An Alaskan Adventure Story
Middle-Grade / Action / Adventure
Date Published: November 19, 2021
Publisher: MindStir Media
The new school year is here, and Sean is worried about starting the fourth grade. When his grandmother organizes a trip to meet Sean's new teacher, we learn that Mr. Simmons is nervous, too. Will their adventure into the Alaskan tundra build their confidence, or will it end in disaster?
Jacob Deskins had just graduated Cincinnati Christian University in 2020 when he saw an ad that said, "Teach in rural bush Alaska!" Three weeks later, he and his wife left everything they knew behind in Columbus, Ohio, population 1.2 million, to start his teaching career and an adventurous new life in Kwigillingok, Alaska, population 320. A Trip on the Tundra Explorer is the first of the author's forthcoming series inspired by his adventures in Alaska, and in the classroom.
Is There a Message in
Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
I
would say that the main message that I want the readers of my children's book
to grasp is that being anxious about starting a new school year as a student or
as a teacher is not always a bad thing. It can lead to unexpected adventures
with people or by yourself that lead you to feel ready and excited for the new
school year. All it takes is you to be vulnerable and not be afraid to step out
of your comfort zone.
Is there anything you
find particularly challenging in your writing?
As someone with ADHD I find myself losing focus a
lot, and my eyes start to wonder. When this happens I go to a dark room with no
light other than the light on my laptop and when I do this I can regain focus
and go on with my writing journey. I try to use my ADHD as an advantage,
instead of looking at it as a disadvantage. What I mean by this is that because
of my ADHD I have a hard time sleeping in, or sleeping in general. When I can’t
sleep I use that time to get my laptop out and start writing.
How many books have you
written and which is your favorite?
I have written three books but I only have one
currently published. A Trip on the Tundra Explorer my first book that is
published is definitely my favorite book. It is my favorite book I have written
because the story hits near to my heart, and just the amazing illustrations
that pop out of the page make it hard for me to put it down.
If You had the chance
to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick
and why?
I would love to have Jacob Tremblay play the main
character in my book. I feel that he is an extremely talented actor, and can
shape and morph himself into any character the producers pick him to play.
When did you begin
writing?
I have been writing ever since I was about eight
years old, but I would say I started seriously writing last July with the
intention to publish my children’s book. When I was eight I used to spend hours
and hours writing sports stories acting like I was the host of Sportscenter. To
this day my parents still have my binder with over 300 pages that I wrote
during my childhood of all the random sports stories I used to write.
How long did it take to
complete your first book?
It was definitely a longer journey
than I anticipated. From start until the time it was published was close to a
year and a half. The journey was long, and sometimes I wanted to give up, but
it was so rewarding.
Did you have an author
who inspired you to become a writer?
I would say Simon Sinek the author of: Start With
Why really inspired me to push through the doubt and go for it, and become an
author.
What is your favorite
part of the writing process?
My favorite part of the writing process is working
with my illustrator to make the story come to life. Words on a page are great,
but once the work with the illustrator begins that is really what makes the
writing process worth everything for me. All the hard work that goes into
creating the words for the story followed with making it all come together is
so rewarding.
Describe your latest
book in 4 words.
Adventure
beat my anxiety.
Can you share a little
bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?
I am currently working on a non-fiction chapter book
detailing my own struggles with anxiety as a child, and an adult. It goes on to
talk about how moving to rural bush Alaska really helped me kick my anxiety to
the curb. I am hoping to have this published by early next year, and my second
children’s book will be published this upcoming summer.
Jacob Deskins had just graduated Cincinnati Christian University in 2020 when he saw an ad that said, “Teach in rural bush Alaska!” Three weeks later, he and his wife left everything they knew behind in Columbus, Ohio, population 1.2 million, to start his teaching career and an adventurous new life in Kwigillingok, Alaska, population 320. A Trip on the Tundra Explorer is the first of the author’s forthcoming series inspired by his adventures in Alaska, and in the classroom.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
Posts
0 Comments