her mother and younger brother, have moved into Jenna's grandparents home in Tacoma, WA, to be near McNeil Island Corrections Center, the prison where her father was transferred. Jenna is the new girl in a middle grade school, and wants to get into the "in group," a multi-racial group of girls.

The girls are curious about her heritage (she's part Native American Indian) and the reason she lives with her grandparents. They follow her home from school and peek in her bedroom window. She dubs them The Snoops.

Jenna's mother enforces a "Don't Tell" rule about prison. Jenna loves her dad and would like to talk
about him and his artistic talent. Keeping a secret is difficult in the best of circumstances. It gets
harder when Jenna calls attention to herself and the family when they are family are leaving a visit to
McNeil Island. A small child trips and falls into Puget Sound, and Jenna jumps in to rescue her. It's an
automatic reaction, borne of many rescues of her younger brother at a trailer park swimming pool
where they used to live.

Irene: What inspired you to write it?

Jan: During the 18 years I taught incarcerated parents, wrote curriculum and text books, and worked
with women and men to remain involved in positive ways with their children, I invested energy above
and beyond my contract-responsibilities out of concern for my students' children. They are innocent
victims of their parents choices. The children broke no laws, yet they are often abused or shunned in
their communities, schools, and sometimes in their own extended families.

After leaving correctional education to write full time, a friend and writing mentor encouraged to write
a book for children from about age 9 or 10 to about age 15. She said it should be classified as a
middle grade novel. Children who fall in the age group 9 to 15 are often the most hurt and confused
about incarceration. I didn't know how to write for that age, so I had to learn some parameters as I
went along. My friend listened t o the entire first draft, offered good suggestions, and encouraged me
to get it published. She died before I found a publisher. The book is dedicated to her, but it is in fact
my effort to let children of incarcerated parents know that I understand a bit of their struggle, and that
I value them enough to spend considerable time and energy writing a story about one of them that is
for all of them.

Irene: You have been teaching parenting and family relationship classes to adult felons for 18 years.
Tell us how and why to chose this career.

Jan: The career chose me. I was teaching similar courses on a community college campus in
Tacoma, WA, when the state legislature mandated prison education would fall under the community
college system. I agreed to set up programs and teach at the women's prison for one year. The
population and their need for courses tailored to them hooked me.

Irene: What types of programs did you set up?

Jan: It was a Home and Family Life Program that had been high school level. I taught standard
clothing construction classes in a sewing lab and some food and nutrition courses, but my real
energies went into Positive Parenting, Child Development, and Family Relationships classes. The
prison had a cooperative preschool called Pooh's Corner inside the education building. Children and
parents came in from the community. A preschool teacher came from a voc-tech school and ran the
preschool program. Inmate students who were in parenting or child development classes and who
were cleared to be around the children, worked as the teacher's assistant. They interacted with the
children and kept anecdotal information that we discussed in class. That program was in place when I
started teaching there. I started writing new curriculum that fit incarcerated parents needs and
profiles, and "retired" the high school text books. My first published book was named MY
RELATIONSHIPS, MY SELF. It's out of print. I worked on and taught the PARENTING FROM A
DISTANCE concept prior to that book's publication. All the courses I taught fell under Home and
Family, and focused on preparing women to return home.

When I transferred from the women's prison to McNeil Island, a medium custody male facility, it
was to coordinate an orientation program called "Project Social Responsibility." Every man who came
to the island had to spend his first full week in that program. We had 29 facilitators who assisted with
the presentations, but I did 8 hours of the 20 hour week with them men and wrote specific parenting
and family materials for that. The project is discussed in my memoir.

Irene: Who were the main participants in your programs?

Jan: Most of the women were moms. Many of them were in touch with their children and had
regular visits. Some of them were unable to see their children due to abuse, usually by a man the
mother was involved with, though sometimes the woman was the perpetrator. Most took classes
because they wanted to be positively involved with their children. Some attended because they were
court-ordered to do so. Some faced termination of parental rights. I was often subpoenaed to those
cases. A few lost their children but won the right to receive information or photos through the years.
A few (maybe three where I went to court) lost all rights and contact.

When I transferred to McNeil Island, I had similar situations - dad's who wanted to learn, dad's who
were court ordered to get parenting classes, and dad's who came to what I called "Open Door," a lab
sort of setting where they could create items to send to their children. I named my memoir
DANCING TO THE CONCERTINA'S TUNE, and said I danced as fast as I could. I held discussion
groups during lab time so even men who were educationally low level achievers learned by listening. I
wrote letters to courts and the office of support enforcement (I made and kept templates on my
computer to speed things up) for men who couldn't read or write, and had never signed a business
letter. I learned to point to where their signature should go, and to praise them when they managed a
"signature" that was really joined printing they were learning in an adult basic education classroom.

In addition, at both prisons, I gave parenting and family handouts I created and assorted craft items to
any who asked for them, though the office staff sometimes had to help me run copies because I
overused my copying budget.

Irene: You have written "Parenting From a Distance" a number of years ago. How different are the
two books from each other?

Jan: I wrote Parenting From A Distance for a class I was teaching at the women's prison. It is a text
book geared to the needs of incarcerated parents. I revised and reissued that book in December 2005.
It's a text book focused on the rights and responsibilities of parents who are separated from their
children. An Inmate's Daughter is fiction written from the view point of the child. The incarcerated
dad in An Inmate's Daughter is a man who has taken parenting classes while inside, and who
understands the difficulties children of incarcerated parents face.

Irene: Have any of the inmates that you teach read any of your books? If they did, what were their
reactions?

Jan: MY RELATIONSHIPS, MY SELF was a text for a family class at the women's prison so all
who enrolled read it and completed the worksheets. Far more read PARENTING FROM A
DISTANCE. Many many students read snippets of other things I wrote since I created scenarios for
"Writing to Clarify Thinking" assignments. I used writing in every class I taught, and even taught
Creative Writing classes as McNeil.

Let me say this about the parenting book especially: My students, men more so than women, were
surprised, amazed, awed that someone cared enough about inmates to write such a book for their use.
The reason I went out on a limb, financially, to reissue the parenting book is because I know it makes
a difference. There are no formal measures to demonstrate that. It's just something I know. I hope
AN INMATE'S DAUGHTER, helps some of the general population stop for a moment to think about
men and women inside prison and their reality.

Irene: Keeping family secrets has been a script that has been passed down for generations. You are
encouraging to break this script. Tell us the benefits of "talking" about family issues.

Jan: It's simply this: When children are not told the truth, they make up stories that they believe are
the truth and substitute them. Secrets are destructive to all. When incarcerated parents keep the truth
of prison from their children, they close all doors to communication. When children are forced to
keep a secret, it festers inside. I use that analogy in An Inmate's Daughter with Zeke, Jenna's younger
brother, picking up on a comment from Grandpa who says, "Peel off the scab, let out the pus," and
Zeke answers, "Pussss. Oooooze," in typical 9 year old fashion.

Irene: Quite often children of felons are ostracized by society, especially their peers. How do you
encourage children to cope?

