FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #76 Stories That Spark Reading At Home
A tiny cricket with big feelings, a sleepless mouse with too much excitement, and a mission to bring books back into bustling homes—this conversation with children’s author Tammy Christian is a warm reminder that reading is one of the simplest ways to raise confident, curious kids. We dive into the heart of her stories, from Too Excited To Sleep to Eric The Colorful Cricket Starts Kindergarten, and get a sneak peek at a festive new adventure where Santa’s crash landing turns into a forest quest to find missing reindeer.
Tammy shares a candid path from her early drafts in 2008—written while working in IT—to launching her debut years later. You’ll hear how she found the right editor, chose an illustrator who matched her voice, and used read-aloud feedback to tighten pacing and tone. That process doubles as a blueprint for aspiring authors: start before you feel ready, expect revisions, and build a small team you trust. Along the way, Tammy explains how picture books can coach bedtime routines, soothe first-day jitters, and model courage and listening in kid-sized ways.
We also talk about life in Fredericksburg, the creative spark that comes from farmers markets and family game nights, and why early reading habits matter more than any app. Tammy believes the reading journey begins at home—with a lap, a lamp, and five minutes of attention. If you’re looking for practical steps to launch your own children’s book or a gentle way to make reading the highlight of your evening, you’ll leave with ideas you can use tonight.
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Tammy Christian
TC Books
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast. We have a very special guest joining us today. We have a local children's author, Tammy Christian of TC Books. Tammy, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 1:Oh, thanks, Dori. Thanks for having me. Glad to be here.
Speaker 2:I'm excited to dive in and share everything about what you've been doing with your writing of children's books. So let's start there. Share with us about your books.
Speaker 1:Okay. So I write fun, colorful children's books that teach general life lessons. My mission is to bring love of reading back into homes. My first book is Too Excited to Sleep. It's about a little mouse named Jack who rather played and take nets. So it teaches kids about courage, friendship, listening, and the importance of sleep. And Eric The Colorful Cricket starts kindergarten is about starting school for the first time, overcoming fears, first age eaters that all kids go through when they start school. Eric's mom encourages him that it's okay to be afraid because as adults, we also get scared. So it helps kids along with starting school for the first time. And I also have a new book coming out. It's called Eric to Colorful Cricket Saves Christmas, and that's coming next month, just in time for the holidays. And it's about um Santa Claus, he crashes uh in the back of uh Eric's house, and Eric helps him through the forest uh to help find the reindeers because the reindeers come up missing. So it'll be a fun Christmas holiday book uh for the Christmas year.
Speaker 2:That's exciting. Congratulations on the launch of two books now. That's very exciting, and I would love to learn more about you and your journey. Tell me what led you to make the decision to write children's books.
Speaker 1:Sure. Um, I've always loved story storytelling since I was a child. Um, my sister and I used to play um uh make-believe, and of course, I was a narrator and always created our characters. I would give her a name and then myself a name. Um and we just had fun uh doing that. And I always said to myself that one day I wanted to write a story. I wanted my book to be on a shelf. Um, and after uh years in IT in 2008, I wrote my first draft, um, which was Erica Cova Cricket uh Stars Kindergarten. And in 2013, I wrote my second draft. Um, and of course, life got in the way. Uh, 2021, I picked up the pen again and started writing. Um 2023, my first book was uh launched in 2025, and so on. Um and seeing the joy on child's uh our parents' face, um, when they look at books, it makes it worthwhile, um, which inspires me to um to write every day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's amazing. And uh I I bought a book from you for my granddaughter, and I have to say it's written so well, and the illustrations are just beautiful. And so share with us a little bit about the process. And um, I know it was hard work, so share with us a little bit about that journey.
Speaker 1:Um, that journey, um, well, in 2021, I met an author. Um, so I was telling her about my books and my my draft, and um, that I wanted to uh write children's books. So she looked at it and she helped me along the way um to get started. Um, she did the editing. I had to find an illustrator. So after a few searches, I found a great illustrator to work with, and she's actually working on my third book. Um, so it's basically just finding um the person that you connect with um for your stories. Um, but it's it wasn't an easy journey, but I mean it's worth every bit of it.
