How Thelma Got Her Wings

My first book, "Thelma Makes a Visit" is dedicated to all the little girls and boys who believe in Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, and the Boogeyman. Their wide-eyed enthusiasm and innocence inspire the story-teller. I especially want to thank my granddaughter, Zoe, for her participation in this twenty-first century fairytale. Afterall, it really is her story. It all began with this first book that introduced the young reader to Thelma P. Jones. Zoe had lost a tooth and decided to leave the tooth under Grandma's pillow hoping that the tooth fairy would come. Early the next morning, Zoe rushes into Grandma's room and searches under her pillow. Wow! There she finds a tiny green treasure box containing a neatly folded dollar bill. Excitedly she shares the contents with Granda. "Grandma, the tooth fairy came," she exclaims. Grandma replies, "Yep, she woke me up when she reached under my pillow." "What Grandma, you saw her?" That is when the story-teller in Grandma was inspired as she describes Thelma P. Jones. Zoe was enthralled and could hardly wait to share the story with her classmates at school. This story had to be shared with others and that is how "Thelma Makes a Visit" was born. Zoe's curiosity about Thelma became the catalyst for the next in the series, "How Thelma got her Wings." Zoe's imagination was captured by Grandma's description of Thelma: short, feisty, chocolate in complexion with a head full of crinkly hair, almond-shaped eyes wearing a t-shirt, pink tutu, polka-dot tights and tennis shoes. Zoe had many questions about this unusual fairy. One was: How did Thelma get the tiny wings that Grandma had described? Her curiosity inspired the next book,"How Thelma Got Her Wings." In this story, not only is Zoe's question answered, but the reader is treated to a lesson in giving and its reward.The

While working at a national tutoring center as the Director of Education, I met my illustrator, a high schooler working on her ACTs. By chance, I noticed a sketchbook among the other texts she was carrying. Curious, I asked if I could see her work. This girl had talent! Only a few weeks later, my granddaughter lost a tooth and placed it under my pillow in the hope that the tooth fairy would visit. Early the next morning, Zoe rushed into my room and searched under my pillow. Gusee what? The tooth fairy had come. And that was the beginning of Thelma P. Jones, Tooth Fairy as I spun a tale about a feisty little fairy. Thrilled with the narrative, Zoe rushed to school to share the story. That's when I got the idea to write the story. Writing I could do, but I needed someone to provide the images. That's when I remembered the talented teen I had recently met. On Andrea's next visit to the center, I described Thelma and asked if she could draw her. Well, the rest is history. Andrea has gone on to college majoring is digital art and is still providing images for Thelma's new story.