Jan: They need to remember their parents' choices are not their fault, their parents still love them
(this is questioned in cases of child abuse; therefore, individual situations must be considered), and
they can make healthier choices themselves. They need permission to love the adults who are caring
form them, to talk about their worries and concerns, to go on with their lives while their parents are
away, and to find strength to ignore meanness in others. They need teachers in their schools who help
all the students understand some of the realities of incarceration.

Irene: What are your method's of facing these difficulties?

Jan: When I talk with children, I make eye contact and ask them how they feel about their parents
being in prison. I help them state and restate their feelings. I talk about feelings at the very basic "Five
Feelings" level - mad, sad, glad, lonely and afraid. I like to use "You" statements. "You look sad." "I
think you're mad at your mom for doing something that took her away from you." There are signs
you can read in children ... nail biting, leg jiggling, looking down or away, shrugging, pulling hoods of
sweatshirts down over their eyes. Good teachers know how to read the signs and talk with the
children one to one. However, we have overloaded our teachers with requirements that leave them
little time for such interaction. How can one teacher be everything for 30 or 35 students? There's a
reason such a large percentage of children with a parent in prison will end up doing time, too.

Irene: You spend much time teaching adults in prisons on effective parenting. How receptive are
your students?

Jan: Of the hundreds I met, two or three who were angry (possibly emotionally disturbed) wanted to
discount my teaching. The rest were appreciative, very receptive, and worked hard to regain or
maintain contact with their children. I wrote about some of the special work I did and the successes
and struggles in my memoir, Dancing to the Concertina's Tune. (Concertina is the razor wire that
tops prison fences.)

Irene: It's very difficult to change. Many of your students learned from their parents on how to
parent. When they go back into their own family surroundings, how hard is it for them to adjust to
the new parenting styles?

Jan: It's never easy to change. It's never easy to return to a family that has learned to go on without
you. In Parenting From A Distance, I wrote a good bit about "Contracts for Forgiveness" and urged
students to use them with their parents, spouses and children. That concept should be adapted by all
of us when we are in relationship struggles.

Irene: What are some of those "contracts"?

Jan: We made them simple and practiced before students left prison. It could be reading a book to a
child every night for a specified length of time, trips to a park, playing catch, helping with homework,
going out for an ice cream cone. It could be more complicated with older children ... delving into
personal and family history, telling the truth about past behavior (only appropriate for the child's age),
assisting with coaching a team or just attending sports, saving enough money for extracurricular
activities.

One woman had to contract with her mom, where she would live for a time, to clean all the paneled
walls with Liquid Gold once a week (a little obsessive?), limit her use of hot water in the shower to
her mother's specified time, and other similar behaviors. At the end of a set contracted time, the
woman was to be forgiven and the mother wasn't to bring up past mistakes again. We practiced how
to communicate, how to use reminders.

Irene: What percentage are successful in the changes?

Jan: Recidivism rates remain high all for all felons. There are no statistics that relate to specific
classes or educational programs, though generally the higher the education level, the less likely
recidivism. Students who worked on personal and social responsibility, and who learned both life and
job skills while inside are generally known to have higher chances of staying out of prison. Age is also
a factor. Maturity helps.

Irene: Thank you Jan. Is there anything else you would like to add about your or your book?

Jan: Please see my website, [http://www.janwalker-writer.com] I have posted some downloadable
curriculum in Parenting, Family History and Patterns, and Child Development on the site. It is set up
for instructors to use with students, with easy to read information and work sheets.

For more information on my unusual teaching, read my book, DANCING TO THE CONCERTINA'S
TUNE: A PRISON TEACHER'S MEMOIR. Ordering information is on my website.

When I look back now at how I worked with incarcerated students to try to get them prepared to
reenter their families and communities, I feel tired. It was hard work. Students who succeeded were
the ones willing to work just as hard. They would have an easier time coming out of prison if they
didn't have to encounter societal and cultural roadblocks at every turn. That's their reality: they need
to do their part to earn their way back into their families and communities.

Interview with SK Whalen, author of the Icelandic Rooke - The prophecy of the wide-eyed

Sue Whalen grew up in a natural wilderness park in North Vancouver, BC, Canada. His parents, at that time were the guardians of the park and ran a shop, a concession of food and gifts for the thousands of visitors who enjoyed the park each year. A rain forest of huge old Douglas-fir, hemlock and red cedar trees, surrounded the family home. Twin-covered peaks, deep gorges and a world-famous suspension bridge was the panoramic view from the window of hishome. The suspension bridge swaying 20 stories above the roaring Lynn Creek. Sue loved hiking, mountain trails, swimming and fishing in the creek. Reflecting, Sue, said it was these early years that shaped their stories and love for nature. Sue now lives in Fall River, Nova Scotia to live with her husband Ken and their adult children and grandchildren nearby.

nephew of Miss Vicky Sue was assistant of the author. She was the spark and the light of the ongoing story. MissVickie Sue's connection was to the imagination of young readers the most important, Miss Vicky had to like, or you have written.

Tyler: Welcome, I'm glad you and Miss Vickie Sue today could join me. What a great fantasy adventure story you wrote. To get started, you'll learn about the main character, Margery Mutters?

Sue: Well, Margery middle-aged teacher. The story begins with Margery live in a house on top of Old Oak Hill in Canyon City. Youlives alone in a quiet monotone, boring life, really. He loves nature and her garden more than anything else. Margery was an extraordinary woman, but this part is no secret that under his hat, literally under their guard. One of the oddities Margery she is always wearing a hat. As often happens, the hat is very important, a small saw-whet owl of only 4.5 "high is the constant companion Margery and rides in the centerfold of his hat.

Margery is a woman muesli, a mixture ofagain, never the same. He's always high energy, as well as a very caring person. However, often their thoughts and feelings with their actions. Always the optimist through every obstacle and danger, she never gives up and believes that everything will be fine. There is an inner strength that keeps them going, no matter how scared you, she never shows her fears on her face. She often speaks before he acts or thinks it is very easy to upset people far Richtertoo fast, they look when they do not, and often shows poor manners at the table. What's more, we prefer to keep a proper lady, you are the kind, abstemious and quiet sipping tea. It 's a woman the right way and know the difference. Margery is embarrassed, confused, and climbs into a tizzy when their conscience wakes up and realizes how their actions are rude.

Tyler: Why did you feel like someone like Margery, with the specificStrengths and weaknesses that you just mentioned, it was appropriate or even funny story for your novel?

Sue: The character of Margaret is a woman of credible every day, not a magical person, not a superstar, a cliché, or a cookie cutter character. Perhaps as a grandmother, an aunt, or the person is down the road. Why does it work? As the reader can identify with her, and some of their magical journey. It is not boring because even the smallest imperfection Igreatly exaggerated. The child would have laughed at her, a teenager could love their strength, their fears, their doubts. Older people and older people can see for yourself.

