Book Birthday Blog with Maura Dalian

 

 

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Maura Dalian on the release of I'm Alright, Goodnight

 

Congratulations on your debut picture book! How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I enjoyed the challenge of connecting all of the letters of the alphabet. I actually wrote this book 40 years ago. I recently revisited the idea, rewrote the book, and turned it into a fourth-grade play! I had trouble sleeping one night and used my imagination to try and lull myself back to sleep.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

First, I hope they enjoy it. I had so much fun playing with our language. I also hope they think about what a gift imagination is. 

What inspires you to write?

I just have to get the stories floating around in my head onto the paper. I want to bring children joy and share my world with them.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

The book is for sale at almost every online bookstore. We even discovered it in a smaller bookstore in South Africa! Delightful people have planned book signings for me. I also will go to some bookstores near Ann Arbor, Michigan to see if they would be interested in allowing me to sign my book.

What's next for you?

I have already started the next book which will also become a fourth-grade play. I learned so much and I am excited to repeat the process!

A little bit about the book . . .

Peter Kelley cannot sleep. It is the fifteenth time he has crawled out of bed, and his dad is losing his patience. He instructs Peter to recite his ABC's. To Peter's surprise, reciting the alphabet unleashes a magical power that brings his imagination to life. From encountering apes and gorillas to indulging in cookies and ice cream, Peter's room transforms into a world of adventure. With the help of his best friend, Sammie, Peter even takes a thrilling helicopter ride. I'm Alright, Goodnight is a delightful ABC book that tackles the common problem of sleeplessness with a touch of whimsy and fantasy. It's a charming reminder of the power of imagination and the importance of finding magic in the everyday.

Publisher: Self-Published

A little bit about the author . . .

Maura Dalian lives in Saline, Michigan with her husband, one daughter, Amy, and two dogs, Sophie, and Phoebe (Feebs). She is a mom to adult twins, Caili and Christopher. Maura is currently teaching fourth grade, as she has done for 41 years. She has written many plays for her fourth graders to perform. This book has become one of those plays! Maura has written children’s books since she was 13 years old. She loves writing for children and families. This is her first attempt at publishing, a lifelong dream!. Adding to the dream is that her talented daughter, Caili, is the illustrator of this book. She is proud to have her daughter Caili help bring her creative imagination to life!