Speaker 2:I love that. So if someone came to you and they said that they were thinking about writing a book, a children's book or any book, what advice would you give someone?
Speaker 1:Um, that's a great question because I get that all the time at my events. Um, I have authors or you know, people who want to become authors ask me questions all the time about how to get started and always let them know if you have an if you have a story to tell, there's someone out there that's wanting that story. Uh so go ahead and start. Don't wait till it gets you know a perfect draft because there's no perfect draft because during the storytime or editing, there's always changes. But start, no matter how old you are, just start. And there's always people to help you along the way, just like I did. I mean, reach out. I've always left my contact information. If you have any questions, um reach out to me on my website and I'll be happy to help you get started because I know how hard it is to start the process because it's not easy as an author myself. I'm still learning.
unknown:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So it's a learning curve. But you'll get there, just start.
Speaker 2:That's really good advice. Um in in business as well as with books. Um, just get started. And I love that you said if you have a story to tell, there's someone out there who needs to hear it. So I really love that. Thank you for sharing that. So clearly you work really hard. So tell me when you're not busy with your books. And and you just said you've got a third one in you as well. So tell me, what are you doing for fun when you're not writing?
Speaker 1:Um, I love going to local farmers markets. Um, I love going downtown, Fredericksburg, um, walking around, uh, spending time with family. We have game nights. Um, sometimes we we play games on Fridays, or we'll have a movie night. Um, just getting around, just getting outside, doing things. Um, because sometimes I stay in the house mostly because I'm writing and then you know, sometimes I work from home, um, so I stay um busy. But just getting out and just looking, looking at the birds, you know, the trees, just enjoying life.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love that. I love a good family night. What are some of the the games your family loves?
Speaker 1:Um, Monopoly.
Speaker 2:Oh, oh my goodness. That could be so fun, but it could end in a fight.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness, that's so much fun. I love it.
Speaker 1:And then there's this game is called um the guessing bands where you put this bands on your head and you gotta figure out what that other person has. You try to give clues if they can guess uh what's on their band. Um, but I like playing that.
Speaker 2:That's fun. I'll have to try that one. It just sounds like a lot of fun. I love it. So, what is something that you wish the listeners knew about you or your books?
Speaker 1:Um about me. I'm very um passionate in what what I do. Um, I'm very helpful. Um I just want to be the person who brings the reading back into households because with technology, I think some parents have got away from the reading part. Um, you know, asking your kids, you know, do you want to read? Um, it should be something that you start at an early age. And that way by the time they get to school, um, they're ready to read and ready to learn, and they're above their uh their grade level by the time they get kindergarten. Um many parents think that reading starts in school, but it doesn't. Think that reading starts in school, but it doesn't. It starts early. Every bedtime story and bedtime story, build a child's confidence and vocabulary. So my myth is just start early, put books back into households. And that's my goal. I wish I could just drive around and just knock on doors and say, hey, here's a book.
unknown:Right.
Speaker 1:I have a great book for you to read. You know, check it out.
Speaker 2:I love that. It can start as early as as babies, you know, setting a routine. Pick out your favorite book, let's read.
Speaker 1:Because you can, you know, they're they're listening. Um, you know, when my my child was uh was very young, um, you know, I read to him all the time. So he would get his book and sit on the couch and he would just read a story. I'm not sure, you know, maybe he understood what he was saying, but you know, we didn't. But he was, you know, he was reading his book, you know, in his own way. And by the time he was in kindergarten, he was above his grade level. You know, right now he's uh 14, he's um straight A student. Uh and we just instill him, instill in him that you know learning is important and reading is important.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I like I love that. And it can be so much fun when they're kids to read. I love that. Thank you for sharing that. So if the listeners want to connect with you, where can they find you?
Speaker 1:Sure, you can reach me on my website, it's TammyCArthur.com, or you can follow me on Instagram at TCKidsbooks2023.
Speaker 2:Amazing, amazing. Tammy, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing your books with us.
Speaker 1:Thank you.
Speaker:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG Neighbors Podcast.com.