C.S. O'Kelly's Blog

Working on a new children's picture book with illustrator, Wayne Oram!

Here are my favorite YouTube, 'Read Aloud' Stations that have done a wonderful job with Book 1 & 2 and are a great way to hear some of the thousands of great children's books for free.

Cheers and enjoy!

Kid Time Story Time

Katie's Bookshelf - Classroom

Nana's Story Time

Story Time with Erin

Proud to announce, 'The Adventures of Gracie & MonkeyBear, Book 2: Winter' was listed to Kirkus Best Books of 2017.



Kirkus Best Books of 2017

Hello everyone and once again, THANK YOU for supporting 'Independent Authors and Publishers!' I say it often and I mean it, "without you we would not exist."

I am very proud of our team of creative misfits that choose to orbit around Lore Mountain Productions and come together each year or so to create a new installment in the vast storyworld of 'The Adventures of Gracie & MonkeyBook series.'

Book 2: Winter just received a Kirkus Reviews (starred review)!

Here is the link to the review and I hope you love the book as much as we do. Enjoy the day!

–C.S. (head misfit)

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

For those interested, here is a bit of insight into the creation of Gracie & MonkeyBear :)

interview with C.S. O'Kelly

Enjoy the day and thank your for supporting independent thought and publication! Without you, we (it) do not exist.

C.S.

Gracie & MonkeyBear were honored with a B.R.A.G. Medallion this week and our INDIE pride burns bright.

We love the opportunity we have to create fantastic storyworlds and appreciate every single person who reads a Gracie & MonkeyBear book, or a page, or a single word.

Without you, we would not exist!

B.R.A.G. Medallion

Morgan at ABC Avenue reads aloud like no other!

Free and fun for kids to sit and listen to the many stories on these Youtube channels providing free, endless hours of storytelling from hundreds of children's picture books.

Nana Reads Gracie & MonkeyBear

Authors of any book or work often are asked what a 'good review' looks like? Number of stars? Professional reviewer? etc.

As one who believes in the power of picture books, here is a review/email I received today that represents what I consider the 'Best Review Possible.'

Thank you so much for the signed book that I purchased from your website. I read it to my almost 4 year old twin grandsons. They enjoyed it so much that they asked me to read it to them 3 times that day!

I took a picture of them holding your book.
(Please do not publish their picture)

Best Review = "almost 4 year old twin grandsons" asking for one of my books to be read to them 3 times in one day... how cool is that?