Jenn Foster and Melanie Johnson co-owners of Elite Online Publishing, interview Ekaterina Otiko, the creative force behind the bestselling children’s book series “Sophie and Stephie the Traveling Sisters.” Born in the former Soviet Union and a globetrotter who has visited nearly a hundred countries, Ekaterina brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to children’s literature.
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What You’ll Learn In This Episode:
- Importance of Cultural Diversity in Children’s Literature.
- Value of Action and Momentum in Publishing.
- Community and Support in the Publishing Journey.
Quotes:
“I really wanted it to bring that diversity into the world, and I really wanted the kids to be super excited, like I was as a little kid. So, I wanted not just to be a narrative. I want it to be a magical adventure. So that’s where the idea of magical globe came to my mind, and the travel sisters Sophie and Stephie on adventures around the world, and in each new story, they have to complete a mission.” (02:54)
“I guess the biggest advice to the fellow authors would be just don’t hesitate because because everybody’s super supportive. They love your mission.” (11:00)
“Whoever goes the self publishing route to find a great creative team. Everybody’s important, right? And who you work with is tremendously important from my illustrator. To designer, to curriculum development, and to my wonderful marketing and promoting team. Everybody matters. So I feel like, doing it now and finding the right team is the best advice for an author.” (15:38)
About Ekaterina Otiko:
Ekaterina loves to travel and inspire children to explore the world. She has lived on four continents, speaks six languages, and visited almost a hundred countries. Ekaterina holds a master of arts degree in international affairs and studied psychology, linguistics, and elementary education. She also ran an international education company, visiting schools and universities around the world. Ekaterina’s studies and travels prompted her to create “Sophie & Stephie: The Travel Sisters”, a book series based on travel adventures with her two daughters.
When Ekaterina isn’t writing travel stories, trotting the globe, or mastering a new language, she enjoys spending time with her daughters, dancing, doing yoga, painting, kayaking, and frolicking in the ocean. She also loves animals and wishes she had an elephant in her backyard. Ekaterina lives in California with her doctor husband and their two courageous daughters. With her suitcase always packed, her mind always open to exploring a new location, and her computer always ready to receive a new story, Ekaterina can’t wait to share her experiences with young readers.
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Video URL: https://youtu.be/G1-hFF5-8A0
Website: https://EliteOnlinePublishing.com
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