The plot, situations, the owls were scenes ever written in the first draft and then I would write about Margery. I found his character in three dimensions, strengths and weaknesses, and gave her some terrible habits of more depth. This made it easier for me to give her a wide range of conflicts of interest and adventurewhere the results were not predetermined and unpredictable. At the same time, I did grow Margery through the process of the novel as an adventure.

Tyler: Who Margery inherit the island? What happens that brings them Rooke's Iceland?

Sue: We learn that she has inherited a situation in the island of their long lost uncle when a mysterious letter, is unusual. Your life changes the moment he touched the letter, it is as if the lettergrabs, his control and make her whole world upside down. Your trip to Iceland Rooke start with this time.

Tyler: Before you reach the island, Margery stops Alwyn Village, where he met some interesting people. Want to tell us who you are?

Sue: The characters of Alwyn Village is a comic cast, including: the Sydney repellent Snog, the loquacious Gabriella (Gabbi) Mooley and their abominable Purple Inn. Of course there are the lazy good for nothing Dicky Men Doolittle,Men Hector Dodge and let us not forget the macaroni and cheese colored cat Mr. Dinky. There is a shop owner, the perfect Puddley Peter, and the owner of Kettle's Kafe, the carpenter cups of water in the boiler and its always so nice fat woman talkative Snippy Lippy.

Tyler: What do you think of the Village Alwyn Iceland Rooke's? If you are curious or nervous Margery there?

Sue Tyler, retired for hundreds of years, Margery's uncle and great uncle, guardian of the island. WithGuns on their shoulders to ensure criminals do not set foot on the island. The villagers are just tired of the secrecy, rumors and speculation go wild. Margery traveling to the island, but also has a crazy old owl who has lost his mind following his and an owl made entirely of shells appear in their dreams. With all this going on, she is very nervous the fear of the unknown by a constant abdominal pain. I must say that it is more than odd nervous and pusheslocated on the island. The story is written so that you know her curiosity won.

Tyler Rooke Iceland is a completely different and magical fantasy world, or is it still bear some resemblance to the everyday world?

Sue Rooke Iceland is on the surface looks like any other island in the real world. The fantasy world is far below the island. upper soil, Lower Austria and the world inside the earth, the island is divided into three levels called. The upper surface of the earth, the islandHome of the inhabitants of the earth owls bottom of the Earth, the realm of the owl folklore, trolls, fairies, elves, gnomes and owls. The inner Earth is miles deep in the nucleus in the center of the island, where hundreds of ancient live owls. The king of all the owls, his queen friend of the sea, hundreds of soldiers of the Ings owls, hundreds of Indigo owls in daylight. And the owl, the scroll, which keeps the prophecy for the future of the owls.

Tyler:Tell Margery meeting with the Owls on the island?

Sue: Each chapter has a new spell with the Owls meeting, sometimes with an owl, sometimes hundreds of owls. Parliaments of owls live and work in each of the plans on the island. All the owls are very important to the prophecy.

Tyler: Sue, you can about the prophecy of staring eyes? What is the prophecy, and why is it important?

Sue: First, all eyes are owls on the islandand on earth. The prophecy was written in the past, but is the future of the owls. As written, the time and followed all the details of prophecy or owls to wait another thousand years before a new king of owls can be born. It 'important that the king so strong owls owls' wisdom' can continue to rule the birds of prey have. Margery arrives just in time to deploy the Owls prophecy.

Tyler: Did Uncle Margery live with owls and know about them. It was the reason whyhave kept the people of 'island?

Sue: The owls were part of the island, long before the ancestors of Margery, his uncle was the Rookes town. My uncle was part of the owl and the owl kingdom by the Council, are "without feathers", called by the owls. The Owls need them to keep people on the island and the secrets of the owls'. Margery When everything is ready for her, she had a beautiful modern home and garden. His uncle built a huge barn calledScared barn. The barn is home to the Owls Parliament from all three levels of 'island. Prophecy is the king of all the barn owls called Eyking read.

Tyler: Sue, without the ending away, would you say that Margery learns something because of their experience in Iceland Rooke's?

Sue: Our Margery-that's what Miss Vickie and I like to call it. The Owls need them, the prophecy would never have without their help. The best part ofMargery is that they are as wise as the wise old owl. You will see Margery adapt and become stronger, as it integrates into the world of Owls', and is woven in the prophecy. It 's more peaceful, happier, more understanding and show great patience with the owls. Not only is the real world and the fantasy world of Rooke Iceland, one compensates for the owls and nature.

Tyler: You mean then that Margery really more in touch with nature and animalsas owls than people?

Sue: Margery, a teacher has the knowledge and experience with a natural tendency for the intuitive perception for the people and the owls. He wants a part of both worlds and are definitely meant to be a recluse, like his uncle. I think that age helps in the classroom with the children understand it all, the personality of the owl. 'S dedicated to them. Owls are the most important thing in theirLife.

Tyler: Miss Vicky, I understand Margery, a fellow young. Can you tell us something about him? It was his idea that a younger companion Margery have?

Miss Vicky: You're right, it is a boy of 14 years. He is special, holds a mystery and a promise Uncle Margery. I do not remember whose idea it was, he seemed to always be in history. Margery needs him, and he helps to build things. I remember his eight years, Megan's sister was myIdea and it looks exactly like me.

Tyler: Sue, how does the idea of "Rooke's Iceland?

Sue: When I was young, I often visited my aunt was Margery, collected owl figurines. Owls had all his house. Back in the day, picking something for everyone. My aunt never had children, so when she was 94 years, she packed all her owls for the last time in his life and sends it 8000 miles by truck, car, plane and my home. I think the owls were sleepingStatues in her home for over 70 years. From the perspective of my life, I first saw the owls when I was four years old, I graduated from school, drove to the Navy, was married had children, my children are grown, had children and then Owls came into my life.

Owls in two large boxes arrived, 312 on Friday before. I know why Miss Vickie came to my house on Friday and she was only six years old when the box came. We opened the boxes and they both stared at hundreds of packages of smallGrave mounds of plastic bubble wrap. We check carefully packed each owl, we were so intrigued we place on the shelves every owl glass wall in a room. The dining room is called Peach said where it all began, the owls magical story through their eyes. The little owl figurines, has traveled across Canada, is a fantasy in Canada.

Rookie Iceland, may have a history shows nothing if the timing is right. The story bridges generations, starting with my aunt. Yes, this is the main character namedafter her. Why not? Without her owl collection there would be no story. All of us prove that it is never too old and never too young to dream of a story together. It 'been 90 years between my aunt and my niece.

Tyler: This is a wonderful story, really a story about Sue and women of different generations come together to tell the story. What do you think your aunt would tell you today if it were written about her and her owls knew?

Sue Tyler, my aunt lived twoYears later he sent an owl to me. Once a week I would call from British Columbia. During talks this week. they would always do an update of the story. He loved the fact that I used his name, could not believe his collection came to live in a fantasy world. She laughed a lot about character and personality of the owl. The funny thing is, he wanted to be just like Margery, Margery, and got married. It 'was like they wanted to live my writing. IAlwyn compromise Village is the first and second name of my uncle on the river is called Lady Rooke Iceland-Cap, which is an abbreviation of Ladysmith and Capilano was the place where my aunt and uncle.

