Meet the person behind Sleepytown Press
Thank You for dropping in to check out Sleepytown Press. There are a lot of things to view and hopefully, you will find something that will inspire you in your career. I consider myself a person who knows a "little about a lot" and on occasion "I know a lot about certain things." Feel free to look around and ask questions, if you would like to know something that I might be able to answer.
The photo includes my inspiration for the Children's Book "Sleepytown."
Writing and Art Background:
High School Newspaper
*Wrote articles for the paper
*Drew pictures for the newspaper
Public Library Department Head- 10 years (Media Librarian)
*Story Telling/Readers Theater
*Book Club Programs (I put together programs which were presented to the clubs.)
*Reading Program for Children
Painting Classes
*Painted once a week with Local Artist Marian Freeman
*Currently still paints Acrylic on canvas and wall murals
Elementary School Teacher 5th and 6th grade for 18 years- All Subjects
*Wrote and directed the graduation program for 6th grade
*Directed plays for the Special School Programs
*Directed music at school and at Special Programs in the local Mall
Art Teacher 18 years (At this same school)
*High School Art during the School Day
*Afternoon Children's Art Classes for Elementary Students
Youth Camp Director
*Planned Camps for 20 years (Created the hand-outs for camp)
*Planned all activities and schedules
*Instructor at Camp
Present Education Work
*Works in a local high school in Special Education (Algebra)
*Teacher of Poetry and Poetry Writing and Creative Writing
*Teach two evenings a week at local Junior College in Adult Ed
Publications and Special Activities:
*Workshop Leader at School Conventions in Alabama and Tennessee
*Short Story Published in Morpheus Tales magazine in UK
*Children's Book "Sleepytown" published January 2010
*Asked to teach Creative Writing at local Junior College
*School visits which included Writing and Illustration
*Writer for High School Newspaper
*Educator of the Year
*Had a local talk-show mornings on local radio for several years
*Cooked on TV in a cook-off competition in B'ham, Alabama
Why did I start Sleepytown Press?
I wanted to do something that made a difference with people who are just like me. After years of wanting to see my dream come true, I decided to do something about it. I spent over a year researching the workings of starting a Publishing Company. I realized that it would take a lot of work. I also realized that it limits what you get to do for yourself. (You know how it is. An auto mechanic often drives the "clunky cars." ) I also had a very bad experience with a publisher who gave a lot of "empty promises" and I wanted to make sure that it never happened to anyone else, if I could help it. Unfortunately, Sleepytown Press can not be a traditional publisher, but we work really hard to give you a POD Publisher with a lot of attractive extras.
I bit the bullet and started Sleepytown Press back in January 2010. I republished my Children's Book "Sleepytown" first because I wanted to make sure that I could do it right before I did it for someone else. (Sleepytown was the inspiration that kept me from throwing in the towel and forgetting writing. Hence the LOGO.)
Since January, Sleepytown Press has published a great selection of books so far this year for other authors. They are very happy with the process as well as the product.
Sleepytown Press currently has several authors working on manuscripts that will be submitted soon for review. We are open for submissions and would enjoy hearing from you. Go to the submission page for more information.
Read all that we have on our site and if we fit into your dream, drop an email to us. Some have said that Sleepytown Press is too personal, but I think that is what is missing in too much of the world today. We are not a machine. We are a person.
The photo includes my inspiration for the Children's Book "Sleepytown."
Writing and Art Background:
High School Newspaper
*Wrote articles for the paper
*Drew pictures for the newspaper
Public Library Department Head- 10 years (Media Librarian)
*Story Telling/Readers Theater
*Book Club Programs (I put together programs which were presented to the clubs.)
*Reading Program for Children
Painting Classes
*Painted once a week with Local Artist Marian Freeman
*Currently still paints Acrylic on canvas and wall murals
Elementary School Teacher 5th and 6th grade for 18 years- All Subjects
*Wrote and directed the graduation program for 6th grade
*Directed plays for the Special School Programs
*Directed music at school and at Special Programs in the local Mall
Art Teacher 18 years (At this same school)
*High School Art during the School Day
*Afternoon Children's Art Classes for Elementary Students
Youth Camp Director
*Planned Camps for 20 years (Created the hand-outs for camp)
*Planned all activities and schedules
*Instructor at Camp
Present Education Work
*Works in a local high school in Special Education (Algebra)
*Teacher of Poetry and Poetry Writing and Creative Writing
*Teach two evenings a week at local Junior College in Adult Ed
Publications and Special Activities:
*Workshop Leader at School Conventions in Alabama and Tennessee
*Short Story Published in Morpheus Tales magazine in UK
*Children's Book "Sleepytown" published January 2010
*Asked to teach Creative Writing at local Junior College
*School visits which included Writing and Illustration
*Writer for High School Newspaper
*Educator of the Year
*Had a local talk-show mornings on local radio for several years
*Cooked on TV in a cook-off competition in B'ham, Alabama
Why did I start Sleepytown Press?
