Father Writes Novel For His Son and Wins Parents' Choice Book Award
By: Christina Mancuso Jun. 13, 2013
A year ago, Jeff Gunhus didn't sit down to write a bestselling novel. He was just trying to find a way to encourage his 11 year-old reluctant reader son to give books a try. Today he's writing the third book of the popularJack Templar Monster Hunter series, released a supernatural thriller for adults, earned a spot on the Amazon bestseller lists in his category and received accolades for Book #1 including designation as the Foreword Book of the Year Award Finalist and the just announced Parents' Choice Recommended Book Award.
But the most exciting outcome is that his son Jack is now an avid reader. Gunhus shares his journey with other parents who might have their own reluctant reader at home in his book Reaching Your Reluctant Reader and gives tips every parent can use to get their kids reading this summer.
A father of five and an avid reader himself, Jeff Gunhus was shocked to find out his oldest son was not enthusiastic about books. "Reading can impact so many aspects of life for a child, from improving school performance and developing self-confidence, to fostering analytical thinking and encouraging creativity. A good book can improve a young person's life in ways that a video game or TV show never will," says Gunhus. Because he knew the importance of reading, he immediately began looking for ways to make reading fun for his son. As any parent with a reluctant reader knows, sometimes you have to get creative.
Through trial and error, Gunhus discovered a father-son early morning book club was what his son needed to become a more engaged reader. With his next youngest son along for the ride, Gunhus and his sons woke up an hour earlier every day before school to explore different books. Through reading together and eventually sharing early drafts of what would become Gunhus's debut middle grades fantasy novel, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, his son not only learned to like reading, but became an avid reader within months.
"While I start to lose some parents when they hear I wrote a novel to help get my son excited about reading," admits Gunhus, "I get them right back when I let them know the ideas in the book don't require them to write in order to reach their reluctant reader. 'Thank God,' is the most common response when I make that point clear.
Reaching Your Reluctant Readerprovides tips and encouragement to assist parents and others working with children to instill a love of reading in them. His tips include the how to get buy-in from your child to give read more, how to choose the right books, how make the process fun and where to access resources for additional help. To further assist children with reading difficulties, all author proceeds from Reaching Your Reluctant Reader aredonated to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
Reaching Your Reluctant Reader and the Jack Templar Monster Hunter books are available in bookstores and on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and most online retailers in both paperback and ebook format. Learn more about his books at www.JeffGunhus.com and visit www.JackTemplar.com to join Jack Templar in the fight against monsters.
About Jeff Gunhus: He is the author of four motivational career guides for college students.The first book in his middle grades fantasy series, Jack Templar Monster Hunter was published in October 2012 by Seven Guns Press and was followed by Jack Templar and the Monster Academy in April 2013.Book #3 Jack Templar and the Lord of the Vampireswill be released in September 2013. His first novel for adults, the supernatural thriller Night Chill was released in May 2013. Gunhus is the co-founder and CEO of National Services Group, a national home improvement company, and resides in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife and five children.
To view this video on YouTube, please visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNeq99GVzVE
Media Contact:
Jeff Gunhus Seven Guns Press, 4433066691, jgunhus@aol.com
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SOURCE Jeff Gunhus
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