The Adventures of Hildie and Carlos: We are going to Paris! Paperback – May 19, 2020
by T.S. Edwards (Author)
Meet Hildie and her cute kitty Carlos! Hildie and Carlos are the best of friends, sharing an intangible bond of love and joy. They enjoy wonderful adventures traveling the world, exploring new places, and making valuable memories to cherish forever. Join Hildie and Carlos as they take you to exciting new places, and teach you how to have the most fun travel experience.
Product details
Paperback: 25 pages
Publisher: Independently published (May 19, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 979-8650265276
ASIN: B089HYQQFS
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.1 x
9 inches
T. S. EDWARD
Tell your readers a little about yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.
I was born in Atlanta, Ga. For people from Atlanta, I am a Grady baby. When I was about six years old, my mom and I moved to Florida. We stayed in this tiny town in Florida until I was about 12 years old. Then we moved to Miami. We stayed in Miami until I graduated from Miami Central Senior High School and then enlisted into the Air Force. I did ten years on active duty in the Air Force. I left active duty and did the rest of my military time in the Guard and Reserve for a total of 21 years. At that time, I moved back to Atlanta to reconnect with my father and his side of the family. But mostly to give my daughter some stability.
I wanted my daughter to have those childhood friends like myself. And at that time, I didn't think she would have that experience if we continued to move to different places around the world. I loved the military, but I don't regret putting my daughter's growth and well-being first. And we have been here in Atlanta ever since.
What inspired you to author this book?
Three things inspired me.
- Watching their interactions and my love for both of them, I just wanted to share with the world.
- I want to be a contributor to positive images of young black girls with a mother and a father. I didn't see a lot of young black girls, especially of a darker hue, growing up in books.
- To inspire "the want" to know
someone that looks different from you. I believe part of racism is people
not taking the time to talk, to learn, to empathize with someone that
looks different. So maybe if we can start with the children, inspiring
them to want to travel and then to want to learn and see different people
and different cultures, there is hope for us all.
Where did you get the inspiration for your book's cover?
I always knew
I wanted to make it a series. So I
wanted it to show the love of Hildie and Carlos. And then the world to symbolize to travel and
not be afraid.
Who has been the most
significant influence on you personally and as a writer?
I would say, my daughter. I started writing letters to her as a baby. These were letters of my life and what was going on with me at different moments in my life. My mother died when I was young. So if anything ever happened to me, I wanted my daughter to know from me, who I was as her mother. I wrote her several letters through-out my life. Now that I a grand-daughter, I'm continuing the letters "sort of speak" and sharing it with the world.
What were your struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?
My biggest struggle was having the money and the time. This book has always been in my heart to write, but life and her busy schedules got in the way. And my mind said I couldn't afford it or have the time to do it. But when the Corona pandemic crisis hit, it forced me to look at life differently. If I get the virus and don't survive, how do I want to be remembered? And what legacy do I have to leave for my family? So I decided to go with my heart and share my dream with the world.
Tell your readers about your book.
This book is about the friendship between Hildie and Carlos as they travel to Paris, learn a different culture, and have fun.
Who is your target audience, and why?
Parents of small children and parents with small children with pets. As I mentioned before, to inspire travel and to learn about different cultures. But also, the love of our pets. Carlos is a huge part of our family. His love is irreplaceable.
If you were going to give one reason for anyone looking at your book to read, why should they buy it?
I can't give just one reason. It's cute. The illustrations are AMAZING. It's fun to read. It's inspiring on several different levels. Its created out of love for the love of others.
What do you consider your greatest success in life?
The success of my daughter. I had my daughter when I was young. When I had her, I was suffering from depression due to the recent loss of my mother. I still hadn't dealt with the pain of being abused as a child. I was alone in the military, thousands of miles away from anyone in my family. I felt like it was her and me against the world. But because I had this innocent child depending on me to the best that I can be, I pulled myself together to provide the best possible life I could give her. Now, she is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago. She speaks fluent Mandarin and Russian. A black belt in Taekwondo. She's a musician that plays the double bass. Married and a mother.
What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?
My characters are based on real people and real experiences.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I step away and let my mind breathe. It tells me when it's ready to proceed. Plus, when I get inspirations in the middle of the night, I grab my phone and do a voice recording, so I don't forget.
What one piece of advice do you have for new authors.
Don't wait for that "perfect" time, just do it. Keep some kind of recorder with you at all times. Record your ideas and come back and act on them.
Tell your readers anything else you want to share.
"Life is too short" and "You only have one life to live" are cheesy clichés, but they are true. Live your life exploring your passions. What you don't want to leave behind are regrets.
Learn about the next book.
