Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
People ask us all the time how we came up with CJ Corki as our pen name. CJ represent our dad, Charles Joseph and Corki is Polish for daughter. So CJ Corki is Charles’ daughters. We are three of five sisters that dealt with the challenges of balancing work, life, and reluctant readers by day, and developing into amateur children’s book sleuths by night… all while wearing our bunny slippers, of course.
At an early age, we learned to “play nice in the sandbox,” and hope to inspire others to remember the value of family, the importance of individual abilities, and to work together in harmony.
THE MARSHMALLOW MYSTERY is our debut children’s book. This book is the first in our Can You Find, Did You Know Series that centers around various adventures at Grandfather’s house. Since most good readers aren’t born good learners, this series delivers skill-building fun for reluctant or soon-to-be new readers. The antics in each book in the series tell stories using the dyslexia font and help children develop a much richer vocabulary and a love for reading while learning the fundamentals of colors, shapes, and objects to find on every page, making it fun. Each book provides hours of entertainment with fun facts, family values lessons, and challenges both kids and parents alike will enjoy as they find items “hidden in plain sight.”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The MARSHMALLOW MYSTERY is our debut children’s book.
Our dad was the family storyteller and the “real” marshmallow bush is the basis of the book. So, you’re probably asking: What’s the Marshmallow Bush? Well, this bush has been in Grandfathers yard as long as anyone can remember. He says it was there when he was a kid, and his parents before him. Ages! And every morning it grows fresh marshmallows.
Our second book in the Can You Find, Did You Know Series, THE DINOSAUR DISCOVERY: An egg-cellent Easter Adventure is scheduled to be available March 2022.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
With 3 sisters in different cities collaborating on a 900 word book, the only way we could get anything on paper is for each of us separately to first answer these 3 questions:
1- Who is the protagonist/antagonist?
2- What is the conflict?
3- What do we want the lesson to be?
Starting with 3 different visions helped us bring the best of the ideas forward into the final version.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many great children author’s narrowing it down is difficult. That being said, both my daughter and I loved reading and reading Robert Munsch, Love You Forever, and Judy Blume books to name just two. Recently I have been enjoying Andy Andrews who provides simple yet powerful stories that captures the imagination.
What are you working on now?
Besides the second book in the Can You Find, Did You Know Series, The Dinosaur Discovery: An egg-cellent Adventure, we just completed a Christmas activities book and hopefully by early March an Easter Activities book, both incorporating the Can You Find, Did You Know Series format.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As a new author we are still learning the marketing ropes and have not successfully found our “sweet” spot yet.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let the naysayers stop you from following your passion. As an indie author, you have a story to tell and a voice to share, keep true to your course and share it whenever and where ever you can.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Pay attention to the little details, keep the end in mind focus and have fun!
What are you reading now?
Andy Andrews: Just Jones and over and over again, The Traveler’s Gift.
On the historic mystery front: Rose Johnson’s Scent of Death: A Voodoo Cadaver Dog Mystery
What’s next for you as a writer?
Complete the 5 book series. 1 complete, 1 in process and 3 to go.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Great questions…probably:
1- Robinson Crusoe
2- My books 🙂
3- Surviving a Desert Island for Dummies (do they have something like this?)
4- War and Peace (never had time to get through it before)
Author Websites and Profiles
CJ Corki Website
CJ Corki Amazon Profile
CJ Corki’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile