What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu. It was published July 2013.
What’s the book’s first line?
“In a rose covered palace at 6 Garden Place.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Cupcake Jones is a modern day princess, who like many girls, loves her tutu, playing with her toys, and most of all creating a mess! Follow Princess Cupcake Jones in her first book, Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu. In this adventure, when her beloved tutu goes missing, Cupcake learns the importance of tidying up and putting things in their proper place. Join Princess Cupcake Jones as she searches her palace in hopes of finding her tutu and discovers hidden treasures along the way.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’m the mom of three beautiful daughters. While looking for books to read my eldest daughter (when she was 2), I was struck by the limited number of titles featuring African American characters. So I blended the personalities and images of my two oldest daughters (my youngest daughter is only a couple of months old) and created Princess Cupcake Jones.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
As stated before she is directly drawn from the images of my children, so she absolutely reminds me of them. The most distinctive thing about her (other than her hair) is her personality. She’s sassy but sweet, clever yet silly. A great combination!
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Princess Cupcake Jones is just like any other 5 year old girl. She has growing pains but she’s learning how to navigate through them. Who can’t relate to that?