"Nap-Nap, Quack-Quack" is a new children's book that will delight parents and kids everywhere. The story is about Maggie, a little duckling who becomes frustrated because nap-time is interrupting her play time. Her parents try to find the perfect routine so she will sleep. We recently had the pleasure
is interrupting her play time. Her parents try to find the perfect routine so she will sleep. We recently had the pleasure to meet the author of this book, D.G. Bahtouh.
We want to congratulate you on becoming a published author. Tell us about yourself and the motivation behind writing Nap-Nap, Quack-Quack.
Well, first let me thank you for this opportunity. I’m originally from Providence, Rhode Island and have been living in MN 6 years now. I’ve grown to love the Twin Cities, and the opportunitiesI have had to work and meet great people. I feel inspired and honored to write because I have enjoyed books all of my life. My daughter (Esthelle) was born a year ago and I started thinking creatively about how to introduce new concepts to her. I’ve been writing over 10 years in my spare time and this idea came to me when I least expected it.
How did the story come to fruition?
The idea that came to me wasn’t a dramatic feeling; it was just a notion that accompanied a strong desire to tell the story. “Nap-Nap” came to me when I was poking fun with my wife about terminology. I asked her what parents say to make reference to nap time. She had no real response, so I figured if parents use “night-night” for bedtime, I guess its ok for me to use “nap-nap” for nap time. So it has been used in my house since.
I got the idea for the story; title, concept, characters, everything one day when I was preparing my daughter for her nap. She was wearing this one piece pajama outfit that was fuzzy and yellow and was just a cuddly, cuddly little thing. There was a little duckling caricature that sat on the top chest area of this pajama outfit. She was laying there, in my arms, eyes closed, breathing. The idea that came to me; it was just an idea that accompanied a strong desire to tell the story. I could feel her heart pulsating on my forearm. As I sat holding her, I envisioned the whole thing. I laid her down, and wrote the story in a short amount of time. My first juvenile fiction book! So it was more than appropriate that I dedicate the book to her.
What kind of challenges have you faced in the process of writing and publishing your book and how did you overcome them? (more…)