I wanted to do something that made a difference with people who are just like me. After years of wanting to see my dream come true, I decided to do something about it. I spent over a year researching the workings of starting a Publishing Company. I realized that it would take a lot of work. I also realized that it limits what you get to do for yourself. (You know how it is. An auto mechanic often drives the "clunky cars." ) I also had a very bad experience with a publisher who gave a lot of "empty promises" and I wanted to make sure that it never happened to anyone else, if I could help it. Unfortunately, Sleepytown Press can not be a traditional publisher, but we work really hard to give you a POD Publisher with a lot of attractive extras.
I bit the bullet and started Sleepytown Press back in January 2010. I republished my Children's Book "Sleepytown" first because I wanted to make sure that I could do it right before I did it for someone else. (Sleepytown was the inspiration that kept me from throwing in the towel and forgetting writing. Hence the LOGO.)
Since January, Sleepytown Press has published a great selection of books so far this year for other authors. They are very happy with the process as well as the product.
Sleepytown Press currently has several authors working on manuscripts that will be submitted soon for review. We are open for submissions and would enjoy hearing from you. Go to the submission page for more information.
Read all that we have on our site and if we fit into your dream, drop an email to us. Some have said that Sleepytown Press is too personal, but I think that is what is missing in too much of the world today. We are not a machine. We are a person.
My Story
If you were to meet me, you would probably never guess something unique about me. Most people do not know that I was born with Polio. It was a rare thing, but I survived, and here I am.
Polio affected my left leg from the knee down. I was paralized and did not have much control over my foot. When I began to learn to walk, I had a lot of difficulty. This lead to several operations in Birmingham, Alabama to give me more control over my foot. I wore a special brace from a child until Junior high School. The operations that I went through helped me be able to move from the brace to a regular shoe. I do not wear a brace anymore, but I do get tired and limp a little.
I never let it slow me down much. It hurts some days, but no one ever knows. I keep it to myself. Of course, I could not play sports in high school. I had to turn toward other interests. This lead to working for ten years in the Public Library of Anniston and a great love for books. That in turn lead to Art and it all finally came together in my Children's Picture Book Sleepytown.
As a child, I loved dogs, crawfish, fireworks, and my microscope set. I had a pet lizard in a glass bowl with a stick in the middle. Sadly, my lizard is no longer with me. (He would be really old by now.) In a weak moment, my mom offered me money to get rid of the lizard. I was broke, so I took the lizard outside and let it go. His name was Oscar.
I always loved to read. I remember finding The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron. I fell in love with that book. I dreamed of flying in space. It has always held the position of *My Favorite Book*. I do love all kinds of Science Fiction and Fantasy as well. I grew up with Lost in Space and My Favorite Martian.
We had horses, when I was a child, and belonged to a saddle club. This was fun. The club had rides on the weekends, and sometimes we camped-out. My favorite horse was very gentle. Her name was Ginger.
I attended Alexandria High School and graduated as Friendliest in Who's Who. Basically, "friendliest" meant that you talked to everyone. I never had a problem talking. I still do not run out of words. Can you tell?
I started working at the Public Library, when I was a senior in high school, and I stayed there for ten years. During that time, I started the audio visual department and participated in a lot of special Children's Programs at the library.
Once, for the Reading Program I was the Comet Man. We had a song and everything that went along with it. The party at the end of the programs always featured skits and lots of fun.
It was during one of those years at the public library that Marian Freeman had an Art display in the auditorium of the library. It fascinated me. I had always wanted to learn how to paint. So, I started going to her house once a week and painting in her studio with others. Marian allowed us to explore Art and she offered suggestions along the way. Those times were invaluable.
I love writing, too. Sometimes, I write poetry. Sometimes, I write Children's Stories. Other times, I just write something to be writing. Finally, I get to see my life-long dream come true. I get to combine Art and Writing into a completed book.
Sometimes my characters or stories are built around childhood. Sometimes they are built around my grandson, Zander. Sleepytown was created with inspiration from my youngest daughter, Kimberly and my grandson, Zander.
One night, he was having a difficult time going to sleep and my daughter started singing a made-up-song about going to Sleepytown. Zander went to sleep.
I thought "hmmmm" that would make such a great Picture Book. So, I wrote the story and did the illustrations. I hope you will come to love it as much as we love it. Sometimes Zander will say, "Sleepytown is very, very good." (He is two years old.)
