The Adventures of Mrs. Picklebottom By Charlotte Connelly
Enjoy four short stories about the adventurous Mrs. Picklebottom and her friends as they ride the train and visit their various stops. Each story explores friendship and problem-solving as we meet these quirky and fun characters.
To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth By Vanessa O’Brien
An unexpected journey from the depth of loss to the highest peaks in the world. Vanessa O’Brien didn’t realize the number of records she would shatter when she first set her sights on climbing Mount Everest after losing her way when her career fell apart. This memoir details her path to become the first American woman to summit K2 and set a speed record for the Seven Summits and the Explorers Grand Slam.
Appleseed By Matt Bell
Part tech thriller and part reimagined legend, Appleseed is a thought-provoking and mysterious read that explores climate change, manifest destiny, and corporate versus family responsibility. One of those books where every time you try to put it down, you inevitably say, “Okay, just one more chapter.”
Charlotte Connelly
5 questions: Charlotte Connelly
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what grade are you going into, anything about your family you want to share, hobbies/interests. My name is Charlotte Connelly. I’m going into fifth grade at Lily B. Clayton Elementary in Fort Worth. In my spare time, I like to read, dance, play with my friends and siblings, and listen to music. I have two younger siblings, Maggie and Travis. My family also does “transitional care” with Gladney, which means we get to take care of babies sometimes, many on their way to adoption.
What made you want to write a book? When I was younger, my sister and I were scared when trains would come by our house during the night. My dad would come and tell us stories about a lady named Mrs. Picklebottom to make us laugh and calm us down. Eventually there were quite a few stories, and I wanted to share them with everyone, as well as make up a few new ones myself so others could have the joy of learning about her adventures too.
What part of the process of creating your book did you enjoy the most? The least? The part I enjoyed most was making up new stories and sharing them with my family, because I got to create a whole world of characters and adventures. The part I liked least was waiting for the book to come out. I was excited for people to read the stories, but we had to wait for editing and illustrations before it could come out.
Do you have any plans to write and publish more books? If so, can you tell us about them? If not, what are you planning to focus on instead? I do have plans with my dad to write at least one more book about Mrs. Picklebottom and her friends. Since the first book was a collection of short stories, the second will be the same ... and we’ll be excited to see where the second book takes her and her friends. (And of course, since I’m going into fifth grade, I will also be spending time focusing on school and friends.)
What advice would you give to others who think they would like to publish a book one day? Follow your dreams and just let yourself be imaginative. Don’t rush yourself. Take your time so the book can be better.
