In conjunction with Indie BRAG
a new series - posted every Friday
#IndieBragNovConv
#IndieBragNovConv
To be a little different from the usual 'meet the author'
let's meet a character...
George Washington
from
Q: Hello, I’m Helen the host of Novel Conversations, please do make yourself comfortable. Would you
like a drink? Tea, coffee, wine – something stronger? You’ll find a box of
chocolates and a bowl of fruit on the table next to you, please do help
yourself. I believe you are a character in Barbara Ann Mojica’s Little Miss HISTORY Travels to MOUNT VERNON.
Would you like to introduce yourself? Are you a lead character or a supporting
role? 
A: My name is George
Washington. I am the lead character and proud proprietor of my 8,000 acre
plantation at Mount Vernon where I have been happily retired after serving my
country in multiple roles.
Q: What genre is the novel and what is it about?
A: This book selection is a nonfiction, history, picture book for
children and adults. Here is a synopsis of the plot:
Who was George Washington? Washington is best known as America’s
first president, but he was also a military hero. If you asked George
Washington what he really wanted to be, he would reply, “a farmer.” Seeking to
revolutionize antiquated 18th century farming methods, Washington
experimented with crop rotation, fertilizers, ploughing and plants. The Mount
Vernon Ladies Association began restoring his estate to its former glory
in 1853. Today the buildings, grounds, and The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and
Education Center reveal the real Father of the United States of America.
Q: No spoilers, but are you a ‘goody’ or a ‘baddie’? (Or maybe you
are both!)
A: I am a ‘goody.’ I do
believe I have performed admirably throughout my life as a good husband,
soldier, statesman, and first president of my new country. Of course, later
generations might criticize my participation in the Southern economy of
slavery, but I believed that was a question for the government to decide.
Q: Tell me about another
character in the book – maybe your best friend, lover or partner … or maybe
your arch enemy!
A: One of my dearest friends is the Marquis de Lafayette. He
enlisted the aid of his French countrymen in our American struggle for
independence. The Marquis often visited my home and gifted me with the key used
to storm the Bastille in the French battle for their own independence. I
treasure this gift and keep it locked in a glass case in the foyer of my home.
Q: Is this the only book you have appeared in, or are there
others in a series?
A: There are many other books in this series. I appear in the
first book, Little Miss HISTORY Travels
to MOUNT RUSHMORE where my visage is carved on the mountain. A few of my
words of wisdom as well as my portrait appear in The Little Miss HISTORY COLORING BOOK.
Q: What is one of your least favourite scenes you appear in?
A: My least favourite scene is the discussion of my burial plans.
I dictated plans for a new family burial vault in my will, but Congress desired
a tomb in Washington, DC to honour me. My family refused, and my body was
brought back to my beloved Mount Vernon in 1831.
Q: And your favourite scene?
A: My favourite scene is the picture of my study. How I loved to
sit in my chair with my special wooden fan above cooling me as I read, studied
my accounts, and wrote letters to my friends and business associates.
Q: Tell me a little about your author. Has she written any other
books?
A: My author spent many years studying history as an undergraduate
and graduate student. She enjoyed a long career in education as a teacher,
principal and school administrator. Since retiring, she is combining her love
of history and teaching children by writing a series of books to inspire,
educate and entertain readers by making learning about historical people and
places fun. Her motto is, “If you don’t know your history, you don’t know what
you’re talking about.”
Q: Is your author working on anything else now?
A: Oh, yes. Barbara is a busy bee. Her next adventure will lead
her intrepid followers on a trip to the North Pole via dogsled. She has several
other exciting journeys planned to historical sites and additional national
parks.
Q: How do you think indie authors, such as your author, can be
helped or supported by readers or groups? What does your author think is the
most useful for her personally?
A: Indie authors need to share their passion and enthusiasm at
book festivals, conferences, and joint writing events. They can help each other
to succeed by using social media. My author has done radio broadcasts, TV
interviews on The Writer’s Dream, and you tube videos providing suggestions for
teachers on how to write children’s books. In addition, Barbara shares advice
on writing and marketing on the Reader’s Favourite Author’s Forum.
Q: Finally, before we must
bid adieu, the novel you appear in
has been awarded a prestigious Indie BRAG
Medallion, does your author find this helpful, and is there anything else
she would like Indie BRAG to do to help indie authors receive the recognition
they deserve?
A: Undoubtedly! Undoubtedly! My author has had the honour of receiving B.R.A.G medallions for each of the individual books in The Little Miss HISTORY Travels to…. book series that have been released to date. Receiving a B.R.A.G. medallion is not a rubber stamp of approval, but a
unique honour bestowed after a rigorous screening process which eliminates many
books that do not make the grade. Barbara proudly displays the B.R.A.G
medallion, a badge of excellence, on all her books.
Thank you President Washington. It was a pleasure talking to you.
Would your author like to add a short excerpt below?
H.H. Well, chatting is thirsty work, would you like a refill of that drink…?
H.H. Oh I'd like that - thank you! Salute! Here’s to being a successful Brag Medallion Honouree!
excerpt:
Samuel Vaughan, an English architect, visited Mount Vernon in 1787.
He drew a design for George Washington (plantation) known as the “Vaughan
Plan.” That plan provides a key to understanding what the grounds at Mount
Vernon looked like when Washington lived there. Mount Vernon contained 8,000
acres divided into five farms. One of them held the Mansion House.
Website: http://LittleMissHISTORY.com
Blog: https://bamauthor.me
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bamauthor
INDIE BRAG LINKS:
Website: https://www.bragmedallion.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Indiebrag/
Twitter: @IndieBrag
HELEN HOLLICK:
Website: www.helenhollick.net
On Amazon: http://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
Subscribe to newsletter: http://tinyletter.com/HelenHollick
Twitter: @HelenHollick
Since I now live just down the road from Mt. Vernon, this was a particular delight!
ReplyDeleteThis is a must read series for all children- it teaches history with a charming young lady named "Little Miss History". So far she has taken us to many of the national parks and exposed readers to our amazing country.
Geri
I wish I'd been taught history in this way when I was at school back in the 60s!
DeleteMount Vernon is a magical place. All children need to be acquainted with its importance in American history. And Barbara's personable George Washington is the very character to do this.
ReplyDeleteI wish more world history was taught in all schools - I never knew anything about the US outside of the Pilgrim Fathers and Hollywood movies until I left school and 'discovered' the delight of history!
DeleteThank you Geri, Helen, and Inge for your comments. It is a sad commentary on society today that so many young people know nothing about their history. My objective is to make learning about history a fun experience and to encourage as many children and adults as possible to get out there and experience history by visiting these historical sites. I,too, remember sitting in a classroom reading paragraph after paragraph from a textbook. That clearly is no fun. I firmly believe we must know and understand what has come before us in order to understand what is happening today. Little Miss HISTORY'S motto is, "If you don't know your history, you don't know what you're talking about."
ReplyDelete