Kieshia Chun's Blog

Peter the Picky Polar Bear won another award!

Thank you to Alysia Seymour and Turtle Sea Books.

Special thanks to Blue Falcon Publishing and Charlotte Watkins for everything that you continue to do.

https://turtleseabooks.com/bookcontest

"Award-Winning Finalist in the Children's Picture Book: Softcover Fiction category of the 2021 International Book Awards"

Peter the Picky Polar Bear became a finalist in the “Children’s Picture book: Softcover Fiction” category of the International Book Awards this week!

This book has helped so many children to try new foods already, and we’re just getting started.

Congratulations to all who won and became finalists. A special thanks to all the judges, and to CEO Jeffery Keen. And a special thank you to Justin Davis and Blue Falcon Publishing for helping me bring my book to life, and to Charlotte Watkins for such incredible illustrations.

I've reviewed this wonderful book over on my website, I'd love for you to check its out.

I plan on doing many more reviews, so if you have a children's book that you'd like featured on my website, please get in touch.

Much love,
Kieshia x

https://www.kieshiachun.co.uk/post/el...

February has definitely been a huge learning month for me. I’ve grown thicker skin, learned more about copyright and now I’m working on marketing (always learning about marketing) and subscriptions.

Peter the Picky Polar Bear won a Red Ribbon Award from The Wishing Well Awards, which I’m very proud of, because not only is this my first published book, but I wrote it for my children back in 2015 and it’s been very special to us, so having it mean anything at all to other children makes my heart swell.
My book will be appearing in more book shops too, and is even being listed by LitVox, which I’m just too excited about!

Back to websites and subscriptions, I’m not technologically-minded at all, so this is an ongoing battle that I’m facing. It’s really important to me that I can connect with my readers and make sure that what I’m writing is what they want to hear, and also have it more widely known when my books are due to be published. So I’m learning about rewards, newsletters, Mailchimp, blogging, you name it! All of which are completely alien to me!

If you have a blog, or a monthly newsletter, I’d love to connect with you and see how it’s done properly, what with me being a newbie. And as for my next book, illustrations are well underway, and what I’ve seen so far is so amazing, as always. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Definitely didn’t drink enough water yesterday, and finding it impossible to write today, thanks to the headache that has now presented itself. If anyone has any tips on how to get rid of it, I’m open to suggestions.

Sat down to write more of my first novel the other day, and ended up editing the previous chapter. But it did improve my direction with the next chapter, so I guess that’s a good thing.

And the illustrations for my next children’s book have begun, which is really exciting! I can’t wait to see them; this book is really crazy and so much fun, and I trust my illustrator implicitly to create the next version of this crazy combination of animals.

So exciting times ahead.

Short but sweet blog tonight.

I started reading The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey last night and OMG, I love it already! It caught my attention instantly. Had I not been so tired, I think I’d have read even more, and I haven’t had time today, up until now. It’s a completely different writing style to what I’ve read so far (not better or worse, just different).

I’m enjoying exploring new genres and writing styles, even if it means I have several unfinished books to read. 🙈

I’m finding it increasingly difficult to write anything with four boys calling my name on repeat all day, every day at the moment. But it doesn’t seem to stop the ideas popping into my head, which is great; I’m jotting down new ideas every day and trying to squeeze in any time to write at all.

My contemporary romance progress has all but stopped lately, I’ve found that it requires much more of my energy. Whereas my children’s book ideas flow when I’m around my kids. Just need to execute them.

I carry my current read around the house with me on a regular basis, just don’t seem to manage to actually read it, and when I do sit down, I’m climbed on by a five-year old.

Having said all that, I’m surrounded by love and inspiration, so I’m taking from the fact that I have no free time to write, that what I do have are lots of little people who love my company. That’s a win in my book!

It’s been a lovely couple of days, watching the kids opening, and loving their presents. Haven’t taken any photos this year, but I’ve wanted just to be present and enjoy them, which is exactly what I’ve done.

Haven’t had much time to read or write, and I’m building up to one of my boys birthdays, so that’s my main focus right now, but my nephews love Peter the Picky Polar Bear, hearing them finish the sentences is the best sound! In fact, if I were to choose what my favourite thing about my book is, it’s when children finish the sentences. ❤️

Had my boys and nephews made some amazing Peter’s now they not only read my book back to me, but they sit with their own Peter’s while it’s read to them. My nephews will get theirs next week.

My favourite present was a singing bowl; I’ve wanted one for ages, and it was worth the wait. Completely chills me out, clearing my mind in seconds. If you don’t have one, definitely try one, they’re amazing!

And now, an early-ish night to bed for me. It’s been a busy couple of days and I’m shattered! I hope you’ve all had as lovely a Christmas as we have, so far. 🎄

Peter the Picky Polar Bear
It came through on my Timehop today that I had been out to dinner with my family and written ‘another’ children’s book. 5 years ago today, Peter the Picky Polar Bear was created; who’d have thought I would sit on it for so long before bringing him to life in a physical book, with pictures and everything! :)

So, on the 5 year anniversary of his creation, the cuddly bear version was created. I cannot wait to share him with everyone, he is super cuddly.

Feeling grateful for opportunities and opening doors.