Joining us today is Kathleen Crawley, author of the rhyming children’s book, Colonel Trash Truck, which helps show young readers how easy it is to “go green.” We’ll talk to Kathleen about this book, her writing, and her future plans.
CM: Welcome Kathleen. It is wonderful to have you here. Can you tell us a little about your book?
KC: I wrote Colonel Trash Truck, which is illustrated by Manuel Conde, for kids ages three to six. The goal to teach kids early how, and why, to recycle and pick up their trash. Colonel Trash Truck believes cleaning up trash and recycling is something we all must do and he wants nothing more than to have kids join him in his quest to “Keep the Planet Clean and Green.”
CM: Where did you find the inspiration for this story?
KC: I’ve worked in advertising for many years and my greatest strength is my ability to identify trends and understand why people do what they do. For years, I noticed how kids, especially boys, go bonkers when they see a garbage truck. I also noticed there weren’t many books or toys about trash trucks that tell kids how trucks pick up the trash we create. I thought, “Someone needs to write a book.” Then, one morning, I was awakened by the sound of the garbage truck. I opened my eyes and suddenly saw a clear image in my imagination of Colonel Trash Truck, just the way he looks on the cover of my book and began writing Colonel Trash Truck.
CM: How long did it take you to bring this book from the first draft to the final published product?
KC: I wrote Colonel Trash Truck in 2003 but let him sit for five years. When I sent it out to publishers, I got either no response or a rejection letter. I then decided to self-publish it with a company by the name of DragonPencil who are fantastic. It was through DragonPencil.com that I met Manuel Conde, my illustrator, and working with him was no less than amazing. He knew exactly what I was thinking when I described the Colonel. It took about a year to get it illustrated, designed, and then printed.
CM: Were there any special obstacles or challenges you faced during the publishing process?
KC: The only challenge I truly faced was in understanding the publishing industry and how it works. There are publishers, online and brick and mortar bookstores, wholesalers, distributers, fulfillment houses…it’s very overwhelming if you are new. I have had the pleasure of working with the Cadence Group to market my book and they took all the guess work out of the equation.
CM: Tell us about your main character(s).
KC: Colonel Trash Truck is a likable, fun-filled character who is extremely focused on his mission to win the garbage war. He sees the world and nature as a beautiful gift that we all need to appreciate and protect. Colonel Trash Truck believes cleaning up trash and recycling is something we all must do and he wants nothing more than to have kids join him in his quest. When I wrote Colonel Trash Truck, it felt like I was taking dictation because it seemed like the Colonel had a lot to say about telling kids to pick up trash and recycle.
CM: Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?
KC: Visit www.coloneltrashtruck.com or www.amazon.com
CM: What is up next for you?
KC: I am working on publishing the second book in the Colonel Trash Truck series, Captain Michael Recycle joins Colonel Trash Truck.
CM: Is there anything else you would like to add?
KC: Check out the fun video of Colonel Trash Truck on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9NetOTr7Lg
Thanks for joining us today Kathleen. We look forward to seeing more of Colonel Trash Truck and his friends soon.
