Review Fix chats with “Nobody Likes a Pest” author Maria Dellaventura, who discusses the origin of the book and so much more!
Review Fix: What inspired this book?
Maria Dellaventura: I was inspired to write this book during covid. I was sitting in my back yard in the screen house with a cup of coffee early in the morning and I noticed a squirrel running along the fence and hiding behind the bushes. Then he made his way to the top of my shed where a bird feeder hung and proceeded to hang upside down from the edge, securing himself with his back feet and flattening his tail across the top, as he carefully used his two front paws to remove and eat the seeds. It’s funny. I had always imagined one day writing a children’s book about a squirrel when I would watch them run across the street dodging cars. I knew I had to start writing immediately and that’s what I did.
Review Fix: What was the creation process like?
Dellaventura: The creation process was very challenging, yet quite interesting. I had met a writer of children’s books at a book festival in Baltimore where I had brought the first book I had written. That one was about my life and losses I have endured and how my unwavering faith in God had gotten me through everything. I wrote it in an attempt to bring comfort to others who had experienced grief and loss and to give them hope. When I decided to write the children’s book, I contacted the man I had met and he was more than willing to assist me in my new venture. He guided me every step of the way. It started with writing my ideas on slides. I went on upwork.com and hired people to assist me along the way, an illustrator, a graphic designer, a copy editor. Finally the book was sent to China to be printed and sent back to me by boat. I self-published the book.
Review Fix: What makes it different or special?
Dellaventura: I believe that what makes my book different or special is the fact that it rhymes. I have always liked writing poems ever since I was a young child. The book sends out a message about being kind to those around you and working as a team player. I don’t think there are enough books like that around in this day and age and I think children can learn a lot from it.
Review Fix: Did you produce the art? How do you think it enhances the story?
Dellaventura: I didn’t produce the art. I hired an illustration on upward from the Ukraine. I think the artwork greatly enhances the story because he and I worked together on making all the illustrations line up with the wording in the best possible way. He is very talented and captured facial expressions and added other details that really brought my words to life in a beautiful way.
Review Fix: What are your goals for it?
Dellaventura: My goal right now is to be able to sell the books that I have in my house. I ordered a thousand copies and on my own I have sold a little over 300. I want the story to get out there because anyone who has read it has really liked it, as well as the message it brings across. The book won the purple dragon fly award.
Review Fix: How would you like it to be remembered?
Dellaventura: I would like it to be remembered as a sweet, endearing story about love, kindness, and second chances. I want readers to realize that it’s never too late to turn things around and change for the better. I also want them to realize that when you aren’t nice to those around you, you can never be truly happy on the inside.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Dellaventura: What’s next? Well, if this book sells the way I want it to, I may very well write a sequel or two or three.
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