Interview with 2009 Honoree- Vanessa Van Petten

I had the pleasure of interviewing a friend and colleague of mine, Vanessa Van Petten, about her Mom's Choice Founder's Award for her book- You're Grounded. I first learned about Vanessa through a social networking web site- SelfGrowth.com and immediately connected with her mission and ideals. Her book- You're Grounded, caught my eye, because as an intuitive mother of four children, this young woman was speaking my language and doesn't yet have kids of her own.

Vanessa lives in Los Angeles and has an incredible background working with tweens and teens from a very raw or what she likes to call a "radical" approach to what parenting looks like to many of these young people. I dug a little deeper to learn more about Vanessa's personal background and here's what she had to say!

Tara: Tell me about your family.

Vanessa: My parents are divorced. I was raised in one Jewish household as an only child and one Christian household as one of four with one step brother and two half sisters! Complicated, right?!

Tara: LOL. Vanessa you have such a great personality and are such a real person, I can only laugh when I go back and read some of our interview together..

So share with us what the real inspiration for your book was?

Vanessa: I was so tired of fighting with my parents and I knew other teens must be going through what I was going through. I wanted to let them know they were not alone and there were things they can do to shift the patterns with their parents. I also wanted to give parents some insight into the teen mind and why we do what we do so they don't feel so alone either.

Tara: Great insight from such a young person. Now there's a real story to how you came to write this book.

Can you share your story with our readers?

Vanessa: I was grounded and very, very angry at my parents. I could not talk on the phone, be on the internet, --nothing! Luckily I decided to put practical application to my anger and my lack of freedom.

Tara: What a great way to manage your anger and something I am sure you have shared with the many young people you mentor today.

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Vanessa: My aha moment was when I was in China, talking to Chinese teen rappers about why their rap music was so angry. I was writing my thesis on Underground Chinese Hip Hop and Urban Youth and expected them to say they were upset with the government and repression, instead they told me—“we are mad at our parents.” I thought that it was the universe’s way of telling me I was supposed to help teens everywhere.

Tara: What a great aha moment! Not only because you thought to ask the question, but you took the message and acknowledged it as a way you could serve young people through your own experiences.

Who would you say is your greatest source of support; why?

Vanessa: Scott Edwards is my boyfriend, my best friend, my internet guy, my reality check and my rock. I am so grateful to him for all of his help. He has been with me since I decided to publish my book!

Tara: Any other thoughts you would share with people reading your story?

Vanessa: Dream really big, work really hard and you will get there.

Tara: What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Vanessa: It is such an honor! I love moms and it is so nice to have mom’s love what I do. The Mom’s Choice Awards are such a great brand and stamp of approval, I am so grateful to them and to Tara Paterson, the real force behind the Awards!

Tara: You are the power behind your award. Your work speaks for itself and is the reason I recognized your book for such an award. I am so impressed by your tenacity and confidence in your mission. I know with people like you in the world, our children will have great role models and to me that means more than anything!

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author/ writer?

Vanessa: Professional blogger? I am working on lots of projects; as I say we have lots in the oven. I am working on several more webinars now so I can bring my "in person" work to people all over the world in easier formats.

Tara: Ah yes, check out Vaness and my webinar- Radical Parenting Using Intuition!!

Anything you would like to add?

Vanessa: I am so grateful to all of our readers and to the Mom’s Choice Awards, I am a true believer in heart resonance and think that the more people who are doing good things, the more joy there is.

Thank you Vanessa, I believe that too!!

Interview with 2009 Honoree Susan Heim

I recently interviewed 2009 Mom's Choice honoree Susan Heim, author of Boosting Your Baby’s Brain Power. Susan is an author and editor and resides in Florida with her husband Mike and four sons (whew..I have four, but I always said if I had more than my two oldest boys I would have had to reconsider...LOL).

Her oldest son is a college student with a high school student following closely behind, but imagine this- twin kindergartners!! Wow Susan, how do you do it? I had an opportunity to ask Susan some questions, and here is what she had to say.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your book?

Susan: Like most “mom authors,” I’d have to say that my children were the inspiration for this book and all the parenting books I write. To watch their intelligence and talents develop and blossom is utterly fascinating. And I love to share these wonders with other parents.

Tara: Susan, I can totally relate. My parenting book is based on my journey with my children too. It is SO fascinating to take the knowledge they teach us and turn it into guidance for others.

When would you say you first came up with your idea?

Susan: In 2007, Holly Engel-Smothers – an educator, mother of twins and contributor to some of my books – contacted me with an idea about doing a book about baby brain development for parents. She had noticed in the course of her research that most books of this kind were for educators and medical professionals, so we teamed up to write a book for parents.

Tara: Something else we share in common. It's wonderful when you can relate so closely with another person that the knowledge you share becomes twice as impactful.

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Susan: When Holly and I started taking a closer look at intelligence in children, we were astounded at the complexity of a baby’s brain. We just knew that most people didn’t know, for example, that all the neurons in a baby’s brain would stretch for 62,000 miles if placed end-to-end. Or that parents can play an important role in helping those neurons to connect for optimum brain function. We became inspired to get that crucial information out to parents.

