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 Neela Sakaria: Thank you for your time Ms. Lete-Melton. The title of your book THE GIANT BEAN BURRITO: A FUNNY FART FABLE certainly got my attention! Tell us what made you decide to write this unusual tale.
Lisa Lete-Melton: I have always known that someday - I would write a children's book. This particular story is based on actual events with my two sons - and obviously it has been blown up into quite the tall tale!!! I have also been inspired by my 8 nephews as well as my own two sons - they get such a kick out of "farts" that I thought - this will really be a story that will make kids - especially little boys read - and "laugh" and it has done just that!
Neela: How would you describe your book in one word?
LLM: ENLIGHTENING!
Neela: Have you written books for youngsters before, or is this your first?
LLM: This is my first published book.
Neela: What do your own children think of your writing?
LLM: They are my best critics and my inspirations. Sometimes they like what I write and sometimes they tell me otherwise. Like with "The Giant Bean Burrito" they would say - "a kid wouldn't say that....they would say it like this...." so I would adjust the story based on the "kid" input.
Neela: Tell us about the illustrator, Travis Dillard. How did that collaboration come about? How does the process work - do you just show him your writing and let him come up with his own ideas for illustrations?
LLM: I ran an ad in our local newspaper looking for a children's book illustrator and Travis was one of those who responded. He had the look I was looking for. The first two characters he showed me resembled my two boys. I showed him the rough manuscript and he did his illustrations from that. Then I tweaked the story around the illustrations that I selected. Travis has been great to work with and was willing to go on a "wing and prayer" with me - bless his heart.
Neela: What is the last book you read? What were some of your favorite books as a child?
LLM : The last book I read and I couldn't stop reading it was "The Power of the Supermind" by Vernon Howard. Very uplifting and inspirational. As a young girl I was a book worm - I loved the "Little House on the Prarie" books and a lot of the classics like "Little Women" and "Heidi."
Neela: Is Paragon Publishing your own company? If so, do you have any advice for other self published authors?
LLM: Paragon Publishing is actually a small business that I started to publish a small local advertising magazine here in my community - and then I published my book under the same name. The best advice I have for self publishers is to get your ISBN number so you can get your book into bookstores - and don't expect fame and fortune overnight (like I did!) It's all quite a process - hang in there!!.
Neela: Are you working on any other projects?
LLM: I am working on another "Funny Fart Fable" called "The Fluffy Pink Blanket" in which a little girl is introduced with the current characters. I'm also working on an inspirational tale with a friend of mine.
Neela: How can readers purchase your book?
LLM: People can order "The Giant Bean Burrito" by e-mailing me at lisalete@cableone.net or they can call me in Idaho at 208-317-1428. The price is $7.95 and of course I will significantly discount bookstores, libraries or anyone with larger orders.
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