Alexandria, VA – Review: A Very Serious Pig
Publisher: Independently Published
Author/ Illustrations: Teresa Rodriguez
Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor
Zebra Rating: 5 Stripes
Mr. Trotter is a very serious pig. He wears a nifty bow tie; keeps his house and garden orderly. But no one ever sees him smile. A peppy rabbit, Breezy McBun, after receiving a helping hand, set out to make Mr. Trotter smile. This proves no easy task. Teresa said during a recent interview, “I’ve loved picture books for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always dreamed of writing and illustrating one of my own… Since this is my first book, my main goal was simply to complete the process… and I’m ready to take it further.”
This first-time author peppered A Very Serious Pig with meaningful messages for children, parents, and teachers. Encourage self-confidence. Children thrive when comfortable with who they are. Foster a caring attitude. Be kind and helpful toward people, even those who are different. Have courage, stand by your beliefs, but know when to accept what you can’t change. Think openly, creatively; your imagination is a great tool. Put yourself in the shoes of others. Kindness is accepting others as they are.
“Readers have told me they love how the story starts with Breezy trying to change Mr. Trotter, but ends with Breezy changing herself,” Teresa said. This flips the expected outcome. Often we want others to meet our expectations, without trying to understand the other person (or pig!). Teresa, an avid screenwriter, uses animals as central characters to deliver her themes. “Animals allow us to explore human emotions and challenges without the baggage of our own biases,” Rodriguez commented. This uncanny ability sets her work apart from others.
Teresa is a successful graphic and short story writer. She holds a BFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Several of her screenplays have been produced. Teresa lives in Milford, Delaware, and is already working on her next book, Furley Writes a Book.
What began as the author’s simple doodle of a serious-looking pig became a charming story of perseverance, acceptance, and friendship. A must-read for all ages: 5 Zebra Stripes.
Review: Storm Damage
Publisher: Galaxy Press
Author: T.R. Naus – Illustrator: Haileigh Enriquez
Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor
Zebra Rating: 5 Stripes
“Surreal,” Naus responded when asked about being part of an elite circle of sci-fi writers. Storm Damage is included in L. Ron Hubbard presents “Writers of the Future,” a compilation of the year’s best science fiction short stories. Naus and his wife Samantha moved to Alexandria in 2021, and fell in love with our vibe!
Short stories are quick-paced and exaggerated but complicated because the plot and characters develop fast. Storm Damage has characters reacting to challenges of their self-narrative or legacy. Naus noted, “Imagine everything you’ve worked for, the very thing that defined you, is the thing you need to give up for the greater good. It is easy to say ‘of course I would’ when you aren’t actually faced with the difficult choice.” But what do characters do when faced with that choice? Naus deftly builds tension between the main characters, Stanley and Dr. Gregors, as their decisions inch the world closer to global destruction.
T.R. Naus grew up on military bases in Alabama, Georgia, and West Germany. After high school, he joined the Army. His two daughters live in Fredericksburg with his two grandsons. Naus started writing during COVID. Haileigh Enriquez, a Californian, illustrated Storm Damage. She freelances for select clients and media companies.
Storm Damage is a taut, imaginative story. Out of this world: 5 Zebra Stripes.
