Recently I had the opportunity to Connect with Spokane Local, Amy Morey and her sister Stefani Kauppila.
When Stefani’s daughter Kate was two years old, she took Kate to the dentist for a checkup. It turned out that Kate’s beloved binky was making her teeth move in all the wrong directions, and it was time to “take it away.” As Stefani and her wife geared up to cut off the tip or simply “lose” every single binky Kate owned, it occurred to them that it would be much easier for Kate, if Kate made the choice to give them up on her own. Stefani found several Fairy books online but was disappointed that all the books she reviewed were either gender-specific or limited to use with pacifiers. Having two young kids of her own, both of whom cherished their binkies, Amy also became interested in finding a better way to help her children part ways with their precious baby items. Thus, the idea for Share Fairies was born!
The Share Fairies is a different concept than any other product or publication on the market because they take a holistic approach to empowering children to share.
Stefani and Amy envision supporting childhood social emotional learning and academic endeavors by catering to children and by providing parallel resources to parents and guardians. The Share Fairies access a child’s sense of wonder, sparking imagination and creativity unlike other products or publications.
The moment Stefani and Amy reached out to me about the share fairies, I instantly understood and felt passionately about the share fairies and knew This was something that I wanted to be a part of in any small way that I could, If helping them spread their wonderful message is my contribution than I am more than happy to oblige!
As a mom, My goal here on earth is to try to make sure that when I leave this world, my greatest contribution I could ever give the world is the well-rounded children I am trying to raise. A Key aspect in my eyes to achieving this is to raise children who not only know how to speak up for themselves, but know when to stand up for others and lend a hand to those in need. Our Personal learning opportunity came when a local to us at the time mom posted online seeking help, Their home had burned down, and they had nothing. We Had more than enough, We sat down with our toddlers and had a conversation in a way that they could understand and was not scary about some local kids who no longer had any toys, Our kids were so happy to share their old toys and clothes. The pride I was filled with as My small children argued with me, so they could get out of the car and personally hand deliver their old trikes was overwhelming. This family's unfortunate circumstances allowed me to teach a valuable lesson to my children that, Four years later they still instinctively put toys they have decided they have outgrown in a box to donate to kids who don't have any toys.
The Reason I love the Entire concept of the share fairies is because I believe it gives a Safe space to tackle sensitive subjects in a positive and empowering approach. I was fortunate enough to be able to help a family going through a difficult time. Approaching them with no intention of reaping any benefits for myself, In hindsight I see that encounter benefited me by teaching my children invaluable life lessons about chivalry that I do not believe I could have as easily taught them. I believe the Share Fairies provide the same opportunities from within the safety of your own home.
As I assume most parents do, I Pay special attention to what my small children take in, both with the food they consume and the content they see. For me nothing gets better than a magical story that my children will love, make it educational And well-received and I will be All over it! I don’t need to be holding a physical copy in my hands to know in my heart what a wonderful series this is. Combined with the unique opportunity to support this project, Backers have the opportunity to add their child’s personal likeness to be a special part of these books for generations to come to enjoy!
In between our Busy mom schedules Amy And Stefani Were able to sit down and answer a few questions for me about the process so far, And what has been important to them on their quest to bring the world the Share fairies!
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in this process of creating your books so far?
“That the initial idea for Share Fairies could be so much bigger! We originally started with the concept of using the Share Fairies to empower our kids to give up their “baby” items but quickly realized that the Share Fairies could be role models of sharing and caring in so many other ways.”
How hard was it to sit down and actually start writing something?
“The first draft was fun and flowed very well, for a first draft; the revisions proved much more difficult and time-consuming, taking several months of drafting and reworking. I brought my three-year-old into the process many times to test my theories about depth of story and engagement many times. Each word needs to be strategically placed to tell the story, hold engagement, spark whimsy, and drive action, especially in a children’s picture book.”
What inspires you to write?
“For me, the value of storytelling is in the cathartic release of needing to empathize with and create character(s) — their past, present, and future — and in the humanity of a story. Evoking emotions and learning about the “other” also inspires me.”
What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing?
“Finalizing the text! It could potentially be an ever-evolving process, but knowing when to stop is a skill in and of itself!”
What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?
“ Understanding that the story is moldable until the very last revision, and knowing that I am in control of that process and timeline. Also, signing my name.”
What is the most important thing about a book in your opinion?
“ That it is captivating to a broad audience and it evokes emotion.”
What do you think makes a good (children’s) story?
“ Strong characters with a clear point of view that evoke and conjure curiosity and imagination. When children tap into their sense of wonder, stories take them on adventures that pique their creativity and engage them to take action.”
What is your take on the importance of a good cover and title?
“ People definitely judge a book by its cover, so it is vital to represent the theme or emotion of your story on your cover and in your title.”
Do your books carry a message?
“That sharing penetrates so many aspects of our lives and makes us feel worthy, happy, and complete.”
What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?
“The stories we tell children about magical figures intervening in their lives (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.) draw a level of excitement that children connect with and look forward to. In the same way, the Share Fairies bring joy to moments of transition that are usually tumultuous. Thanks for laying the groundwork, Santa!”
What makes this particular genre you are involved in so special?
“We are both moms! We watch our children identify with different characters every day, and we want the Share Fairies to exemplify the qualities in the role models we want them to aspire to become.”
Who are your books mostly dedicated to?
“Our children, Griffin (4), Kate (3), and Reese (2).”
Who is the most supportive of your writing in your family?
“Our spouses and our parents. They are always asking to hear the most recent version and want to engage in the process with us.”
We know that children are more likely to become lifelong readers and learners if they have strong role models at home and in the community. Who has been a reading role model in your life?
“ Our mother and our Aunt Sheila have always been our greatest supporters, especially in our literary journeys. Our mother would read to us every night as children, taking us to places that stretched our imaginations. Our mother also read every night before bed, ever the role model. Aunt Sheila introduced us to Harry Potter in our early teens, traveling to London with Stefani when she was 14 to explore the magical city that lived in those pages. They also read the Hound of the Baskervilles and visited the Sherlock Holmes residence, and attended the Agatha Christy play Mousetrap. Her influence runs deeper than we both realized, but we are forever grateful for her dedication.”
And finally; What would you say to persuade a friend to read it or not to read it?
“ The first book will ease your child’s transition between developmental phases and make your life much more pleasant and fun! The following books in the series take kids deeper into the Land of Sharing and introduce diverse groups of Share Fairies to teach important aspects of character building and life skills. Sharing is caring; allow the Share Fairies to teach your children to be kind, caring, empathetic humans.”
To Find out more about the Share Fairies, You May find them at:
- Twitter: @Share_Fairies
- Instagram: @Share_fairies
- Facebook: Share Fairies
- Kickstarter
