Interview With Mrs. D! Olga D’ Agostino
Rosie: Join me as I present this 2nd interview with Mr. D and her recent books.
Mrs. D., thank you for joining me today to let us know about your new delightful children’s books.
Let’s start with “Where Did Grandpa Go?”
This book feels like it was inspired by a real person who may like taking road trips? Is that true? If not, what inspired you to write this story?
Mrs. D: Thank you for the opportunity to be on your blog. I really appreciate you taking time to review my new books.
Book 1, “Where Did Grandpa Go?” was based on a real grandpa, one that I know and love very much. He is really a grandpa with golden hands, smart and kind. But unlike others, he thinks differently and always likes to do things his way, which isn’t always the shortest way. But I can tell you that his long ways of doing things never disappoint people, because the quality of his work never falls short once he’s finished the job. Let’s put it this way: If you ask our grandpa what time is it, he will gladly explain or show you how the watch was made. Smile! Our grandpa likes educating people about everything he knows. It may seem annoying to some folks, but when you listen to him, everything makes sense, especially for children, who are really interested in how things are made or done. So I thought that our grandpa’s story would show children that it is OK to take time to do things or chores, as long they accomplish their tasks and provide quality work.
Rosie: Your illustrations are by Saima Malik, which are stunning! Tell us how you two were able to create such cute images for your books. In other words, do you send images of what you expect or do you allow your illustrator to work on her own?
Mrs. D: Throughout my writing carrier, and twenty-plus books later, I’ve worked with many illustrators. To my good luck, all of them have been great! But working with Saima is a pure pleasure. It’s seems like she reads my mind. She is very intuitive and feels the story. She knows how to convert my words into art. We are working as a team. First she reads my story and we agree on style. Than I provide descriptions, and sometimes she asks for photos of the real people that my story is based on. After that, she creates all the characters. After we’re both happy with the characters, she creates the sketches, and after approval Saima moves to the coloring stage. She is a very talented artist who always has a feel for the story. She can be serious or funny, depending on the mood of the storyline. She is extremely easygoing, a great communicator, and very easy to work with. She works fast and always delivers her work on time. She is very knowledgeable. She uses new techniques and always has good surprises up her sleeve. I always listen to her suggestions when it comes to art. She has already illustrated four of my books, and I could not be happier and proud of how her artwork represents each book. In addition, she is very fast and affordable. A real gem!
Rosie: Now, let’s talk about your other Grandpa book: “My Grandpa is a Werecow”
What a great, fun story to teach young readers about our heart and eating healthy. (Adults, too.)
As you said, this is based on a real life experience.
Tell us about this story.
Mrs. D: Book 2, “My Grandpa Is a Werecow” was inspired by my husband, who had a complicated heart surgery a few years ago. He had four bypasses and heart valve replacement. At that time our grandchildren were still young and didn’t understand why they had to be careful when they played with Grandpa. We explained to them that a huge scar on his chest was from repairing his heart when it got sick. And Grandpa always joked with them that because the doctor borrowed the heart valve from a cow, he can moo like a cow now. His story made them laugh and they all mooed together, pretending to be cows. They also asked why he must be a cow now. He told them it only happened when the full moon appeared in the sky. And he told them how they must take care of their hearts so it wouldn’t happen to them. Together they created a great story, and one night when the moon was in its full glory, they waited for hours by the window to see their grandpa flying over the moon. They were very excited, and imagined what Grandpa might look like, telling me all the versions they could come up with. It was really a fun night, and after they finally fell asleep, “without Grandpa turning into a cow, of course,” I immediately put their stories on paper. Since then, whenever they stay with us they want to listen to this story, sometimes a little bit scared but sincerely believing that one day they will see Grandpa flying over the moon as a cow. What could be more adorable than listening to their stories until they fall asleep? They are bigger now, but they still talk about this story every time they see a full moon. The youngest still believe it and wait by the window. But now, the older siblings have stopped feeding the youngest with all kinds of mischievous versions of the story because my book is out and they can see the pictures. So much fun!
Rosie: Last but not least, you have another book you’ve written this past year. It’s a chapter book for older readers, “The Cat That Wanders by Itself.”
What can you tell our readers about this darling book and Nyda’s adventures?
Mrs. D: I always thought that as long as I have a cat, I have a good, trusted friend. My cat friend was a little quirky and opinionated, but she was always by my side. Nyda and I shared a special bond and love. She entertained me with her behavior, and I put up with her disappearing for weeks at a time. She was an unusual calico cat, an expert on life, with intelligence, dignity, and playfulness in equal proportion. She understood when to be sweet and charming and when to ignore everything, when to be independent and strong and when to cuddle up to me. Amusing, impulsive, and often unpredictable, she lived on the edge, exploring every opportunity and taking risks, believing that there must be more than nine lives. I wrote this story as a tribute to her adventurous life. My hope is that readers will see how unique Nyda was—a loyal and caring companion, a brave explorer and lucky survivor, a free spirit that wandered many places but was always in my heart.
