Today’s author book tag is with children’s author Dan Granger. In it, he discusses his picture book, Why is Sam So SAD?, as well as his journey as an author. Check it out here, and share your experiences with Seasonal Affective Disorder and educational picture books in the comments below!
Why is Sam So SAD plot summary
This colorful children’s book captures the essence of what it is like for a young person to have SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a form of depression.
The book is about a boy named Sam who suffers from SAD. Sam tells the reader all about what he experiences and feels while he suffers from SAD. He goes on to explain what causes this sadness within and how the weather plays into how he behaves during this time of year. He tells the readers how he treats his friends and family and even his dog during this SAD time of the year.
Sam expounds what the letters S.A.D. stand for in Seasonal Affective Disorder. He discusses the remedies he uses to combat SAD. Some include taking unusual vitamins, staring at a special light and the burdensome task of remembering something good that happened during these SAD days. Sam ends the book reminding the reader to practice gratitude. Because Sam feels you can’t be angry and grateful at the same time.
The interview
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I wrote a children’s book for two reasons. One, I have always wanted to write a children’s book. Two, I have always been able to relate to children. That is why I became an elementary teacher.
I wrote this book on this particular subject because every year as the seasons change, I suffer from SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a form of depression. SAD is related to the body not getting enough vitamin D caused by lack of sunlight during the winter months.
As a former teacher, I am on a crusade to educate the public about SAD through my story. I used Sam as the teacher to educate the reader about the effects of SAD. I want others who suffer from SAD to know that they are not alone.
My hope is that, by discussing depression earlier with kids when they encounter it later in their teen years, they can better deal with it. While researching for this book, I noticed that there are not many books about depression catered to children without the human element. The books I did find, the characters were animals or inanimate objects.
Do you keep a notebook of ideas?
I had a few writing notebooks growing up for my ideas and stories but no longer. However, my notes app on my phone is filled with ideas: pictures, inspirational and motivational quotes, songs and song lyrics, bible verses and other things.
This inspiration collection helps keep me going during the SAD seasons and stay grounded. I need all the inspiration I can get during this time of year when all I want to do is be a recluse and shut down and wallow in my depression.
Do you have a muse?
I grew up reading Choose Your Own Adventure books for kids so I could be just like my older brother. He was reading Choose Your Own Adventure books for the Young Adults version.
My brother was a huge reader at the time. I attribute my wanting to learn to read, pushing myself to learn to read, and finally my love of reading to a little brother trying to keep up with his big brother. In fact, my brother could fly through books in one bathroom sitting. I could always tell the books he read because they were mangled and forever misshaped.
The authors who have left an impression on me are Dean Koontz and Andrew Clements. I read the book The Watchers from Dean Koontz, and I loved the dog. I went nuts buying his books after that.
As a teacher, I loved the book called Frindle by Andrew Clements. After Frindle, I was hooked and a fan of his books. He was a teacher turned author. I thought if he can do it, why can’t I?
Are you more of a fan of plot-driven stories or character-driven stories?
I would say I am more of a plot driven fan. In my opinion, the plot catches the buyer from what he/she reads on the back of the book. On the other hand, I feel that most characters are only words on the back of the book until I actually delve into the book. Then, as I read deeper into the story the characters develop, I can relate to them.
Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Children who are underdogs and have to overcome obstacles.
What are your thoughts on typewriters?
I grew up learning to type on a typewriter in elementary school. As a bad speller, I find them to be a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Furthermore, as someone who is prone to making mistakes, I hated them. You make one mistake, and you need to get a whole new sheet.
On the other hand, the computer features like spell check, grammar check and the ability to delete a mistake just using the backspace has been such a technological blessing to writers everywhere, especially me. Not to mention dictating the words on the screen omits the use of typing all together. Thank goodness for computers. The above features have alleviated so much stress for me.
Fun fact, I heard on NPR, the very top row keys were strategically placed so the sales person selling the typewriter actually could spell out the word TYPEWRITER to make the sale.
Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
I would rather run a library. That way you could meet all kinds of people, young or old, rich or poor, students or retired. You could also meet the many families throughout the years and see these neighborhood kids grow up.
In addition, you could feel you are helping the community, not just making a buck. In my opinion, frequent buyers of bookstores are few and far between now more than ever, especially in person bookstores. For example, take the little neighborhood bookstore, in the movies, You’ve got Mail and The Shop Around the Corner versus the goliath Fox Books!
How do you name your characters?
I have two books that are written in the same style where the character is breaking the fourth wall talking to the reader. For both my books, each character’s name is alliteration based on their title.
For Why is Sam So SAD?, I chose the name Sam because it is three letters long like SAD, and it could be interchangeable as a boy’s name or a girl’s name. But as a male myself, I wrote from the view of a boy.
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or TV series?
I think the best my book could do is be a one and done cartoon show on Nickelodeon or Disney. Although I would be open to writing adventures for Sam if it came to a series.
Who is your dream audiobook narrator?
Currently I am just enjoying the published author ride. However, I plan to have my book narrated down the road. That is one of my goals. I don’t know who I would choose. I would use a child’s voice since Sam breaks the fourth wall and talks right to the readers.
What are your passions/obsessions outside of writing?
I’d say my biggest passion is watching movies, discussing movies and quoting movies with my friends. In fact, I was even lucky enough to have worked at a movie theater during high school and college.
I like being active. I was in plays and choir in high school and college. As an adult. I took a sign language course and an improv class just for fun.