Vickie and I together an end, before my aunt died. Although it was two years before they actually finished the book is the end, we wrote for them. My aunt has promised me that I published. I'm sure you'd like the book, I sent to manyolder friends, the owl collection points and received wonderful letters and notes back a few.

Tyler: Sue, tell me how you started and Miss Vickie tells the story of an owl. Do you remember when it started?

Sue: I remember the day, the Owls put on the shelves Miss Vickie and I have called them. At first it was just for fun, we acted out stories of owls. The first story was the worst two characters called the largest and Eaton and Ardyth, we had a dayAnti-B, the Owls have defended island. We Ardyth Eaton and the last of the prehistoric animals on earth, great warriors. This first story has chapters. (Chapter 11: Meeting of Eaton, and chapter 14: do owls).

It 'was an owl arrived with the names scratched on the ground. When I was seven I Eaton recorded on the ground, without the knowledge of my aunt. Miss Vicky decided to have this name and my aunt never knew what I had done.

Tyler:Miss Vicky have one of the characters?

Miss Vicky: No, I was only six years, we've done when I was nine, almost ten. Now I am twelve. We would like to talk about what would happen if I become the next Friday we have in place the next chapter would come. I would say that I liked what I did. There was a lot of rewriting.

Tyler: Sue, you say you had a literary influences from other children's books that can be read as a child?

Sue: My favorite book of all childhoodThe time is "Alice in Wonderland." I have read many times and always discover something new.

Although "Rookie Iceland" was written for young readers, to my surprise I have the following information. Maybe, "Rooke's Iceland" is something else, who reads it.

A note from a woman aged 85, said: "I found it interesting that you are accompanied by an elderly lady with the wisest of wise beings in the world of birds."

A girl aged 16, wrote in his report book "Margery is afoiled, sometimes you have no idea what to do, just like me. It must be fifty, and change their lives overnight;. Well, this is cool "

A woman of 50 years, wrote: "I read the book twice, I'm just a guy from the heart, we like the graying planet which certainly we do not care how old or wise we are, or owls, the people that we can . the future, not predict. "

Tyler: Miss Vicky, must have been fun to help write a book. What were some of my favorite things you have inwriting the book?

Miss Vickie: I named most of the owls. I drew the maps in the book, did you notice the maps are owl shaped, and I took the owl pictures. It first started out with storytelling and pretending, and acting out, we never thought it would be a book. I had fun also after the book was published helping with bookmarkers, posters, Rooke's Island T-shirts, owl cards for each of the owls (like baseball cards). We have done two signings and a book fair that was fun, and this is my second interview.

Tyler: Miss Vicky, you have a favorite chapter?

Miss Vicky: Yes, Chapter 9, "The secrets of the giant sequoias," because we sat near a huge tree on the street near our lake. The huge tree has roots that I have called the root super highway, because I was so small I could barely climb was through the roots. It could be argued that the flap would open the tree and went to the trunk, and sit on a roller coaster and go under the lake.

I also like the third chapter, "TheIncident at Kettle's Kafe. "I like the last page. It 'was an accident that we have seen in a bar when we were out for breakfast. I asked my nanny to editorial asking to change anything. The editor said he did not change, that It 'been fun as it was.

Tyler: Miss Vicky, what do you think now? Do you think it will continue to write books or do you think of being anything other than an author?

Miss Vicky: My brother and sister want to be part of the forthcoming bookbut I'm sure I will help. I am a skater and I skate three hours a day, so I do not have much time.

Tyler and Sue, are you going to write other books, perhaps even a sequel to "Rooke's Iceland?

Sue: I had a sequel in mind and started writing songs and character formation.

Tyler: Sue, before you go, tell us where readers can obtain more information or a copy of "Rooke's Iceland?

Sue: Yes Tyler, you can buy "Iceland's Rooke"online from my publisher, iUniverse or Amazon and Amazon Kindle Books, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Chapters.ca (Canada).

Tyler: Thank you both for today. I think it's wonderful that you have a great relationship and may have a way of working. I wish you good luck for the preparation of your future dreams come true.

Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader visits was pleased by SK Whalen (Sue) and her niece, Miss Vickie connected, to talk about his new book"Rookie of Iceland: The Prophecy of the wide-eyed," iUniverse (2007), ISBN 9,780,595,445,455 th

Interview with LW Lewis, Author of "Poodles, Tigers, Monsters & You"

L.W. Lewis was born in 1942. He has a BS Degree in Zoology from the University of Miami (1964) and an MBA from Oklahoma City University (1978). He is a retired Air Force officer. As a navigator he flew B-52's in Viet Nam. As a fighter pilot he flew A-7's with the Flying Tigers. He was also an instructor pilot for the US Air Force. He served as an advisor to the US Army in Alaska from 1982-1986. During this tour of duty he became a Master Parachutist with 269 parachute jumps.

Lewis now writes children's poetry. Along with performing poetry at many schools, Mr. Lewis has performed at several comedy clubs including the Blue Katz Club in Knoxville, TN and the Comedy Zone in Jacksonville, FL. His material is essentially the same for adults and children. His work is written "through a child's eyes" and celebrates the innocence and imperfection of children everywhere. He is a single parent who raised three daughters.

Tyler: Welcome, Leonard. I'm glad you could join me today. To begin, will you tell us a little bit about your new children's book "Poodles, Tigers, Monsters, and You" and why you believe it will appeal to children?

Leonard: "Poodles, Tigers, Monsters & You" is humorous poetry. Although it is marketed to children, the mix is about 50/50 with adults buying the book for themselves. Its appeal is the rhyme, humor, and brevity of each poem. I get letters from people with ADD and ADHD readers who love the book. I've also received several letters from people with autistic children who love the book. In the case of autistic children, it is the illustrations that are the attraction.

Tyler: Leonard, why are you interested in creating rhymes for children. What benefit do you think reading rhymes have for children?

Leonard: Rhymes help children read. If they like the poem they will remember it quickly. This allows them to read aloud to others and builds confidence in reading skills.

Tyler: Would you compare your writing to other popular children's writers of poetry such as Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein?

Leonard: Many people have told me that I remind them of Dr. Seuss. I don't see the similarity myself. Most reviews compare my work to that of Shel Silverstein. Although my style is somewhat different, I do see the similarity.

Tyler: Did you have any influences from other children's writers, and what were your favorite books as a child?

Leonard: I did not read much as a child. I had a sixth grade teacher who sparked an interest in poetry. From that time on I became a reader. In junior high I read mostly Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. G. Wells.

Tyler: What sets your book apart from other children's books that are poetic?

Leonard: The humor does not condescend to children. I write on an adult level.

Tyler: Why did you decide to write children's poems? It seems like an odd choice considering your military background?

Leonard: Just because one is in the military does not mean they don't have a sense of humor. I have always liked poetry and would write funny poems to my children when I was away.

Tyler: What first got you started writing poetry?

