Review: From poetry to kids book
The Northern Star 25th December 2016
A Lismore author is celebrating the release of his first children's book.
Roses are NOT Red is for kids of all ages, and explores the idea that things are not always as they seem.
Author Scott Rheuben spent his school years at Goonellabah Public and Kadina High.
After a few years away working and travelling, Scott resettled in Lismore.
He said he always wanted to be an author, but never thought he would be penning children's books.
Scott wrote poetic verse for nearly 25 years, which resulted in two publications, and then a fantasy adventure e-book.
But he had a pivotal moment at the Byron Writers Festival a few years ago when an audience member asked a panel of children's authors: "Do you write a story to convey a message or moral, or do you just write whatever comes out?"
The panel took no time at all in unanimously replying that they all wrote just whatever they feel like.
For some reason this troubled Scott. "I really felt that as a children's author you have some responsibility for providing a strong moralistic message," he said. "It seems like an opportunity that should not be wasted."
He now has a publication deal with Little Steps and the soon-to-be-released Roses are NOT Red.
