Welcome to the 2023 ARIA Author Showcase and Giveaway Event! 

  

  

How to enter – Comment on the daily showcases to enter the daily Giveaways. Comments close one week after the initial Showcase post. GRAND PRIZE drawn on Dec 8th (1 -$250, 1 -$100, or a 1 -$50 Amazon gift card. One grand prize pp) – For every showcase you post on, you automatically gain one entry to the grand prize. 30 Authors = 30 entries.    

Kara Marziali will be at the Rhode Island Author Expo   

On to the Showcase! 

 

What name do you like to write under? Kara Marziali 

Where do you call home? Currently residing in West Warwick 

What genre(s) do you write? children's books, short stories, and poetry 

What genre(s) were you drawn to when you were younger? Was there a reason that genre(s) appealed to you the most? I've always loved mysteries or suspenseful stories. There's just something so compelling about a plot twist! 

What were some of your favorite books growing up? Why? "Free to Be You & Me" (along with the album that accompanied the book). I knew all the songs, poems and stories by heart. When I got a little older "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe" delighted me. 

What are some of your favorite books today? I'm still a fan of mysteries and my guilty pleasure is a true crime novel. The grittier, the better. Which is a far departure from Kid Lit, doncha think? 

What inspired you to become a write? I've always been a daydreamer and a storyteller, so writing was the best way for me to express myself. Growing up, my best friend and I used to write stories together, and I've kept a daily journal since the age of 10. Throughout elementary, middle and high school, teachers told me I was a "good writer" and many of them encouraged me to put pen to paper. Professionally, I have worked as a copywriter, editor, and director of communications. 

 

Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings 

In "Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings," Kara is a sensitive koala trying to process her feelings. Will she be able to sort out her emotions before she gets ready for the first day of school? Children will identify with Kara Koala as she explores a kaleidoscope of feelings. This delightful story, endorsed by psychologists and educators, encourages readers to accept the myriad of emotions we all experience, develop empathy, increase self-awareness, and recognize that sometimes it's necessary to talk to someone about our emotions. The other two books in the series allow children to re-engage with Kara Koala and her friends by partaking in STEAM-based activities in the Activity Book or by writing out their feelings in the Journal. 

Tell us a little about how Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else? As a little girl, I didn't know how to regulate the thoughts or actions around my emotions. My mother instinctively knew how to help me process all those BIG feelings. "Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings" is dedicated to my mom. Then when I became a mom to a child on the autistic spectrum, it was even more obvious to me that EVERYONE needs to learn that our feelings—all of them—are part of the human experience. I knew I wasn’t the only sensitive kid who got overwhelmed by emotions--or adult, for that matter. We have made strides in talking about our moods, mental health, and emotional intelligence. But we still have a way to go. I don't want anyone to feel shame or feel uncomfortable expressing their feelings. The Activity book and Journal were a natural follow up to the story book. If we're talking about our feelings, why not write about them? The Activity book, which was dedicated to my son, reinforces some of the messages in the first book while offering plenty of STEAM fun and games for children of all ages. 

What do you like best about being a writer? I have a heart for service, a love of learning, and I endeavor to inspire people. So whether my reader is 8 or 80, I just want to say something meaningful or motivational. I want people to feel special after they've spent some time with my words. 

If you could collaborate with any author past or present, who would it be? What would the title of the book be? (If possible) - Give us a one sentence blurb. Hmmm... What an interesting question! I'd partner with William Shakespeare to write a play called "To Thine Own Self Be True." I'm not sure if it's a tragedy or comedy yet! 

You can follow Kara Marziali here - 

https://www.KaraKoala.com 

Kara is giving away a copy of Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings 

To enter, comment below. --> What's the earliest "first day of school," memory you have? How did it feel to go back to school then?

(Comments are open for one week)