Leonard: Shel Silverstein did. I was reading "A Light in the Attic" to my children. My sense of humor is a little like his so I started writing to my children. Some of the poems made it to school and children ate them up. This inspired me to keep writing.

Tyler: What do your children think about you being a poet? I assume they are adults now, but that some of your published poems are ones you originally wrote for them?

Leonard: I don't think they consider me a poet. I was a military officer for most of their lives. I think they consider me a retired officer who writes poetry. They are my harshest critics.

Tyler: Will you share with us one of your favorite poems from the book and tell us why it is your favorite?

DOG FOOD

I fed my brother dog food

My mother is really mad.

I think it's the best dog food

That he has ever had.

She screamed and called the doctor

Her eyes are filled with tears.

So I don't think I'll tell her,

He's been eating it for years.

I like the poem because it's a true story. My cousin and I would bring dog food on our camping trips. We did this until my aunt found out.

Tyler: Where do you come up with the ideas for your poems? Do they often have some basis in real life as with "Dog Food"?

Leonard: Many of them do. Much of my poetry is about everyday tasks and relationships. I'm often told by readers that a certain poem must have been written about a special person in their family.

Tyler: You previously published another children's book, "The Tickle Tree," which is also poetry. Do you see any major difference between the two books?

Leonard: I've actually published three books, the third being "Why Do Flies Eat Doggy Poop?" All three books are essentially humorous poetry.

Tyler: Our reviewer for "The Tickle Tree," nine year old, Eric Zeda, said, "I didn't know I liked poetry, and that poems could be funny, until I read this book." Why do you choose to write poems that are funny?

Leonard: Starting children with funny poems gets them interested in poetry. We all like to read humor.

Tyler: Leonard, do you have plans for more books? If so, will you continue to write poetry and children's books, or do you have an ideas of launching into different fields as well?

Leonard: I have a fourth children's poetry book about half finished. I am also working on a book of "Kids Poems for Adults." The book is actually writing itself. Sometimes I don't feel a poem I have finished is appropriate for children but I like the poem so it ends up in the adult file. These poems are not vulgar but are about subjects that children don't need to be reading. Below is the first few lines of such a poem.

TIME OUT

Daddy is doing time out,

But he doesn't think it's funny.

I guess that he was pretty bad.

He's doing ten to twenty.

I'm also writing a sci-fi novel titled "The Chronicles of Blake Gray."

Tyler: Leonard, I mentioned you also visit schools to present your poems to children. Will you tell us a little bit about these presentations and why you enjoy them?

Leonard: Presentations are like a "Comedy Club for Children." The idea is to show them that poetry can be fun. Judging from the letters I get from students and teachers, it works well.

Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Leonard. Before we go, will you tell us about your website and what additional information readers might find there about your books?

Leonard: The website is LWLewispoetry.com. It is a way to contact me for school visits or to buy books and audio books on line. Children can also read poems and/or listen to them on line.

Interview with Jan Walker, a columnist for the daughter of a detainee "

Prison parents / family educator Jan Walker speaks to us today about their recently published book. Jan is trained in child and family studies and has spent the last 18 years as an educator for offenders in adult prisons prisons prisons media. Welcome to Reader Views January

Irene: Jan, your book, "The daughter of a detainee" is now launched. Your book advocates for children coping with a parent in prison. Tell us the essence of your book.

Jan: 'sThe protagonist, Jenna MacDonald and her mother and younger brother were in the house of the grandparents of Jenna in Tacoma, WA, drew near McNeil Island Corrections Center, the prison where his father was transferred. Jenna is the new girl in school and wants to "group" for a multi-ethnic group of girls.

The girls are curious about her heritage (she is part Native American) and why he lives with his grandparents. They follow their way home from schoolLook at his bedroom window. Dub them The Snoops.

Jenna's mother imposes a "Do not Tell" rule of prison. Jenna loves her father and wants to talk
on him and his artistic talent. Keeping a secret is difficult under the best circumstances. This
Jenna difficult when attention to themselves and the family asks if they leave the family to visit
McNeil Iceland. One child tripped and fell into Puget Sound and Jenna jumps to save her. This is a
automatic reaction of many rescue against his younger brother in a trailer park pool
where I used to live.

Irene: What inspired you to write?

January was: In 18 years I have learned parents locked up, wrote books and programs of study and work
to be with women and men involved in a positive way with children, I invested in Energy
and over my contract, responsibility for the concern for children, my students'. You're innocent
Victims of choice of their parents'. The children broke no law, but they are often mistreated or avoided
their community, school, and sometimes in their extended family.

After leaving prison in training to become full-time, a friend and mentor, invited in writing, writing
a book for children aged 9 or 10 to 15 years. He said that should be classified as a
Mid-grade novel. Children who fall in the age group 9-15, are often violated andconfused
About prison. I did not know how to write for years, so I had to learn some of the parameters, I
went with them. My friend heard the whole first draft, offered excellent advice and encouraged me
to be public. He died before finding a publisher. The book is dedicated to her, but really
my efforts to have children of detained parents know that I understand a bit 'of their struggle, and that
I appreciate them enough to spend much timeEnergy and write a story about one of them is that
all of them.

Irene: You have a family relationship education and training classes, adult criminals for 18 years.
Tell us how and why they chose this profession.

Jan: The career I chose. I have taught similar courses at a campus community
Tacoma, WA, if the diet would be in prison education is compulsory under the Community
College System. I decided to draw up programs and classes at the ' women's prison for a year. The
Population and the need to tailor courses you addicted to me.

Irene: What types of programs you've built?

Jan: It 's been a Home and Family Life program, the high school level was. I taught Standard
Clothing construction classes in a sewing workshop and some food and nutrition courses, but my real
Energy entered the positive parenting, child development and family relations classes. The
Prison was a cooperative> Kindergarten called Pooh's Corner in construction education. Children and
The parents arrived in the community. A kindergarten teacher comes from a tech school and ran to VOC
preschool program. Detainee students, children or the development of children and the classes were in
were cut to fit around children, worked as an assistant teacher. Interacted with
Children and kept anecdotal information that we discussed in class. The program is in placeif I
began to teach there. I started writing a new curriculum that parents need and imprisoned in the form
Profiles and "retirement" books from high school. My first book was called MY
Reports, my car. E 'out of print. I worked and taught parenting FROM A
DISTANCE concept that the book's publication. All the courses I taught, and fell under Home
Family, and focuses on preparing women to come back home.

When I transferred from femaleMcNeil Island Prison, a medium custody facility for men, it
was to coordinate orientation program called "Project social responsibility." Every man who came
to spend on the island, had its first full week of this program. We had 29 speakers, with the support
Presentations, but I have eight hours to 20 hours a week with them, men and wrote their parents' specific
Family and materials for this. The project was discussed in my essay.

Irene: What were the main participantsin your programs?

Jan: Most of the women were mothers. Many of them were in contact with their children and had
regular visits. Some of them were not able to their children because of abuse, usually see a man who
The mother was involved, although sometimes she was the author. Most took lessons
because they wanted their children to be positively involved. Some attended because
Court ordered to do so. Some face termination of parental rights. I wasoften called
Cases. A couple lost their children, but nevertheless the right to receive information or photos over the years.
A few (maybe three, where I went to court) has lost all rights and contact information.

