Author Ruth Berkowitz is taking her latest book, The Barber’s Daughter and the Pink Frog Pond, Book Two on tour – a Virtual Book Tour, that is, with Outskirts Press! Technology has created a wide variety of ways to reach audiences all over the world. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box, and nowadays you can market a self-published book in a variety of affordable and impactful ways. Virtual book tours, for example, are a great way to connect with readers from all corners of the globe, all from the comfort of your own home. Join Ruth Berkowitz and The Barber’s Daughter and the Pink Frog Pond, Book Two as they appear in features and interviews (such as the one below) in the weeks and months ahead!
Luckily for us, Ruth Berkowitz was kind enough to answer a few questions as the tour was getting started so that we can give you a sneak peek into the mind of the creator of The Barber’s Daughter and the Pink Frog Pond, Book Two .
OP: Tell us a little bit about The Barber’s Daughter and the Pink Frog Pond.. What is it about?
Ruth: It is about a young girl named Ruthie who loves life on the farm with her family & adores all creatures & animals along with the freedom of country living. Ruthie finds out her family is moving to a small apartment above a butcher shop in a city and her father is not moving with family. Her mother and father are getting a divorce and her father is moving with his new family. Ruthie is only 4 ½ years old and feels so lonely and confused in this new world Ruthie finds herself in. But, she meets a wonderful new friend, Rachel, a Fly Fairy Princess and together they journey to many exciting places while helping many people/animals and creatures along the way. Ruthie and Rachel embrace all differences, all the creatures and animals, along with many different types of gifted people they meet on their many journeys.
OP: Why did you decide to write this story?
Ruth: My writing began when I started the 1st day of Kindergarten Class. Our class was told not to write with our left hand because we would be punished if we wrote with our left hand. I picked up the pencil and all I knew how to write was my name and the alphabet. I went running home that 1st day of school crying because I wrote with my left hand. My mother handed me a piece of paper and said, “start writing, it is okay, you can write with your right or left hand!” I was confused but I sat down at the kitchen table and wrote and wrote my name over and over again as I cried. I found I could write with right hand and left hand. By the end of my Kindergarten Class that year, I was writing with my right hand. I have kept journals my entire life after that year in school.
I began at a young age to write books and wrote about the adventures of my family of 13 children and my life as a member of 13 children in many journals.
When my mother became ill with Leukemia she asked me to publish this book series, called the “Barber’s Daughter” I said, “Yes.” Ruthie and Rachel’s adventures come from my life in a big family and the daughter of a Barber who also was a very talented musician.
The wonderful part of this book series is my mother was in the hospital when I read her the 1st book in the series, The Barber’s Daughter and the Little Window, Book One and described each picture to her from my hand drawings. She was so excited I would put this book in print. The first book published is what I read to my mother that day, word for word and each picture in the book is what I described to her before she passed.
My mother was so pleased with listening to the adventures of Ruthie and Rachel and the Little Window Book One. My mother was my inspiration for the love of writing, doesn’t matter what hand, memoires are forever. I will always remember her on that day in Kindergarten, for giving me a gift I did not know I had, the love of writing.
OP: How did you get your book published?
Ruth: I published through Outskirts Press Inc.
OP: What types of readers would be interested in this story?
Ruth: I believe all children in grade school and all ages will like this book. This series, The Barber’s Daughter, embraces differences and fears many of us have, fear of bugs & snakes, meeting new people, swimming, learning to ride a bike, dealing with older and younger siblings in a larger family, moving to a new place, dealing with divorce and it shows how Ruthie and Rachel deal and cope with all these adventures which somehow helps all along the way. It’s a wonderful way to look at everyday life and how to cope with it as you follow Ruthie and Rachel on their adventures in their new world.
OP: What is special about your book?
Ruth: The main character Ruthie, has many hidden talents, her ability to talk with insects and all creatures along with animals. Ruthie never judges, she sits and watches the world around her and embraces differences of all. She takes her fears and turns them into strengths and insights which then helps others.
Rachel the Fly Fairy Princess is her best friend, but when they first met, Fly’s was one of Ruthies worst fears. Ruthie has many hidden talents but one she wanted the most was the gift of music that her family shared with her Dad.
In these books I share my personal experiences as I lived them as a young girl. Fears, bugs, horses, swimming, meeting new child, writing with my left hand, feeling different because I never played a musical instrument which was so important to my father. Growing up in a big family you quickly learn the pecking order and where you fit in, but I never fit in to this big wonderful, musically gifted family. What is so unique is each person has talent, you just have to find it. I hope this book series inspires people of all ages to enjoy and embrace who you are and be positive with each moment. Being positive with each moment brings happiness. With happiness you can overcome anything life has to share with each you.
OP: What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
Ruth: The Barber’s Daughter is based on a true story and my real-life adventures with a little imagination about the adventures of Ruthie and Rachel. When it comes to real life adventures in the 1960s & 1970s no one can make this stuff up. Life in the real world is heart breaking and wonderful at the same time. Life in a very big family where most members inherited the musical gene from Dad, was hard on a family member who did not play a musical instrument; but Ruthie had her writing and pen as her musical instrument. Our wonderful family of 13 children had its hardships, but there is this great silent golden cloud which was never spoken out loud about, which is that each one of us carried within us an abundance of love for each other no matter if we did not share the same Mother. I have tried to share and describe this love of a larger family whose lives went in so many different directions.
The special gifts this book brings is that there is no judgement of what you look like, how you look, talk or walk, it is about your gifts you carry with you everyday which makes each person, creature and animal special. This book is just about life and how to learn to embrace life’s adventures and make today a better place to live and stay positive about tomorrow. A young girl’s adventures with life in a new world with no judgement but an excitement to meet all new adventures positively.
Also, you can find all the information on my website http://www.Ruthiesbooks.com and Facebook, Ruthpremoberkowiz. Also, two of my brothers: Jon Premo and Bob Premo wrote and recorded the music to the theme song “Ruthie’s Little Window” video for Barber’s Daughter Book Series. Jon Premo wrote the words and music to the video theme song Robert(bob) Premo recorded the CD Theme song to the Videos in his “Charlie the Barber’s Music Studio” You can purchase the theme song by contacting Jon Premo at Jon.premo.01@gmail.com. Big thank you to these two wonderful talented brothers who are so gifted with their musical talent.
OP: Have you published any other books?
Ruth: I now have 2 books published in the Barber’s Daughter Series. The
1st book is “The Barber’s Daughter and the Little Window, Book One”
2nd Book is “The Barber’s Daughter and the Pink Frog Pond, Book Two“ (also includes a coloring book).
OP: Do you plan to publish more?
Ruth: Yes! I plan on many more books with The Barber’s Daughter Series of books where Ruthie and Rachel go on many wonderful adventures.
I am also writing an adult murder mystery book series with some fun & twists with, “who done it.”
OP: Thanks for your time, Ruth! We look forward to learning more about you as you visit other bloggers!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ruth Premo-Berkowitz was born in Constableville, New York. She grew up in the city of Rome and visited her family farm every weekend. She loved growing up on the farm, learning the cycles of planting and harvesting, and enjoying the neighbors’ animals. Ruth has been writing since early childhood, keeping a journal to record the adventures of her large family, as well as keeping track of the twists and turns of her life’s journey. Ruth’s creative talents include throwing pottery, painting, and stained glass/fused glass. She is married with grown children, and grandchildren who bring lots of love into her home. The Barber’s Daughter books are based on Ruth’s experiences growing up in New York.
For more information visit https://www.outskirtspress.com/thebarbersdaughterandthepinkfrogpond
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