Tara: Ah, ho. What an amazing discovery for you to share with other parents. When I took my infant daughter for a well check up, I asked our doctor when he started babies on food. Our doctor is a holistic practitioner and shared that the way he was going to have us introduce foods to her would be different than most. We are not going to use cereals and will begin by introducing the bitter vegtables. The reason for this is the imprint it will have on her brain. When parents start with sweeter fruits and vegtables it sends messages to the brain that can later translate to impulses for sugar...

Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Susan: My faith is my greatest source of support and strength. The more I turn my worries and fears over to God, the more open doors I find.

Tara: Wonderful how when we get out of the way, things become more clear and effortless.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Susan: Be persistent. If you want to be a writer, you’ll face a lot of rejection. Develop a tough skin and keep going. The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was rejected by more than 40 publishers, and it’s now a worldwide sensation because the authors believed in their product and didn’t give up.

Tara: I believe when you work from your heart, it will happen regardless of what the outside world says.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Susan: Mom’s Choice Awards are the best-known and most reputable awards in the parenting field. I proudly display these awards on my books. It gives them distinction as high-quality and valuable resources for parents.

Tara: Love to hear that :o)

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author?

Susan: As an author, I will continue to write more books! In early 2009, my book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More, was published. This fall, Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family and Moms of Multiples’ Devotions to Go will be coming out. I’m very excited about these new projects!

Tara: Congratulations, we will definitely have to keep an eye out for your upcoming Chicken Soup books.

Anything you would like to add?

Susan: Please visit my blog, Susan Heim on Parenting, at http://susanheim.blogspot.com, where I share parenting advice, product reviews and giveaways!

Thanks Susan and good luck with all of your future endeavors!

Stay tuned as we talk next time with author Joanne King.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Dyan Eybergen

I recently conducted an interview with 2009 Mom's Choice Award's honoree Dyan Eybergen. Dyan resides in Alberta, Canada and is the mother of three boys(God Bless you for that... I have two boys which is plenty :o) - Kohan who is almost 13, Nolan 10 and Talen 6; and she has been married to her husband Rob for 15 years.

Dyan's book, Out of the Mouths of Babes: Parenting from a Child’s Perspective received a silver award in the parenting category. I asked Dyan a few questions about her book and here is what she had to say.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your product?

Dyan: I worked as a child and adolescent psychiatric nurse for more than 8 years – there wasn’t a behavioural situation that I wasn’t trained to handle. When I began having my own children I thought I was more than adequately prepared for motherhood. I learned very quickly that all my education and clinical experience taught me nothing about being a mother. Children are unique and cannot be parented from a text book.

Tara: Amen Dyan. I am the mother of four children and couldn't agree with you more.

When did you first come up with your idea?

Dyan: Shortly after I gave birth to my first son. I was overwhelmed by how much personality he expressed as an infant and how much I needed to rely on and trust my instincts to care for him.

Tara: Dyan, in my book Raising Intuitive Children I tell parents to trust their intuition. We could have been cut from the same cloth!

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Dyan: Through the parent education I was providing I was struck by how many parents I heard say “but I tried that [parent strategy] and it didn’t work for me”. I feel that we are a generation of parents’ whose intuition has been undermined by contemporary approaches to raising children. I want parents to embrace and trust their instinctive responses to their children’s needs.

Tara: Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Dyan: My mother: She continues to champion my dreams and nurture my individuality but at the same time helps me to stay grounded. But it is my husband who holds me when I am frightened and listens to me when I temporarily lose my mind. Both of them support me in uniquely different ways.

Tara: Love the men in our lives! My husband is my greatest source of support as well.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Dyan: Brace yourself for ridicule and criticism. When you put yourself in a position of offering an opinion or advice you can expect to be chastised by those who disagree with your philosophy. Having said that though, there are very few experiences more gratifying than publishing a book.

Tara: Dyan, you couldn't give better advice than that!

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Dyan: I chose to publish independently which for the most part still carries a stigma in the world of mainstream publishing. After receiving a Mom’s Choice Award I found I was taken more seriously in the writing and book community. My credibility as an author has increased.

Tara: Precisely the reason I created this Awards' program. I love to hear feedback from our recipients about how this has had a positive impact for their business/ product. I am so happy to hear it's helped you as well!

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as a writer?

Dyan: I have five other book titles in my head. I’ve been busy with the marketing and promotion for Out of the Mouths. Eventually I have to get back to writing!

Tara: You go girl!

Will you be attending Book Expo in NYC this year?

Dyan: Yes I will. I have never attended Book Expo or been to New York before. I am very excited. I will be working in the Mom’s Choice Awards' booth on Friday morning and I will be autographing Out of the Mouths of Babes on Saturday between 11-12pm at table 19.

Tara: Well I look forward to meeting you in a few weeks!

Anything you would like to add?

Dyan: Having received a Mom’s Choice Award for Out of the Mouths of Babes has been such a fulfilling experience. It has opened the doors to so many other opportunities: interviews, book expo, book sales. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of being a part of this distinguished award.

Thank you Dyan! We couldn't be happier for you and wish you the best of luck on this amazing journey.

Watch for our next interview with 2009 Honoree- Donna Seim, author of WHERE IS SIMON, SANDY?