Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: The publisher places The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley in the 8-13 age category; Amazon places it in 9-12 category because they have no 8-13.
I actually wrote it for young adults but geared it for adults, too, as Harry Potter was written. It’s proving to be quite popular with adults––men and women alike––so the book is spanning the generations. Children from all cultures will love the good TOONIES for their fun-loving natures and the bad TOONIES for the excitement and havoc they create. In fact, children around the world will enjoy the entire book because in this computer-generated age everyone wants to learn more about Silicon Valley.
Q: What is the book about?
A: Toonies is a sci-fi fantasy adventure about cartoon characters who reside inside a Silicon Valley boy’s computer. The good TOONIES escape into our world and are soon followed by the bad TOONIES (ape-bird characters with an evil leader who wants to take over computer companies for their ink supplies which is their food source). They lay seige to “Orange Computer” (satire of Apple, of course), but the Valley is saved by the boy, his friends and parents. Steve “The Woz” Wozniak, the real-life co-founder of Apple Computer, gets involved and helps rid the world of the bad TOONIES.
Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I’m the only person who could write this book because the characters sprang to life through my imagination. There are no other characters like them in any book.
My experience with computers helps too; I’ve used computers since 1984 when I bought one of the first Macintoshes. Other reasons I am the “best one” to write this book: because I had a “romp” creating the characters and I love them; I understand children, having six myself; I know Silicon Valley well, having lived there for forty years; and because, as a career journalist, I grew tired of writing “facts,” so I welcomed the opportunity to write fiction and to give my imagination full rein. To learn more about me, visit my website (now under construction): http://bettydravisauthor.googlepages.com/
Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: This is a unique book with no others like it on the market; to my knowledge it’s the first where cartoon characters come to life and escape into our world. Readers will be surprised at how these ingenious “humanoid” kids use “good old chicken-noodle soup” to round-up the rogue TOONIES in order to send them back inside the computer. Another first is that Steve “The Woz” Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, graciously gave permission for me to use him as a speaking character in this book.
Here is why Jennifer Wardrip, owner of TeensReadToo.com, thinks TOONIES is so “different.”:
” … This is a great science-fiction fantasy story for kids of all ages, or for those who are young at heart. Although the story of good versus evil has been told thousands of time, it’s never been told quite like this. You’ll appreciate Ms. Dravis’ insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of a young teenager’s mind, and laugh-out-loud at the humorous scenarios her humans and Toonies find themselves in. This story is a real winner!”
Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: TOONIES is in many libraries across the country and has five-star reviews from MidWest Book Review, Kids Read Too and many other prestigious reviewers. One mainstream author wrote that TOONIES is “already a cult classic”; many reviewers suggest that TOONIES would make a “great animated movie”; and one well-respected reviewer had this to say about my book:
” … Between the unique description of the Mischief Makers, and the distinctive “good guys,” it was reminiscent of some of Baum’s magnificent creations in his classic Oz series. … “ – T. Burger, Top 500 Amazon Reviewer
Also, this is the first in a series; I’m currently working on the second book, titled The Toonies Invade New York.
Thanks, Dan. A lot of people have told me they enjoyed this interview about my TOONIES book, and I’ve referred other authors to your site. Best of luck; it’s an interesting site and a helpful business you have created. Best of luck. – Betty Dravis
I’ve read and reviewed this book and can attest it is absolutely fabulous. Great reading for everyone!
Ah! now here’s a book I know and love. I read TOONIES on a flight to Australia and then had the most amazing dreams … happy memory. So creative! The kids are great, you’d love to take them all home with you, and the characters who escape from the computer are true originals. Great work, Betty!
Dan, I love your site. Your great questions really draw the authors out and showcase their talents. I’ll be back — often!
I thought I’d comment to let readers know that the link on BETTY DRAVIS (high-lighted in blue) in the first comment is wrong. I corrected it in this comment.
Have a great day and keep on reading and writing!
Fondly – Betty
Great Interview, I hope to read your book soon.
I’m so glad to hear about this site and will submit my two books.
I have also mentioned this site to two of my author friends.
Jill
Thanks for giving us such a wonderful interview! I haven’t read “Toonies…” yet, but have ordered it. I will enjoy it as much as my grandkids, I’m sure!