Local mother-son duo to hold book signing

A local author and her son will debut their book “The Little Lost Nutcracker” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Newton Public Library. The duo worked as a team as Shannon Kotz wrote the story and her son Vinny, 10, illustrated.

Kotz said the road to publishing her first children’s book was not always easy, and she even considered giving up on the project several times. Each time she felt compelled to continue.

“My focus has always been poetry, and I have written songs before,” Kotz said. “I never considered being an author.”

Kotz said she home schools her son, and he has his own little library at their house.

“He used to get really bad headaches, and I found that when I made up stories it would distract him,” Kotz said.

That’s when Kotz discovered storytelling as a hobby.

“I was looking for some other work and getting ready to make a new decision,” Kotz said. “I ended up dreaming this story about the little nutcracker, and it was a Christian story.”

She said she felt compelled to write the story down and then she embellished it some to connect the story together. Vinny stepped up and started illustrating the story.

“I never thought we’d make a homemade book, and so we decided to give them away for Christmas that year,” Kotz said. “People just loved it.”

Kotz said for several years she attempted to get the children’s story published, and she didn’t have much luck until she received some help from the Goodwill Career Center.

“They agreed to type up the whole story for me as long as I agreed to take a few computer lessons,” Kotz said.

She said she didn’t get an interest in the book until she sent it to The Write Place in Pella. There was only one roadblock and that was the money to get it published.

“It seemed like time just kept going by and finally we came up with the money,” Kotz said. “I knew the book needed some pizzazz and a new cover since it was homemade.”

The publishers did just that, and “The Little Nutcracker” now is in hardback copies.

The mother-son pair is now attending book signings at local businesses and libraries.

“The library likes to support local authors, so we are happy to hold an author event for any local author who approaches us about hosting a book signing,” Phyllis Peter, youth services librarian said. “Vinny has attended many programs at the library, so we were especially excited to help a very young illustrator launch his first book.”

Kotz said when she first saw children picking up the story and reading it, it brought her to tears.

“I’m so proud of my son and it’s nice to see his interpretation of the story,” Kotz said.

The Newton Public Library invites children and families to attend the book signing and hear a part of the book. The library will also offer a craft, hot cocoa and treats.

Contact Kayla Singletary at
641-792-3121 ext. 6533
or ksingletary@newtondailynews.com