{What's On Your Kindle?} CHERYL C. MALANDRINOS ON A CHRISTMAS KINDNESS @ccmalandrinos #AChristmasKindness

Eight-year-old Robert is eager to share his wish list with Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve. When he meets Glenn, who only has one request for Santa, Robert is confused about what he should do. Can he cast aside what he wants and ask Santa to bring his new friend a special gift?

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of four children’s books including, A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing. A member of SCBWI, she is blogger and book reviewer. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married.

If you want more about the author, don’t forget to check out her website! You can visit Cheryl's book blog or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. 

What was the inspiration behind A Christmas Kindness? What sparked the initial idea?

Cheryl: Though I loved watching my girls circle toys in the catalog when they were little, the “I wants” take away from the spirit of giving during the holiday season. So, I came up with a story that allowed me to share the joy of giving in a fun and unique way.

Can you tell us more about your main character, Robert?

Cheryl: Robert is an only child, so he doesn’t have that experience of sharing with siblings the way some other kids do. Like many of us, he likes his stuff, so he finds it hard to part with his older toys when his mother suggests giving some of them away. He is eager to share his long list with Santa.

Can you tell us about Robert's little friend, Glenn?

Cheryl: Glenn and Robert meet in line waiting to speak to Santa about their Christmas wishes. Glenn has a little brother who is ill, which makes his mom sad. Even though the boys just met, Glenn is open to sharing about his family and his request for Santa.

Why did you start writing children's books and how many other children's books do you have (if any)?

Cheryl: I wish I could say I had some grand plan when I started writing, but I didn’t. A failed NaNoWriMo project, followed by a talk with my pastor, helped me to find direction. That’s when I wrote my first children’s book. I’ve published four children’s books and have a fifth under contract.

What do you believe is one of the trickiest things about writing for children? 

Cheryl: Making sure whatever message I want to share is done so through the characters’ actions and reactions to what is happening in the story. Kids don’t want to be preached to any more than adults. It’s okay to have a message or a lesson in your book, but you need to weave it in like a craftsperson interlaces reeds when creating a basket, not drop it on them like an anvil falling off a cliff in a cartoon.

Will there be more children's books?

Cheryl: Oh, yes! The fifth one, Clever Tom, is under contract with 4RV Publishing. A middle grade historical titled, Amelia’s Mission, is close to completion. After editing, I will submit that. I have several other picture books in various stages, and dozens of other ideas just waiting to be written.  

 

If you want to find out more about A Christmas Kindness, check it out at Amazon!