When I moved to McNeil Island, I had a similar situation - my father, who wanted to learn who is dad
Court, was convicted of having Class Parents and dad who came, what I "Open Door", named after a laboratory
Type of institution, where they could, to create objects to send their children.I called my memories
Dancing To tune the concertina, and said that I was dancing as fast as I could. I had discussions
Groups during the occupation, so that men who have low literacy educational learned by listening. I
wrote letters before the courts and the office in support of execution (and I kept my Models
Computer to speed things up) for men who could neither read nor write and had never signed a business
Letter. I learned to the point where his signatureshould go, and praise, when he led a
"Signature" It 's been a real pressure that have been linked in a basic training for adult education classes.

Moreover, in both prisons, I gave parenthood and family that I created handouts, and other art objects
Who asked for them, if the office staff sometimes had to help me because I made copies
My budget overused Copy.

Irene: You wrote "parents at a distance" a number of years. How different arethe
two books from each other?

Jan: I wrote Parenting From a distance of a women's prison in class I was teaching. It 'a text
Book adapted to the needs of parents in prison. I revised and republished the book in December 2005.
This is a textbook on the rights and obligations of parents who are separated from their concentrated
Children. A prisoner is the daughter of drama from the viewpoint of the child wrote. The prison
father of an inmate's Daughter is aThe man who took parenting classes, while inside, and that
understands the difficulties of parents of children locked up in his face.

Irene: The prisoners teach you not read his books? If so, what were their
Reactions?

Jan: My relationships, my self a text to a class of family in women's prison, so that all
who enrolled and completed the worksheets, read it. Much more to read Parents FROM A
DISTANCE. Many, many students read excerpts from otherThings I wrote that I created for scenarios
"Writing to clarify Thinking" assignments. I taught every class I write, and also taught
Creative Writing classes such as McNeil.

I would say about the book in particular parenting: My men than women students were
surprised, amazed, impressed, enough that someone took care of the prisoners to write such a book for their use.
The reason I went out on a limb financially to issue new parenting book, because I knowago
difference. There are no formal measures to demonstrate. The only thing I know. I hope
daughter of a detainee will help stop some of the general population, for a moment to think
Men and women in prison and his reality.

Irene: Keep family secrets is a script that was handed down from generation to generation. They are
encouraged to break this script. Tell us the benefits of "talk" of family problems.

Jan: It 's just this: ifChildren are not telling the truth, are the stories they believe
the truth and replace it. The secrets are destructive for everyone. If the parents keep the truth under lock and key
Prison by their children, close all doors to communication. When children are forced
keep a secret, lying dormant inside. I use this analogy in a prisoner's daughter Zeke, Jenna's younger
Brother, gathering in a comment from my grandfather, who says: "Remove the crust, let the pus, and
Zeke replied, "Pussss. Oooooze, as typical nine years.

Irene: Very often, the children of criminals are ostracized by society, especially for their age. How do
Encouraging children to face?

Jan: You have to remember their parents' decisions are not their fault, their parents still love them
(This is in cases of child abuse called into question, the situation in an individual must be taken into account), and
can make healthier choices for themselves. You need permissionThe adults take care love
are they to talk about their anxieties and concerns that go with their lives, while their parents
far to find the strength and ignore the evil in others. They need teachers in their schools to help
all students to understand some of the realities of prison.

Irene: What are your methods to address these difficulties?

Jan If I talk with children, do your eyes and ask them how they feel their parents
in prison. I help state and reaffirm their feelings. I'm talking about feelings with the very simple "Five
Feeling "level - mad, sad, happy, lonely and afraid. I like to use" You "statements." You seem sad. "I"
think your mother to do something that was removed're crazy. 'There are signs
You can read to children ... Nail biting, leg whips or so later, shrugging his shoulders, pulling hoods
Blouses eyes. Good teachers know howRead signs and talk to
Children 1-1. However, we have our teachers with the requirements, the overload left his
little time for such interaction. How can a teacher for every 30 or 35 students? There is a
The reason, as a large percentage of children with a parent in prison until the end this time.

Irene has spent much time in prisons for adult education on effective parenting. How receptive are
Your students?

Jan: Of the hundreds I've met,two or three who were angry (maybe emotionally disturbed) wanted
Discount my theory. The rest were grateful, very open and have worked hard to return or
maintain contact with their children. I wrote about a specific part of the work that I and successes
and the fight in my book of memories of dance, Concertina's Tune. (Concertina and barbed wire
Tops prison fences.)

Irene: It 's very difficult to change. Many of your students have learned from their parentsas
Parent. When she returned to her family environment, as it is difficult for them to adapt
The new styles of parenting?

Jan: It's never easy to change. It is never easy for a family that has learned, no further back
You. Parents in from afar, I wrote a nice piece on "Contracts for forgiveness" and asked
Students use it with their parents, spouses and children. The approach should be adapted to all
us when weRelationship struggles.

Irene: What are some of these "contracts"?

Jan: We made them easy and practiced before students leave the prison. You may be reading a book,
Child every night for a time, trips to the park, play catch, help with homework,
Going out for ice cream. It may be difficult with older children ... Immersion
personal and family history, the truth about the past behavior (only suitable for the childAge)
Support from coaching a sports team or visitors, saves money for school
Activities.

A woman had to deal with his mother where he lived for a time ', all neatly lined
Walls with liquid gold once a week (a little 'obsessive?) Limiting the use of hot water in shower
Mother fixed, and other similar behaviors. After the agreed period, a sentence that
The woman was assigned and the mother was notback past mistakes. We learned how
to communicate how to use reminders.

Irene: What percentage of success in the changes?

Jan relapse rates are high for all for all criminals. There are statistics that relate to specific
Classes or educational programs, although generally the higher the level of education, less likely
Recidivism rate. Students who worked on the personal and social responsibility, and both the life and teachings
skills, while insideis well known, more likely to be out of jail. Age is also
a factor. Deadline for help.

Irene: Thank January there anything else you add to your desire or your book?

Aug: Please read my website] http://www.janwalker-writer.com [I posted some downloadable
Parenting Curriculum, History and Family Patterns, and Child Development on the site. And 'furnished
reading for trainers to use with students with mild and informationWorksheets.

For more information about my unusual teaching, reading my book, Dancing To The CONCERTINA'S
TUNE: A teacher prison memoirs. Ordering information is on my site.

When I look back, I worked with incarcerated students try to be prepared
Renewed their families and communities, I feel tired. It 'been a hard work. Students who have successfully
those who are willing to work hard. They were unearthed from prison if
not social, and cultural obstacles to meeting each step. This is their reality: they need
by them to do to earn their way back into their families and communities.