On the other hand, I am also a thrill seeker. Some of the things I have done: skydived, scuba-dived, and done a ropes course. However, the one I am most proud of was when I participated in the local celebration called The Polar Bear Plunge which takes place on New Year’s Day in Lake Michigan. To celebrate the new year, I dove headfirst into the lake when the water temperature was between 35-45 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately 2-8 degrees Celsius.
My nephews went in the water too, but came out soon after. Neither of them committed to a headfirst dive. The Polar Bear Plunge is something special in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In fact, the news always covers it. Being a part of the Polar Bear Plunge was something I have always wanted to do as a child. I am glad I can scratch that off my bucket list.
Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?
I was interviewed on Readers House podcast, I was on a Zoom interview with Snow Tree Media, and, believe it or not, the company I work for is featuring me on their website.
In addition, Sam is currently on tour across the pond. He is at the London Book Fair which will be held from March 12th-14th located in the new titles section of the Combined Book Exhibit area. Anyone at the London book fair check it out and let me know what you think.
Who would you most want to read your book?
Kids, parents, counselors, grandparents, anyone who interacts with kids. I want people to understand why sometimes they are pushed away from a loved one during this season. That includes pushing away friends or family.
Only good friends understand being pushed away by their friend and can still accept them as a friend when they rebound back to friend mode vs recluse mode. However, some peers are lost as casualties during the SAD times because they never understood why this particular friend was pushing them away.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of greatest/inspirational authors?
I don’t know about Mount Rushmore and picking four authors, but I am astounded as a teacher, as a writer and someone who suffers from a form of depression with JK Rowling. I am amazed what she was able to accomplish personally and professionally. All the challenges she went through: death of her mother, unhealthy marriage, inevitable divorce. Also, she was living on Social Security as a single mother and went through a bout of overwhelming depression requiring therapy before she became a famous author.
At Harry Potter’s peak popularity in the late 1990’s, her books were in the hands of struggling readers and got them to read. Her books were read by both children and adults alike. They inspired readers who were younger to strive to read these books higher than their grade level. Her books were later made into movies. Talk about an underdog story!!
Have you ever mentored another writer with their writing?
I have not mentored another writer other than when I was teaching or tutoring in college. I have, however, been on the receiving end. My mom, who has three books published, has helped me edit my two books. I have been lucky enough to go on this author journey with her.
Every time there was a new addition to the story, I would hurry over to show her and then we would celebrate by going out to eat. Being able to share this journey with her has been a rewarding experience. One that I will forever cherish.
Is there an idea that a non-writer has pitched to you that you have considered writing?
No. My ideas come from my life experiences. I still have a few book ideas up my sleeve pending on what happens with this SAD book. How I approach publishing my next book is based on what happens with this book. I plan to write a query letter and submit that one, but we’ll see.
When I wrote this book, Why is Sam So SAD?, I was not in the right mind frame where I could receive criticism at the time. I was blessed as to how I got my book published.
I told my coworker I wrote a book, and I had no idea how to get it published. Surprisingly, she told me about her best friend who was a published author who used a Christian publishing company. So, I called her friend. Her friend was awesome. She told me how she got her book published.
After the phone call ended, I got off the phone and typed in the website she told me about, or so I thought. I called the company website I had typed in which was a different Christian website than the one she recommended. Whoops!
However, the person I talked to was very personable and understanding. It wasn’t until after I got off the phone I realized that it was not the company she used and recommended. I ended up signing with this whoops company.
Do you ever use dreams as inspiration for your writing?
No, not technically dreams per se, but I thought up Sam in my head while at work during Covid while my mind wondered. I was working 14 hour shifts seven days a week. During the first two years, I rarely saw the sun. I went to work before the sun came up and left work after the sun had already gone down. This took a huge toll on me.
This is when my idea to write the book was born. I would get ideas at work, write them on Post-its and then come home and type up a full concept of what was on the Post-it.
Are you a big reader? Do you own a large collection of books, or are you more of a borrower?
I am a big reader, and when I was a Preschool teacher, I hoped to inspire that in my students. I would read at least two books a day to my students, if not more. My classroom library collection that I purchased during my 15 years of teaching is worth quite a bit. The majority of the books are hardcover.
One of my very favorite teaching memories involves one of those hardcover books from my classroom library, yet I didn’t buy it. This particular book was in a collection of books that the school librarian was getting rid of and was giving away to the teachers. The book I chose was a picture book called, How Thunder and Lightning Came to Be: A Choctaw Tail. I loved the book immediately. The illustrations were very colorful and artistically based on the Choctaw culture. The majority of my students were Native American. So, I figured my kids would relate and enjoy the cute story.
The story was about two birds in the sky. One bird laid eggs and when the eggs rolled it made the thunder sound. The other bird in the sky races to catch the eggs. The racing bird made lightning sparks with its feet.
Sometimes as teachers, you think your students are going to love a book and instead it flops. This was the case with this book. Although, not giving up on that book, I read it to myself again but this time with a preschooler’s perspective and I came up with adding sound and movements.
Doing that this book was a hit. In fact, I had to read it many times by request. When I read the words, “Boom rumble rumble,” we would clap as we said “Boom” and roll our arms around and around when I read “rumble rumble.”
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
I have no idea how to measure my success. Right now, I am just enjoying the published author journey. I never even thought this was possible. However, down the road I would love to be touring schools. I already have my presentation ready to go. It just needs some tweaking here and there.
Author links
Links will open in a new tab.
Watch the book trailer on YouTube
Listen to Dan Granger on the ReaderHouse Author Roundtable Podcast
Buy it!
Buy a copy of Why is Sam So SAD? here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Pin it!
