Interview with Children's Picture Book Author JD Wise

 

JD Wise is a West Virginian-born author who believes that the world can be changed for the better, by one person, one time, doing the right thing.

“Just think what would happen if we all did that,” said Wise.

Wise is happily married to the love of his life. Together, they have four wonderful children, who are the true inspiration for the book.

Nomophobia is his latest children’s book.

Visit him on Instagram and Facebook.

Thanks for this interview, JD.  I've always wanted to write children's books.  When did you determine that writing for children was for you?

I had the idea that maybe I could take new ideas and turn them into a learning experience through the pages of a book.  

What was the inspiration behind your children's book, Nomophobia?

Finding an interesting way to inspire children to put down their phone's. To get them to realize that they could be missing out on things that surround them that they can enjoy and benefit more from.  

How do you get into the mind of a child to create a fun reading experience?  Are you around kids?  Are you a kid at heart?

I look back on the things that caught my attention when I was a child and I compare it to what kids today may be interested in.  I also try to include an awesome learning experience through reading in order to make it fun.  Yes, I am around kids mostly everyday.  I am definitely a giant child!

What was your favorite book as a child?

Berenstain Bears Collection, by Stan and Jan Berenstain (I loved them all)

What kind of advice would you give to writers who would like to write children's books?

When you feel like you haven't done enough, do a little more.  This can pertain to all steps of writing a children's book.  

What are your goals for the future?  More children's books?

Well, Somewhere Over the Rainbow; it would be fun if Nomophobia was turned into a movie, or even a Broadway play.  The cast would be so easy to find.  You can't even go to the grocery store without seeing 30+ kids on their phones.  But on this side of the rainbow, I am going to keep writing more children's books.

BOOK BLURB:

Welcome to NOMOPHOBIA – A PLACE IN TIME WHERE OVERUSED CELLULAR DEVICES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.

This is a somewhat true, mostly exaggerated story of modern-day children – children who have spent way too much time on their phones. One night the children are mysteriously turned into ogres. At first the children blame each other for their condition. When they finished blaming each other, they worked together to find a cure. They searched the house for a cure…but they could not find one. They tried to wash the ogre off…but it stayed on.

They had all but given up when sissy’s phone accidently falls into the fish tank. When the phone gets wet, a hidden message appears: YOU WERE TURNED INTO OGRES, BECAUSE ON THE PHONE YOU DID STAY! NOW, PUT IT AWAY AND GO OUT AND PLAY!

So the children rushed outside, where they returned to normal. That day the children learned a valuable lesson. OVERUSED CELL PHONES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.