As you already noticed, I love to write children’s stories, but I also love to write in different styles.
“The Cat That Wandered by Itself” isa beautifully illustrated, black-and-white style, size 6×9, about 325 pages, for readers age 10 and up. It is a heartwarming story told from the perspective of an unusual calico kitten named Nyda that went on a dangerous journey, practically using all her nine lives, if the old saying is true, but always managing to return safely to the people she loved. This book is for older independent readers and is out on Amazon in e-book, paperback, and hardcover versions.
Also, I hope to finish my new novel “The Chinese Princess,” publish three books from “The Kitten’s Stories” series (“The Kitten in the Window,” “The Day Before Thanksgiving,” and “The Forgotten Christmas Tree”), and illustrate a few books from “The Lost Baby Tooth” series. Saima is doing a wonderful job with these books. They are so colorful and festive! Real treats for any age!
Rosie: Thank you for sharing more about your stories. Please share a link where we can find your books.
Mrs. D: My books are not simple; they are intended to make the young reader stop and think about the message that the story is delivering. I am a strong believer in good-quality illustrations, calming, but fun; nothing drastic or overpowering. They are colorful and represent the story before a child starts reading it. They are also creative and perfect for a child’s growing mind. I do not choose the story; the story chooses me. Mostly, I write for children ages 4 to 10, but I have books for older readers, like “The Little Girl Praying on the Hill,” “Taste of Bread,” and my new book “The Cat That Wanders by Itself.”
Stories are everywhere. I write what I know, not what sells. This may sound like a bad business decision, but this is the only time I do not treat writing like a business.
Fortunately for children and also for me, I have many books to share. Here are a few:
Carlo the Mouse—A full series of six books. This series of enchanting books is an entertaining look into the life of a little mouse born inside a hospital’s walls. His insatiable desire for adventure gets him in constant trouble with the exterminator, the head cook, Fidel the cat, and the hospital manager, who becomes his worst nightmare.
Who Is Most Important in the Fridge? Series of three books. These fun rhyming stories introduce young readers to delightful food characters with goofy personalities, real feelings, passions and fears, who always disagree with each other about who will feed a hungry little girl first.
The Mysterious Life Inside a Closet. A humorous story about the mysterious life inside the closet and a curious little kitten, which sneaks inside the closet and causes mayhem.
The Royal Palm. A teaching story about a snobby silver palm, which learns a valuable lesson and the meaning of real friendship.
Runaway Clothes. An instructional story about a little girl who didn’t like to take care of her clothes and toys. In the end, she learns how easy it is to lose something you love.
That Is How Things Are. A beautiful story about friendship between a kitten and a sparrow, and how the little kitten learns about the power of nature.
Good Morning, World! A happy and uplifting story about Baby Thomas and his grandpa. Baby Thomas wants to hug and embrace a beautiful world full of amazing things, but Grandpa takes the world very seriously. They see the same picture, but each takes a different approach.
City Kittens and the Old House Cat. A beautifully illustrated, heartwarming Christmas book about sharing and giving.
The Trees Have Hearts
Runaway Clothes: Coloring and Activity Book for Kids
The Royal Palm: Coloring and Activity Book for Kids
The Little Girl Praying on the Hill (short story)
A Taste of Bread (novella)
Somewhere Between Two Worlds (novel)
Who Let the Cookies Out?
Who Let the Cookies Out?: Coloring and Activity Book for Kids
Baby from the Moon
What Is GOOD and What Is BAD
What Is GOOD and What Is BAD: Coloring and Activity Book for Kids
Who Is Most Important in the Fridge: Coloring Book for Kids
Carlo the Mouse: Coloring Books 1 and 2
The Cat That Wanders by Itself (novel)
Where Did Grandpa Go?
My Grandpa Is a Werecow
To order paperback copies of my published books, please visit
► Website
► E-book versions are also available through Amazon
I long for people to see the internal beauty through the eyes of a child. Usually I turn for help to nature when I write. It never refuses to give me the inspiration for the characters I am looking for in my stories. I am fascinated by the wonders of nature, especially with the wind, trees, palms, and all kinds of animals. They are wonderful characters for children. With the help of these characters, children will learn about how things change and behave in nature, and sometimes how they misbehave. Thank you so much for having me on your blog.
Exciting News At Books By Rose
Don’t forget to come to my “Books by Rose” Facebook page on Wednesday, April 06, 2022. (9 am CST) I have some exciting news and plans for you all. I’m very excited!
As always,
Happy Reading!
Rosie
