Feelu: Explore Your Feelings received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Niloufar Shafiei.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Feelu: Explore Your Feelings. It is a Children’s book that published on May 19, 2020.
What’s the book’s first line?
My heart is a rainbow of colourful feelings.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Feelu is a book that promotes Children’s mental health. It talks about different feelings and gives an example for each. It also gives a suggestion how handle difficult feelings in a healthy manner. This book also talks about kindness and encourages children to be kind to each other, animals and Earth. It also presents 5-breath meditation and suggests a 3-step reaction to bullying.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
My two children.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
To help children to work on their emotional and mental skills that would make them happier and calmer.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Feelu is a young elephant. Feelu is not associated with a specific gender, race or age. It makes it possible for all children to relate to Feelu.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I think animations work best for this book. I would like to see the same elephant for the main character.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I came up with the idea of Feelu a few years ago. I am the idea generator of the app Feelu that was released 2019 to the App Store. Feelu has been featured as the top 10 mindfulness apps for little ones on the App Store. The app was followed by the book in 2020. I believe the book can be read at the end of the day or when the child calmed down after a difficult feeling.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes. But it won’t be the last. I am planning to publish more books in near future.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am founder/idea generator of the software company, Little Whale Inc, that designs high-quality apps for children.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
On average a few hours per week while I am in the process of writing a book.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The publishing process is the best part and the marketing of the book is the hardest part.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Invest in marketing.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I would. They will take care of the marketing which is a lot of work.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
My motivation is promoting mental health of children and helping them to find more happiness and calmness through their lives.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Dr Seuss, Eric Carle, Oliver Jeffers, J. K. Rowling, Glennon Doyle.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
More children’s storybooks.