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Family Tales Translate into Childrens Classic
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Family Tales Translate into Childrens Classic Author Interview
with Steven E. Jones and Steven E. Jones, Jr., The Ballad of
Blue Eagle By Lisa M. Hendey
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Some of my most precious childhood memories come from hours
spent listening to my daddy tell us stories as we drove across
the country in our motorhome on various family road trips. In
these days before mobile DVD players and satellite radio, Daddy
could spin a tale that would keep us swept up for hours and
begging for more. While I dont have my fathers storytelling
creativity, I love to share wonderful books with my own children.
One of my new favorites is The Ballad of Blue Eagle (Synergy
Books, October 2004, hardcover, 48 pages). This first in a
planned series is a father-son team project created by Steven E.
Jones and his son, illustrator Steven E. Jones, Jr. A lifelong
Texan, Jones grew up listening to his father tell tales of Blue
Eagle and his life safeguarding the various creatures of
Peaceful Valley. After his fathers death, Steven wisely wrote
these stories down for posterity. The Ballad of Blue Eagle is a
beautiful collaboration between Jones and his son Steven Jr.,
who has artfully illustrated this classic childrens hardcover.
Steven Jones Jr. brings the characters of Peaceful Valley to
life with his bold and sweeping watercolor scenes. The themes
present in The Ballad of Blue Eagle emphasize virtues you will
want to share with your own children: peaceful coexistence,
community, friendship and not judging others.
I had the opportunity to speak with the author and illustrator
and am pleased to share their comments on the book and the
importance of sharing stories in our families.
Q: Thank you for your time and for participating in this Book
Spotlight interview. Please tell our readers how you decided to
take on the project of writing The Ballad of Blue Eagle from
your collection of family stories.
A: This is an interesting question, you see, I actually wrote
this story as a tribute to my father shortly after he died. That
was in 1980, when my son was only 8 years old. I wanted to have
it for our family as a piece of memorabilia that we could share,
there was no serious thought of it being published, - we needed
an illustrator. Finally, my son grew up to be an artist/graphic
designer, and wanted to illustrate the story. This is when the
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Q: What was it like to work collaboratively as a team on this
project?
A: It was a lot of fun. There was some frustration involved for
both of us because it was new territory, and both of us could
only work on it part time. The main thing I experienced though,
was gaining a new respect for my son. I knew he was talented,
but I didn't realize just how capable he really is.
Q: Steve, how did it feel to see the characters of your stories
come to life through the artwork created by Steven?
A: Wow! This was amazing. I never talked to Steven about how I
thought it should look, and yet he created images that were
almost identical to the visions I had when writing it. I think I
got a little emotional.
Q: I am always looking for wonderful stories to share with my
children and find it a bonus when these stories include a moral
or teaching component. I loved Blue Eagle for its emphasis on a
peaceful community. What do you feel is the moral of The Ballad
of Blue Eagle and why was it important to you to include this
theme in your book?
A: There are a number of messages and moral lessons in this and
future stories. Some more subtle than others, some examples are:
Stop and smell the roses! Toby's "see the wonders that be!"
Don't be in such a hurry that you miss life's beauty, natures
grandeur. (God's creation)
Friendship, friends helping friends - Toby and Pete did their
best for Sammy.
Don't underestimate others - Toby, the slowest and least likely,
turns out to be a hero!
Q: Steven, how did you conceptualize the illustrations for the
book and what were your goals with the artwork?
A: I wanted to achieve a more traditional, classic look and feel
with the artwork. Initially I was using a computer to color the
illustrations, but felt that the look did not match the story,
so I decided on watercolor, which has a softer, more natural
look. The character illustrations themselves maintain a bit of
realism without sacrificing character and emotion. I was also
used Texas Hill Country, where many of the original stories were
told, as an inspiration for the setting. Q: Will we hear again
from the creatures of Peaceful Valley? Do you have plans to make
the book a series?
A: Yes, the second story is nearly finished. I'll be sending the
manuscript to Steven for illustration in a few days.
Q: How can parents share the art of storytelling with their
children and why do you feel this is important?
A: Reading to children is the best way to get started. The
stories may be other's, but they can serve to stimulate our
imagination to build on the story or create our own. Taking time
regularly to read to them, ingrains the reading habit, which
will serve them well for a lifetime.
Q: Are there any additional thoughts or comments you'd like to
share with our readers?
A: When I was a child, we didn't have computers or TV sets. It
was not uncommon for families to tell stories, read together, or
play games for entertainment. Today, it is far too easy to turn
on the TV or computer and leave it to others to provide the
entertainment. We lose the growth that comes from interacting
together as parent/child or as a larger family group. My father
was able to impart a lot of wisdom through his stories, things I
may never have learned without them.
For more information on The Ballad of Blue Eagle visit
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0974764442/catholicmomcom
Lisa M. Hendey, wife, mother and webmaster of
http://www.CatholicMom.com and http://www.ChristianColoring.com
is an avid reader and writes from Fresno, California. Visit her
at http://www.lisahendey.com for more information.
About the author:
Lisa M. Hendey, wife, mother and webmaster of
http://www.CatholicMom.com and http://www.ChristianColoring.com
is an avid reader and writes from Fresno, California. Visit her
at http://www.lisahendey.com for more information.
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