Interview with SK Whalen, author of Rooke Iceland - The prophecy of eyes

Sue Whalen grew up in a wilderness park in North Vancouver, BC, Canada. His parents, then they were the custodians of the park and ran a shop, a concession of food and gifts for hundreds of visitors who enjoy the park each year. A huge forest of one hundred years Douglas fir, hemlock and red cedar trees, surrounded the family home. Twin-covered peaks, deep gorges and world famous suspension bridge was the view from the panoramic windows of hishome. The suspension bridge swaying 20 floors above the roaring Lynn Creek. Sue loved hiking in the mountains, swimming and fishing in the stream. Reflecting back, Sue says it was those early years that shaped their stories and love for nature. Sue now lives in Fall River, Nova Scotia, to live with her husband Ken and their adult children and grandchildren nearby.

Miss Vickie, grandson of Sue, helping the author. It 'was the spark and the light of history continues. LoseVickie has been your connection to the fantasy of a young player is more important, Miss Vickie has had to like it or not there was rewritten.

Tyler: Welcome, I am glad that you and your Miss Vickie I might one click. What a great fantasy adventure story you wrote. To start, you get the main character, Margery Mutters?

Sue: Well, Margery teacher of middle age. The story begins with Margery living in a house at the head of Old Oak Hill in Canyon City. Youliving alone, a quiet monotone, boring life, really. She loves nature and her garden more than anything else. Margery is quite an extraordinary woman, but that part is no secret that he had always literally under the cap under his hat. One of the oddities Margery is always wearing a hat. As it happened, the hat is very important for a saw-whet owl of only 4.5 "will be high and constant companion Margery walks Centerfolds hat.

Margery is a woman, muesli, a mixture ofeverything is never the same. He always high energy, as a kind and caring. However, often their thoughts and feelings do not match his actions. Always the optimist on each obstacle and danger, he never gives up and believes that everything will be fine. There is an inner strength that keeps them going, no matter how eager she is, she never shows her fears on her face. Often acts or speaks before she thinks, she is easily irritated, judges much peopletoo quickly to stare at people when they should not, and she often shows poor education at the table. Finally, they would have preferred to keep a lady right, you're the type who sips tea abstainers and quiet. It 'a woman who knows proper etiquette and know the difference. Margery is embarrassed, confused and is in a Tizzy, when their conscience wakes up and realizes how their actions are rude.

Tyler: Why did you want a character that Margery, with specificStrengths and weaknesses you just said, it was reasonable, or even pleasant for the plot of your novel?

Sue: Margery character is a woman credible every day, not a magical person, even a Super Star, a cliché, or a cookie cutter character. Perhaps, as a grandmother, an aunt, or the person is the road. Why did it work? Because the reader could identify with her and some of their magical journey. It is not boring, because even the smallest imperfection Iexaggerated. The child may laugh at you a teenager could love their power, their fears and doubts. Older people and older people can see for yourself.

The action, situations, owls, the scenes were always written first draft and then I would like to write to Margery. I found three-dimensional characters, their strengths, weaknesses and habits of some terrible gave more depth. This made it easier for me to get her a wide range of conflicts of interest and adventurein which the results were not predetermined and unpredictable. At the same time, I did grow Margery through the process of the novel as an adventure.

Tyler: Who Margery inherit the island? What happens that brings them Rooke is Iceland?

Sue: Learn uncle has inherited from her long-lost island where a mysterious letter arrives in unusual circumstances. His life changes when he touched the letter, it is as if the lettergrabs, checking her and does all his world upside down. Travelling in Iceland Rooke starts now.

Tyler: Before arriving on the island, Margery stops in Alwyn Village, where he meets some interesting people. Want to tell us who they are?

Sue: The character of Alwyn Village is a comical voices including: the repulsive SNOG Sydney, garrulous Gabriella (Gabbi) Mooley and their hateful Purple Inn. Of course there are the lazy good for nothing Dicky Men DoolittleMen Hector Dodge and let us not forget the macaroni and cheese colored cat Mr. Dinky. This is a merchant, the perfect Puddley Peter, and the owner of Kettle's Kafe, the carpenter and his cups of water ever so beautiful talkative woman fat Snippy Lippy.

Tyler: What do people think of Alwyn use Rooke's Village for Iceland? If you are curious and Margery nervous to go there?

Sue Tyler, for hundreds of years, Margery's uncle and great uncle alone to guard the island. WithWeapons on their shoulders to ensure criminals do not step foot on the island. The villagers are simply tired of secrecy, rumors and speculation run wild. Margery's trip to the island, but also has a crazy old owl, who lost his mind, his entourage and an owl made of shells appear completely in his dream. With all this going on, she is very nervous the fear of the unknown, from the constant stomach pain. I must say that is strange and nervous pushesisland. The story is written so that you know, won their curiosity.

Tyler: Is Iceland Rooke is magical and all the fantasy world of others, or still bear a certain resemblance to the world every day?

Sue Rooke Iceland's surface looks like any other island in real life. The fantasy world is well below the island. The island is called in three levels: the Terra Alta, Lower and Inner Earth Earth is divided. The Earth is the upper surface of the 'islandHome of world's people, owls, trolls under the earth, the realm of the owl folklore, fairies, elves, and gnome-owls. The Inner Earth is miles deep into the core in the center of the island, where hundreds of old owls live. The king of all owls friend Queen Ocean, hundreds of soldiers and hundreds of Ings Indigo owls, that the land lightly. Like the Golden Owl, one of the leading navigation button, which is the prophecy for the future of owls.

TylerCan you tell Margery meeting with owls on the island?

Sue: Each chapter has a new magical encounter with the owl, sometimes with an owl, sometimes hundreds of owls. Parliaments of owls live and work in each of the levels on the island. All the owls are important to the prophecy.

Tyler: Sue we can about the prophecy of staring eyes? What is the prophecy, and why is it important?

Sue: First, all eyes are owls on the islandand on earth. The prophecy was written in the past but the future of owls. As written, it must follow the timing and detail of the prophecy, or the owls will wait another thousand years before a new king owls may arise. It 'important that the owls have a strong king owl' wisdom 'can continue to rule the birds of prey. Margery arrives just in time for the owls prophecy.

Tyler: Was Uncle Margery live with owls and know them. It was whykeep the people from the island?

Sue: The owls were part of the island, long before the ancestors of Margery, his uncle has been resolved, Rookes. My uncle was part of the Kingdom of the owl, owl, and the Council, are like "No Feathers" by owls. Owls needed to keep the people of the island and the secrets the owls'. When Margery arrives everything is ready for her, had a nice modern house with garden. My uncle called a large barn builtScared Barn. The barn is the meeting place for owls Parliament from all three levels of 'Island. The prophecy will be appointed by the king in the owls Eyking all to read.

Tyler: Sue, without the ending away, would you say that Margery learns anything because of their experiences in Iceland Rooke's?

Sue: Our Margery, this is what Miss Vickie and I call it love. The prophecy would never have taken without their help, he needed the owls. The best part ofMargery, they are as wise as the wise old owls. You'll see Margery adapt and become stronger, as it blends seamlessly into the world of owls' "and is woven in the prophecy. She is calmer, happier, more understanding, patience and shows with the most owls. Not only make the real world and fantasy world of Iceland Balance Rooke, becoming one with the owls and nature.

