INTERVIEW
and REVIEW
David and Goliath with a Twist
(Bible Stories with a Twist Book 1)
(Bible Stories with a Twist Book 1)
by Benjie
Herskowitz
David and Goliath with a Twist is the first book in the Bible Stories with a Twist series recommended for children ages 5
to 10. It is ON SALE for $1.99 (save $1.00) to 31 January. Also available: Passover with a Twist (also ON SALE for $1.99).
The author stops by today for an interview and to share an excerpt. You
can also read my review.
Description
The biblical story of David and Goliath is told through "clichés"
which will tickle the imagination of your child. Clichés like "butterflies
in your stomach" and "you could hear a pin drop" give new
meaning to the story. Of course, each cliché is explained so that the child
will understand its figurative meaning.
Excerpt
Joshua finished cleaning up his room and got into bed. His mother came in
and smiled. "Joshua, you did such a nice job, would you like to hear a
bedtime story?"
"Thanks mom! Please tell me the one about a mean giant and a brave
little boy who saves everyone."
"That's the story of David and Goliath," she said. "It's
all about a giant named Goliath and a young shepherd boy named David. It's a
great story but it may be a bit scary- so I hope you don't get butterflies in
your stomach."
"I think I'll be okay," said Joshua.
So his mom began…
Praise for the Book
"This is an excellent book! It is fun, educational and interesting.
It tells the story of David and Goliath in a unique, fun and illuminating way.
I love it that my kids like the book because I myself enjoy reading it so much.
I is a great book for any child, Christian or not. I recommended this book to
all my friends for their kids and they love it too!" ~ daniel
"Really unique twist to the story making it fun and interesting for
kids (and even adults) of all ages. We love it!" ~ Tutor
"I love this book! It makes the story of David and Goliath fun and
colorful. The kids will love the spirit of it and they will learn English in a
fun way!" ~ Chani Walker
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Joshua asks his mother for a bedtime story, so she shares the tale of
David and Goliath. Only she puts her own twist on it, using clichés to help
tell the story. Joshua's active imagination conjures up the weirdest images as
David stands up to the bully.
The use of clichés is a very clever concept used to inject humor into an
otherwise serious story. Kids will cheer David along, while they learn a
classic Bible story and some unusual English expressions as well. The
illustrations by Darrell Mordecai are colorful and amusing and are an integral part of the story. I
especially enjoyed the image of Goliath "getting their goat". And "succeeded
with flying colors" is perfectly illustrated with fireworks! Not something
I have thought of before!
A sure-fire winner; this one's bound to go off with a bang!
Interview With the
Author
For what age group
do you recommend your book?
The optimal age group is 5-10 years old, but older kids will enjoy it
too.
What sparked the
idea for this book?
I've noticed that sometimes children image things in ways adults could
never fathom. So I thought: What if I took a classic story and showed it through
a child's eyes - imagining zany scenes and situations? That would add a real
fun twist to the story!
I also had read that bullying is a major concern in our schools and hoped
to encourage the victims of bullying, by making them the hero of the story.
So, which comes
first? The character's story or the idea for the book?
The idea for the book definitely came first. It was then just a matter of
finding a classic story with enough action and emotion to allow a child to
imagine it in a funny manner and at the same time, perhaps gain a positive
message.
What was the hardest
part to write in this book?
The most difficult part in writing the book was limiting the possible
additional zany scenes in the story.
How do you hope this
book affects its readers?
I hope that the readers will not only get the message that bullying is
not right, but also that seeing things in a slightly different manner can be
both fun and eye-opening.
How long did it take
you to write this book?
Once I had the general idea, it took me about two months to write the
book.
What is your writing
routine?
My writing routine is to always write down whatever comes to mind and
then walk away from it. A short time later I review and evaluate those words,
and then edit and change whatever is necessary, and then repeat as often as
needed, until it all sounds just right.
How did you get your
book published?
I got the book published after roughing out all of the illustrations
along with the accompanying texts and showing the book sample to a professional
publishing company.
What advice do you
have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
To go for it, but first make sure to show your story to a number of
people who are willing to offer their honest opinions. This will help fine tune
your ideas and message.
What do you like to
do when you're not writing?
Besides reading, of course, I love creating! I draw, paint, sculpt - in
fact, I am in the process of creating a series of sculptures based on the
Biblical character of Lot's wife.
Fascinating! What
does your family think of your writing?
My family is very encouraging, especially since I've based the book's
characters on my own kids.
That's fantastic!
Please tell us a bit about your childhood.
As a child I loved drawing, sometimes even getting in trouble in school
by drawing caricatures of my teachers. I also enjoyed movies and television and
visiting the library. I would take my bike and have to somehow carry all of
those books home with one hand on the handlebars and one holding the books.
Classic! Did you
like reading when you were a child?
As a child I loved reading, as well as being read to.
When did you first
realize you wanted to be a writer?
I only realized that I wanted to be a writer when I had children of my
own and wanted to share with them some of the way I saw the world.
Did your childhood
experiences influence your writing?
Most definitely! I recall hearing a statement and imagining one thing
when the speaker had meant something entirely different.
Which writers have influenced
you the most?
The writers that have influenced me the most are assorted writers such as
Edgar Allan Poe, O. Henry, Stephen Crane and, of course, Dr. Suess!
Do you hear from
your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I love hearing from my readers. Most thank me for the fun stories, but
also I hear from their parents who tell me how much they enjoy reading the books to their kids.
That's great! What
can we look forward to from you in the future?
I am considering continuing the With
A Twist series of books, perhaps basing a new one on the Biblical story of
Noah and the Flood.
Thank you for taking
the time to stop by today, Benjie, it's been a pleasure. Best of luck with your
future projects.
Thank you!
About the Author
Benjie Herskowitz is a graphic designer living and working near Jerusalem, Israel. After
graduating from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, he worked on Madison Avenue
in advertising and design.
David and Goliath with a Twist is his first published book, and has recently
become an Amazon Best Seller. Though David and Goliath is his first book, he have been making up stories all his life - just
ask his school teachers, wife and five kids!
Links