Hopefully, after reading it, you will say the same.
Every night, now, he says, "I'm going to beat you to Sleepytown, Gomey. I'm going to beat you, Nana." Sometimes I will tell him to hurry and go to sleep and I will meet him under one of the blue trees in Sleepytown. He goes right to sleep thinking about meeting me in Sleepytown.
As all authors do, I have several stories written. A couple of them are waiting for illustrations. Still others are in the planning stage. Then, others have not come to my mind as yet. Give me a few minutes and I am sure that a new idea will pop into my head.
My stories have pieces of me in them, all mixed in with the made-up parts. That's what writers do, mix in the real stuff with the made-up stuff, and they can create any kind of world or special place. What could be better than that?
Polio affected my left leg from the knee down. I was paralized and did not have much control over my foot. When I began to learn to walk, I had a lot of difficulty. This lead to several operations in Birmingham, Alabama to give me more control over my foot. I wore a special brace from a child until Junior high School. The operations that I went through helped me be able to move from the brace to a regular shoe. I do not wear a brace anymore, but I do get tired and limp a little.
I never let it slow me down much. It hurts some days, but no one ever knows. I keep it to myself. Of course, I could not play sports in high school. I had to turn toward other interests. This lead to working for ten years in the Public Library of Anniston and a great love for books. That in turn lead to Art and it all finally came together in my Children's Picture Book Sleepytown.
As a child, I loved dogs, crawfish, fireworks, and my microscope set. I had a pet lizard in a glass bowl with a stick in the middle. Sadly, my lizard is no longer with me. (He would be really old by now.) In a weak moment, my mom offered me money to get rid of the lizard. I was broke, so I took the lizard outside and let it go. His name was Oscar.
I always loved to read. I remember finding The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron. I fell in love with that book. I dreamed of flying in space. It has always held the position of *My Favorite Book*. I do love all kinds of Science Fiction and Fantasy as well. I grew up with Lost in Space and My Favorite Martian.
We had horses, when I was a child, and belonged to a saddle club. This was fun. The club had rides on the weekends, and sometimes we camped-out. My favorite horse was very gentle. Her name was Ginger.
I attended Alexandria High School and graduated as Friendliest in Who's Who. Basically, "friendliest" meant that you talked to everyone. I never had a problem talking. I still do not run out of words. Can you tell?
I started working at the Public Library, when I was a senior in high school, and I stayed there for ten years. During that time, I started the audio visual department and participated in a lot of special Children's Programs at the library.
Once, for the Reading Program I was the Comet Man. We had a song and everything that went along with it. The party at the end of the programs always featured skits and lots of fun.
It was during one of those years at the public library that Marian Freeman had an Art display in the auditorium of the library. It fascinated me. I had always wanted to learn how to paint. So, I started going to her house once a week and painting in her studio with others. Marian allowed us to explore Art and she offered suggestions along the way. Those times were invaluable.
I love writing, too. Sometimes, I write poetry. Sometimes, I write Children's Stories. Other times, I just write something to be writing. Finally, I get to see my life-long dream come true. I get to combine Art and Writing into a completed book.
Sometimes my characters or stories are built around childhood. Sometimes they are built around my grandson, Zander. Sleepytown was created with inspiration from my youngest daughter, Kimberly and my grandson, Zander.
One night, he was having a difficult time going to sleep and my daughter started singing a made-up-song about going to Sleepytown. Zander went to sleep.
I thought "hmmmm" that would make such a great Picture Book. So, I wrote the story and did the illustrations. I hope you will come to love it as much as we love it. Sometimes Zander will say, "Sleepytown is very, very good." (He is two years old.)
Hopefully, after reading it, you will say the same.
Every night, now, he says, "I'm going to beat you to Sleepytown, Gomey. I'm going to beat you, Nana." Sometimes I will tell him to hurry and go to sleep and I will meet him under one of the blue trees in Sleepytown. He goes right to sleep thinking about meeting me in Sleepytown.
As all authors do, I have several stories written. A couple of them are waiting for illustrations. Still others are in the planning stage. Then, others have not come to my mind as yet. Give me a few minutes and I am sure that a new idea will pop into my head.
My stories have pieces of me in them, all mixed in with the made-up parts. That's what writers do, mix in the real stuff with the made-up stuff, and they can create any kind of world or special place. What could be better than that?
Above left: me and my wife of over 32 years.
Top right: Me and my wife, after we got married.
Bottom left: Our first daughter. She has two children.
Bottom Right: Our youngest daughter. She is married, but does not have any children, yet.
Top right: Me and my wife, after we got married.
Bottom left: Our first daughter. She has two children.
Bottom Right: Our youngest daughter. She is married, but does not have any children, yet.
