Kids' Book Review is delighted to welcome Erik Weibel. This amazing 11-year-old not only runs his own book blog (This Kid Reviews Books), he is committed to breaking his school AR (Advanced Reader) points record, is using his super reading prowess to raise money to help another child, and has even written and published his own book, The Adventures of Tomato and Pea.
We think Erik is not only an inspiring reader (you can find his amazing list of 2013 reads here), but also a gifted writer and we are especially delighted to have Erik visit Kids' Book Review today to share about writing his first book.
First I’d like to thank the nice people at Kids' Book Reviews for allowing me to be a guest here today!
I’m Erik, the blogger at This Kid Reviews Books (TKRB)! I am an 11-year-old kid in the 6th grade that loves to read. I started reading independently at an early age (my mom says around 4). I have always loved reading books and I had an idea when I was nine that I would write book reviews for newspapers. My dad suggested that I start a book review blog instead of trying to get a newspaper to hire me.
I have been reviewing books for two years now and I LOVE it (the funny thing is, I now also write a monthly book column for a local free newspaper too). I just self-published my first book called The Adventures of Tomato and Pea: Book 1, A Bad Idea.
Book details
The Adventures of Tomato and Pea Book 1: A Bad Idea
By Erik Weibel
Published August 8, 2013 by CreateSpace
72 pages – ages 5-10
Book description
“For years the evil villain Wintergreen had tried to destroy super crime-stopper, Tomato and his sidekick, Pea, and take over planet Oarg. In a plan gone wrong, Wintergreen traps himself along with his arch-nemesis in a runaway rocket ship that crashes on a strange planet called “EAR-TH”. Now these perennial enemies must learn to work together to survive the dangers on this strange world. Hungry birds, enormous snakes and the giant inhabitants of EAR-TH stand between this brawling bunch of aliens and finding a way home.”
I got the idea to write the book when my Uncle Dave (Dave Costella) made two stuffed toys and told me they were named Tomato and Pea (I think he named them after the color of the fabric he made them out of). Dave gave me the toys and asked me if I could write a story about them (I am always making up stories). I was nine years old at the time. Dave told me he didn’t care what the story was about, to just use my imagination.
I decided that Tomato and Pea are aliens that live on planet Oarg (and no they are not vegetables). They are Smidges (the inhabitants of Oarg) and stand about 5 inches tall. Tomato is Oarg’s greatest hero. Tomato and Pea work for Oarg’s Law Enforcement (O.L.E.) Agency.
It took me almost two years to make the original 500 word story into the 9000+ word chapter book and another year to edit it (with the advice and help of all kinds of very nice people I met through my blog).
What is cool is that some of my friends look at the book and they are thinking “I can do that too.” It would be awesome if my book got other kids to write and try to get published.
I am really proud of the book I wrote. It is a fun and silly story that I think kids will enjoy. If you read it, I hope you do!
If you would like to know more about Erik and his reading and writing journey, you can visit This Kid Reviews Books where you will also find information on how to purchase a copy of The Adventures of Tomato and Pea Book 1: A Bad Idea.