Tyler: You mean then that Margery really more in touch with nature and animalsas owls than people?

Sue: Margery that a teacher has knowledge and experience with a natural tendency of intuitive sense to people and owls. He wants to be a part of both worlds, which certainly do not want a recluse like his uncle. I guess years in the classroom helps with the children, who understand all the characters of the owl. 'S dedicated to them. Owls are the most important thing in theirLife.

Tyler: I understand Miss Vickie Margery also has a young human companion. Can tell us something about him? It was his idea that a younger companion Margery have?

Miss Vickie: You are right, a boy of 14 years. He is special, he received a mystery and a promise with Uncle Margery. I do not remember which was the idea just seemed to always be in history. Margery need him, and he helps to build things. I remember his eight years, Megan's sister was myIdea and she looks exactly like me.

Tyler: Sue, you are from where the idea of "Iceland Rookie?

Sue: When I was young, I often visited my Aunt Margery, collected owl figurines. Owls had anywhere in their homes. Back in the day, collected different things. My aunt had not children, so when she was 94 years, has packed all her owls for the last time in their lives and sent 8,000 miles by truck, plane and car at home. I think the owls were sleepingStatues in his home for over 70 years. As for my life, I first saw the owls when I was four, I went to school program of the Navy, was married, had children, my children are grown, had children and then the owls came in my life.

Owls in two large boxes, 312 came on Friday evening. I know why Miss Vickie came to my house every Friday and she was just six when the box arrived. We opened the boxes and we both looked at hundreds of packages that littlePiles of plastic bubble wrap. We check carefully packed each owl, we were so intrigued we placed each owl on glass shelves in a room. The space that says we have called Peach room where it all began, owls magic their story through their eyes. The little owl figurines, traveled across Canada, so it is a fantasy made in Canada.

Rookie Iceland, the exhibition may not have a story when the time is right. Bridges generations of history, from my aunt. Yes, is the name ofafter her. Why not? Without her owl collection there would be no story. All of us prove that you're never too old to dream too young and not a history together. We have been ninety years between my aunt and my niece.

Tyler: This is a wonderful story, Sue, and truly a story of women of different generations together to tell the story. What do you think your aunt would say today if you had written about her and her owls knew?

Sue Tyler, my aunt lived two moreYears after delivering the owl to me. Once a week I would call from British Columbia. During these weekly meetings. would always have to update the story. She liked the fact that I was his name, could not believe his collection came to live in a fantasy world. She laughed a lot about character and personality the owl. The funny thing is, he wanted to Margery, just like her, and married Margery. It 'was like they wanted to live through my writing. IAlwyn compromise Village is the name of the first second of my uncle and the river on Iceland Rooke called Lady-Cap, which is short for Capilano and Ladysmith, where were my aunt and my uncle is over.

Vickie and I met an end, before my aunt died. Although it is still two years before they actually finished the book, we used the final that we wrote down for them. My aunt made me promise that I published. I'm sure like the book, I sent to manyolder friends, remember the owl collection and received wonderful letters and notes back some.

Tyler: Sue, tell me how you and Miss Vickie began to tell the story owl. Do you remember the time to start?

Sue: I remember the day we put the Owls on the shelves Miss Vickie and I have mentioned. At first it was just for fun, we've done stories with the owls. The first story was the ugliest and two greatest people called Eaton and Ardyth and we had a dayAnti-B, the Owls have defended island. We did Ardyth Eaton and the last of the prehistoric birds on earth, great warriors. This story first chapters. (Chapter 11: Meeting of Eaton, and Chapter 14: Two Birds Owl meet).

It 'was an owl, who arrived with the name scratched on the bottom. When I was seven I Eaton etching ground, without the knowledge of my aunt. Miss Vickie decided to keep this name and my aunt she never knew what I had done.

TylerMiss Vickie have a character?

Miss Vickie: No, I was only six years, we have not finished when I was nine, almost ten years. Twelve now. We talk about what would happen later, when I came in next Friday we would act the next chapter. I would say that I loved what I did not. There were a lot of rewriting.

Tyler: Sue, would you say he had no literary influences from other children's books could be read as a child?

Sue: My book for children of allThe time is "Alice in Wonderland." I did it many times and always something new to read.

Although "Rookie Iceland" was written for young readers, to my surprise, I received the following information. Maybe "Rooke Iceland's' is something else, the reader.

A note from a woman aged 85, said: "I found it interesting that you paired an old lady with the creature wiser than the wisest of the bird world."

A girl of 16 years, wrote in his report book "Margery is aStunned, she sometimes has no idea what to do, just like me. You have to be fifty, and has changed his life overnight, but this is cool. "

A woman of 50 years, wrote: "I read the book twice, I'm just a kid at heart. When we graying planet we know, do not matter how old or wise we become people or owls We can not predict the future."

Tyler: Miss Vickie, to help it be fun to write a book was. What were some of the favorite things you have inWrite the book?

Miss Vickie: I called several owls. I drew the maps in the book, have you noticed the owl, the cards are shaped, and I took pictures of the owl. It 'started with the stories, pretending and acting out, we never thought it would be a book. I enjoyed it, even after publication of the book helps with bookmarks, posters, Iceland Rooke T-shirts, owl-cards for each of the owls (like baseball cards). We have two new signings and a book fair that has been mocked, and this is mysecond interview.

Tyler: Miss Vickie, you have a favorite chapter?

Miss Vicky: Yes, Chapter 9, "The secrets of the giant redwoods," because we are near a big tree on the road near Lake HS our huge tree roots I called the root of the highway, because I was so small I could barely had to climb through the roots. It could be argued that the flap would open the tree and went down the trunk, and sitting on a roller coaster ride, and under the lake.

I also like the chapter 3, TheIncident at Kettle's Kafe. "I like the last page. And 'was an accident in a cafe we saw, when we were out for breakfast. I asked my nanny to the editor asking to change something. The publisher said it did nothing to change the situation-it was fun as it was.

Tyler: Miss Vickie, what will you do next? Do you think it will continue to write books or think to be more of an author?

Miss Vickie: My older brother and sister want to be part of the forthcoming bookbut I'm sure will help me. I am a skater and I skate three hours a day, so I did not so long now.

Tyler: and Sue, plan to write other books, including a sequel could be "Rooke is Iceland?

Sue: I had a sequel in mind and began to write songs and to build characters.

Tyler: Sue, before you go, tell us where readers can find more information or a copy of "Iceland Rookie?

Sue Tyler Sure, you can buy "Rooke Iceland's'online from my publisher, iUniverse or Amazon Books & Amazon Kindle Books, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Chapters.ca (Canadian).

Tyler: Thank you both for today here. I think it's wonderful that you have a good relationship and may have a way of working. I wish you much luck for the future, your dreams.

Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader visits was pleased by SK Whalen (Sue) and her niece, Miss Vickie together to talk about his new book"Rooke's Island: The Prophecy of the eyes open" iUniverse.com, (2007), ISBN 9,780,595,445,455 th