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closeExplaining the world through elfish mischief
Chris Albert
Storytelling is just what Puyallup resident Todd H. Hunter does and it has been a valuable tool as an emerging children’s author.
“I like to story tell because it brings the family together,” he said.
His first book, “Elf Night: a Christmas Story,” has been well received in the area. His second book “The Car Key Elves” continues the elf theme, but explains what part-time Christmas elves do the rest of the year.
“Ever wonder why you can’t find your car keys when you need them? ‘Car Key Elves’ answers that question,” the book’s cover jacket reads.
There’s a reason some elves are part-timers. They are too mischievous for Santa’s workshop year-round. They like to play pranks and hide things.
Their mischievous ways make a perfect fit for hiding everyday items in a messy household. The elves form a guild and establish a list of rules for when they can hide things.
And an especially troublesome elf comes up with a device to make things disappear and then reappear moments later.
Hunter’s stories are a way to explain the world to children.
“That’s part of being a mom or a dad,” Hunter said.
And children always have 200 questions a day, he said, but how the world is explained helps answer those questions.
In “Car Key Elves,” the lessons of cleanliness, family time and getting work done are themes that are woven into the story. These themes are told through the explanation of why things go missing and why they often seem to magically reappear exactly where they were left, even though they weren’t there earlier.
“Hopefully that goes over to other parts of your life,” Hunter said for why keeping orderly is important.
The story also incorporates how even the most mischievous elf can have a good heart and find a place in this world.
“You don’t have to fit into the norm to make it,” Hunter said, “but you have to work within the system.”
Hunter’s stories are personal. Within the pages of his books, Hunter is often explaining questions his sons Casey and Ryan have through a story.
Ryan, who is going into first grade, thinks it’s great being in his dad’s books. And incoming sixth grader Casey happens to agree.
“It’s good being in a story,” he said.
They’ve become semi-celebrities at school, Todd Hunter said, but they don’t let it go to their heads.
“It makes it kind of personal,” he said.
Through the pages of his books they’ll grow up and it will be something they always have, he said.
Writing is something Hunter has enjoyed for a long time. He came up with several children’s stories when he was deployed in Iraq a few years ago.
Writing was not only something he enjoyed, but a way to escape from the realities of war.
Writing a children’s book is a tall order. Hunter said it takes about three years from concept to printing the first edition.
By publishing his own books he enjoys a close relationship with the illustrator, Olga Gavrilovskiy. When art is ready to be added to the pages of his stories, he gives her some ideas of what he wants and how he wants the story broken up by pages.
She makes her interpretations from there and gives suggestions to how to present the story.
“It makes it a little better,” Hunter said. “She brought in a lot of different concepts.”
It’s something a close working relationship that isn’t enjoyed as much at a large publishing house, he said. Often they decide how the story is presented on the pages and assign an illustrator to it.
The illustrations are why people bought the first book, Hunter said, but buying the second book depends on something more.
“They’re going to buy your second book because of the story,” he said
“Car Key Elves” will be available at Meeker Days from June 20-22, on his Web site, www.tepcapress.net, and in bookstores in the area shortly.
Later this year, he has a few more titles coming out.
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Todd H. Hunter
Local author, Todd H. Hunter’s newest children’s book “Car Key Elves” will be available June 20-22 at Meeker Days.
> To find out more about Hunter and his books, go to his Web site at www.tepcapress.net.