Jake the Snake and the Stupid Time Out Chair Author Guest Post, Preview and Review

Now, to tell you a little bit about myself: I am the author of two books Jake the Snake and the Stupid Time-Out Chair and A Stinky Surprise for Jake the Snake (which will be released early next year). I am also a freelance writer and have several short stories and articles published in children’s magazines such as Kid Zone, Fun for Kidz, and Jack and Jill. I also enjoy writing stories and poetry for e-zines including Stories for Children Magazine, Stories that Lift, and Story Station.


Jake the Snake and the Stupid Time-Out Chair is the first early chapter book in the series (the second book is soon to be released, and there will be at least one more book in the series as I have the manuscript almost complete!) Jake the Snake is a funny book targeted to children ages 5-8. If your child is a fan of Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones series or Judy Blume’s Fudge series, I really think they will enjoy my Jake the Snake series.


My second grader Jacob (who was inspiration for my series) isn’t the biggest fan of reading. What 8-year-old boy is? Jacob would rather be riding his BMX bike or playing a video game; however, when he finds a book that will make him laugh out loud, he usually won’t put it down. This is the reason I decided that I wanted to write books and stories that would interest kids who are just beginning to read on their own. I try to write my books using laugh out loud humor and realistic situations that would really put the reader into the story and make the plot relatable. With my Jake the Snake series, even though Jake can be mischievous and downright rotten throughout the story; in the end he always learns a valuable lesson with a great moral. In the first book, I’d have to say the moral is putting others first and brotherly love. But I guess you’ll have to read it for yourself to get your own take on the story!


If you are looking for your own writing ideas, look for inspiration in your everyday life. You don’t have to be some great adventurer — the climber of Mt. Everest, a sky diving acrobat, a world traveler, America’s next top model. Heck no, you can just be a normal, boring, simple, mundane, toilet-scrubbing mom like me. I ALWAYS get story ideas from my own (sometimes unruly) kids. Recently, I entered a short story contest and wrote about a girl who hated to have her hair combed (that would be my own 4-year-old daughter.) I also just sold a story to Jack and Jill about a boy who was saving money for a double-ended titanium action packed laser wand. I got this idea from my eleven-year-old son who is a stunt double for Luke Skywalker as he runs around the house brandishing his noisy light saber. Try to find the humor in your kids’ misbehavior. Sure, go outside and scream at the top of your lungs first. But then come back inside, take a deep breath, and write it down in a journal. I promise someday you’ll find it amusing (maybe someday a long, long time from now; but nonetheless someday! ) From birth, Jacob (my own Jake the Snake) has always been quite the character! A few years ago, he did everything from swinging on the dining room chandelier to planting a Marigold in the canister of hot cocoa mix. One time he painted the bedroom furniture with hand lotion and whitewashed the garage. He built a sandcastle with my laundry detergent. He ate cat poop. And he used the toilet as a matchbox carwash. Ah! Jacob! So much inspiration I’ve retained from this child! Today he is much calmer and I have to say, pretty darned well-behaved! So now I can appreciate and laugh about the things he used to do. And even write books about it! Lol.


I want other kids to love my stories as much as my own kids do. It’s so much fun to venture into the mind set of a young character. It’s like being a kid again! No gray hairs! No crow’s feet! No bills! No responsibilities! I think I am daydreaming. But at least I find a few moments of childhood through my writing. I hope you will too.


Thank you again, Molly, for hosting me on your blog. I hope you all will visit my website https://www.booksbyshelly.com/ and enter the great giveaway contest Molly is hosting. Have a great day! Happy reading! And happy, happy writing! –Shelly Nicholson