|
|
|
|
 |
ABOUT COLLEGIATE KIDS BOOKSWhen my daughter Lauren was born in 2002, I discovered not only the joy of reading to my own child, but also the opportunities I found to share with her my passion for my beloved Wolfpack of North Carolina State University! Because I knew her mother would also be promoting her own beloved Tarheels of the University of North Carolina with equal enthusiasm, I felt a sense of urgency about this need to influence Lauren's leanings. As a product of a mixed marriage myself, (my father, an N.C. State graduate, and my mother, a graduate of UNC) I knew that time was of the essence. Knowing the powerful influence of a mother's love (and persuasion) it was imperative that my daughter choose red as her favorite color as soon as possible. But how? I began to notice that when she was old enough to select books for us to read to her, she gravitated toward the touch and feel, interactive children's books on the bookshelf. That was when I began creating a touch and feel, interactive NCSU children's book. Teaming up with a former fraternity brother with an artistic style greatly influenced by The Far Side's Gary Larson , I knew we could put together a winning product. Eight years later, Hootie Bowman and I brought our ideas, dreams, prototypes to life in our first in a series of university and college mascot books. We formed Collegiate Kids Books, and "Go Hokies Go!" went to print! Other institutions of higher learning have requested versions of the book featuring their own mascot to stock in their student book stores. So, does Lauren cheer for the Wolfpack or the Tar Heels? Well, it depends on which book in the series she's being read that night GO WOLFPACK GO! GO TAR HEELS GO! GO HOKIES GO! GO PIRATES GO! or GO MOUNTAINEERS GO! The books are THAT persuasive! WHO WE ARE  BRYAN JONESBryan is blissfully married to Kathryn C. Jones, everyday is a Honeymoon in the house of Jones. He has two great girls, Lauren and Meredith. Every day he is subjected to the newest in new of dance performances, gymnastics and cheerleading routines. The five years spent at NCSU did not quite make him a Doctor, but the political science degree has been extremely useful in landing him jobs with The Appalachian Angler as a fishing guide, Sugar Mountain and Breckenridge Colorado as a ski instructor. He is referred to as Bill Shakespeare by his partner Hootie and still has his writing proofread by his 9th grade English teacher, his children and his mother.  HOOTIE BOWMANHootie is a Salesman by day and Super Illustrator by night. Saving the world one drawing at a time, Hootie has been doodling for as long as he can remember. He has received numerous awards such as Best Cartoonist in His Family and Most Likely to Doodle in Class. Early in his career, Hootie honed his skills on bathroom walls and school books. Hootie later on took his talents to NC State University where he received a degree in 8 short years. During one of many short stints in everything from designing men's suit buttons to selling toothpick dispensers, he received a call from Bryan and Collegiate Kids Books was born. The two haven't been the same since. Hootie is married to Page. They have 3 kids - Thomas, Mary Alice, and Charlie. |
|
  |
|
 |
||||