I got chatting to Mario when we recently shared a table at a community book-selling event. Along with his wife Jennifer, Mario has written and published a book which has grown from a very personal and frightening experience. Afterwards, they wanted to do something positive to share information with parents, educators and other people who work with children.
The result is the picture book Elifant and his Super Power Nose. Here Mario explains how the book came about and what his future plans are.
Can you tell us how writing Elifant and his Super Power Nose came about?
It was a true-life situation that happened to our son, me and my wife on our first family vacation. Our son had his first allergic reaction to nuts inside of bread. It was really traumatic for us. It took a long time to heal and writing about it helped. I wanted to make other children and parents aware of the dangers of food allergies, hopefully to also inspire those who have food allergies to not feel alone and feel more confident with knowledge and understanding of this issue.
What inspired you to write a book, rather than use a different way to tell the story?
I felt as if books are still a useful tool, even though it can seem a bit nostalgic, with the advance of technology and other forms of storytelling, because children around the world still enjoy holding something tangible like a book and looking at pictures. I grew up listening to teachers reading me books and wanted to pass on that same feeling.
Which authors do you admire, and how did they help you in your book planning?
Jesus Christ, Maya Angelo, Dr Suess, Langston Hughes, Sharon M. Draper, 50 Cent and yes, over time in prayer, Jesus (God) inspired me with the planning of my book.
Is Elifant and his Super Power Nose the first book you’ve written?
Yes, this is the first book I've ever written.
Would you explore other formats e.g. poetry, short stories, graphic novels?
I'm interested in pursuing a graphic novel for teenagers and more short stories for younger children. I feel there is a lot more for me to tell
and it can relate to their lives.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
My wife actually published my book. We decided to use this route due to ownership, being able to maneuver with distribution and marketing in our own way. It did not feel like a publisher would contribute to the same degree as us.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on two more books. One will be a short story related to mental health awareness and the other story is about sports.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I enjoy writing about real time events and situations that happen throughout the day. I guess it can be considered journaling but I call it taking notes.
Do you find ways to give your book exposure in the local community?
Yes, by staying connected with events in the community schools, Maastricht Writers Workshop, stores and libraries.
Do you have any particular writing habits or routines?
I usually write throughout the day on my phone when an idea comes to mind so I will not forget! I am actually rather new to writing, to be honest. When it comes to writing stories etc., things come to me in drifts and mostly during the night, when I have time to settle, listen to instrumentals and zone out in my imagination.
Do you have any tips or advice for anyone thinking about writing (and perhaps publishing) their first book?
Make sure you have some financial backing and do it for the love and sharing of your story! Be sure to do your research on publishers and platforms to sell your book. Marketing is really key and community outreach is helpful.
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Find Elifant and his Super Power Nose at Amazon and other online platforms, and in bookshops and libraries. More information is available at www.storyit-publishing.com.
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