West Virginia National Storyteller Releases MUDDLING THROUGH: PERSPECTIVES ON PARENTING

Bil Lepp, five time champion of the West Virginia Liars' Contest has taken a turn in his career. Lepp, whose stories have won accolades from the Parents' Choice Foundation, The National Parenting Publications Awards, Storytelling World Awards, and other organizations, has published a non-fiction ebook on parenting, Muddling Through: Perspectives on Parenting (Familius, April 2013).

Muddling Through: Perspectives on Parenting, recently ranked #2 on Amazon Kindle sales in its category, is a funny little advice book for kids and adults. Each chapter begins with one of Lepp's funny tales, and then offers advice on subjects such as patience, having fun, traditions, the importance of reading, faith, and fishing. "The idea of the book," says Lepp, "is that the whole family can enjoy it together. The book is designed so that it can be read aloud at the supper table or at bedtime with the whole family. Adults and kids will both enjoy the stories, and then families can talk through the advice and suggestions together. If nothing else, everybody will get a laugh."

Whether you're a single parent, an only child, or a member of a large family, there is something in this book for you. Lepp and his wife have two kids, age 12 and 8. With what Lepp calls "a collective twenty years of parenting experience" he draws on experiences from his own family life to try and help other families muddle through with success.

"I've never read an advice book or a self-help book," Lepp admits. "I have seldom read directions past the point where they say failure to read all these directions may result in harm and death. But when Familius asked me to incorporate some of my tall-tales into an advice book, I jumped at the chance. I don't claim to be the world's best parent, but I do think I have some ideas worth sharing. This is an advice book for people who don't read advice books. It is short, inexpensive, and funny."

The stories that begin each chapter illustrate various moments that might occur in a family's life. For example, one vignette describes how Bil likes to spend time with his children during the holidays making and decorating sugar cookies. The idea of the activity is not to make perfect cookies, but to have fun. So, if one child wants to make a Christmas ghoul or a vampire Santa, that's fine. In the end, Paula, Bil's wife, is somewhat dismayed to discover that Bil and the kids have made snowmenbut that the snowmen are decorated with yellow icing. "Yellow snowmen may not look appetizing," says Bil, "but they are delicious.

About the Author: A storyteller, author, and recording artist, Bil Lepp's works have received awards and recognition from The Parents' Choice Foundation, The National Parenting Publications Assoc., Storytelling World, and the Public Library Assoc. Lepp has been featured numerous times at the National Storytelling Festival, and at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and major storytelling and corporate events across the country. Bil lives in Charleston, WV with his wife and two children.

About the Publisher: Familius is a transmedia publisher who publishes for marriage, parenting, family fun, education, health and wellness, and children. Familius mission is to help families be happy.

Book Details:
Title: Muddling Through: Perspectives on Parenting
Author: Bil Lepp
Publisher: Familius
Publication: May 2013, $10.95
Internet Marketing, ISBN 9781938301032
6 x 9 trade paperback, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, IPad, ePub, 128 pages, illustrations

Available from bookstores, online booksellers and http://www.familius.com,
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
1-559-876-2170
Familius.com

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