Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Kathy Barnett Blomquist, I was given the name Grandma Krazy by my 14 grandchildren. I use that name as my author name. I was born in Salt Lake City Utah, but have lived in several states across the Country. I am currently living in Southern California. For many years I have worked with children in many different capacities. Foster parent, Teacher and Cub Scout Leader to name a few. I have nine children. Two of whom were adopted from Foster care. My philosophy is to teach children in ways where they are having so much fun they don’t realize they are actually learning something. My hobbies are leatherworking and making family videos for their special occasions.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
BIG BEAR FAIR is my current book title. I was inspired by my grandkids and the other children around me to write this book. It is adorable to hear big words coming out of their little mouths. Since I am retiring from Fostering and from cubbing I wanted to find a way to continue to bring smiles and learning to children. With my grandkids in mind, I decided to write a book that would have fun with words using rhyme and homophones. Then throw in a few new bigger words to increase their vocabulary which in turn increases reading comprehension. I then added a small message to adults in the story as well. We hear a lot about kids and too much screen time. But not so much about parents’ screen time when the kids are at home. I included that message as a reminder to myself and others of how precious our time is with our children. They grow up and are off on their own so fast we need to value the time we have with them while they are still at home.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Being as I am new to this, I am yet to know what is unusual and what is usual. With a name like Grandma Krazy, the unusual is most likely my usual.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Storytime has always been a favorite time for me. Some of my favorite are;
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. / Eric Carle
Quick as a Cricket by Don Wood
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
And of course, who has not been influenced by Doctor Suess?
What are you working on now?
I am now working on a book to encourage children to use their own imaginations. The book is titled If I Could…. It is an interactive story for growing and sharing a child’s own imagination of what the world would be like if they created it. Would cereal grow on trees? Would they still take showers? Would they have superpowers?
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still learning about this.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I made the mistake of letting someone tell me what I should do instead of learning for myself what my options were. What works and what does not work, what differences exist between marketing a children’s book or a novel is also something I should have learned more about first. So do your homework first to discover what you really want to do and what really works best before you publish or market.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just Do It!
What are you reading now?
I
What’s next for you as a writer?
Only time will tell. If these first two books work then I have other ideas.
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?
Scriptures, A book on how to survive on a desert island, Mary Higgins Clark and Dr. Suess.
Author Websites and Profiles
Grandma Krazy Website
Grandma Krazy Amazon Profile
Grandma Krazy’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account