Author Spotlight- Carlotta Berry
Author Spotlight- Carlotta Berry
Author event reminder, a new story announcement, and Indie Reads
I recently read Author Carlotta Berry's children’s books called There’s A Robot In My Closet and What’s the Matter with Orbit.
Here are my reviews:
This book was so sweet to read.
I loved how it combined imagination with real-life STEM, teaching children about STEM in an easy way.
I found it realistic as well as it showed the little girl being too shy to show her family her interests but slowly gathering the courage. This is just as equally shown throughout the book when Rovie freezes in front of her family rather than showing what it can do.
I think this book would be a great resource for preschool classes, kindergarten, and first grades. And it would also make a great introduction to STEM for kids ages 3–7.
I give this a 5-star review.
Rashida’s robot orbit isn’t acting like himself, so she sets off to figure out the reason why.
Rashida conducts research by speaking with everyone in her family who provides suggestions as to why Orbit isn’t working correctly. And after talking with each family member, Rashida tests out their hypothesis.
This book shows kids in a fun way the steps to the scientific method, allowing them to see how Rashida has a theory, gathers information, creates a hypothesis, performs tests, and then draws a conclusion.
I think that this book would be perfect for classrooms of grades Kindergarten, First grade, and Second grade.
I give this a 5-star review.
An interview with Author Carlotta Berry
What drew you to writing STEM books for kids?
I started writing STEM Books for kids during the pandemic. I always knew I wanted to do something to market and promote STEM to young people and not-so-young people to get more diverse voices into STEM.
In particular women, girls, Brown and Black people. Out of that desire my first book, “There’s A Robot in My closet” was born. All of my children’s books have been published in 2024, the first one in March. Although they were written a while ago, being a visiting scientist at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis this year and having people ask me about my children’s books finally got me off my behind to hire an illustrator, hire an editor, and get them published. They have been received with great interest and it is my hope that the sales will eventually meet the enthusiasm. LINKS: Noiresteminist.com/childrensbooks https://www.noiresteminist.com/post/children-s-books-coming-soon
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming an author?
As an engineering professor, I have written technical publications, textbooks, and lectures for years. The transition to fictional writing started with Black STEM Romance first published in June 2022.
Even though it has been over 2 years, I still consider myself a rookie fictional author because the transition from technical writing was not seamless or easy. I had to learn about voice, perspective, dialogue, character development, tropes, plot holes, and on and on. I am getting better but I don’t want to just write I want to do it well so I had to study and also get a writing mentor and editor.
Similarly, with children’s books, I had to make sure that my stories were introducing STEM and robots but also hitting at the correct level, not too easy or not too difficult. I also hope to write STEM books for older kids, YA, eventually. Maybe 5th — 8th grade. In fact, even my Black STEM Romance novels are appropriate for HS Level because it is more about the STEM and romance than erotica or explicit sex scenes.
https://www.carlottaardell.com/post/can-an-engineering-professor-write-contemporary-romance-novels https://www.carlottaardell.com/post/make-stem-steamy https://www.carlottaardell.com/blog
What things do you hope young readers gain from your books?
I hope they see themselves and realize that they are meant to do STEM and be in STEM. As they saying goes, representation matters and if they can see robotics engineers, electronic engineers who act like them, look like them and show their creativity, curiosity and innovation then they will be inspired to pursue STEM as well.
Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
Okay, I have written a lot so I will link and paste my bio here if that’s okay!
https://noiresteminist.com/press-kit
Book Event Reminder
Again, I appreciate you all being here with me. And while I realize you all aren’t local to my area (Lancaster Pennsylvania), I am participating in a local author event at the Lititz Public Library tomorrow from 10-12.
Even if you already own a book from me, I would be happy to sign it or just to meet you. And another perk is that there are other authors there as well!
Story Announcement!
I am happy to share that the latest installment of Malarkey's Imaginomnibus Anthology series is nearly here!
My story in it is called Promotion Day, a story about a guy named Todd who gets promoted at work after 10 years. However, after seeing the boss for his promotion, his co-worker Regina notices Todd has vanished…and she is the only one who remembers him.
The eBook will be available for free.
Indie Reads
Thanks to a series of unfortunate events—and one backstabbing frenemy—home is exactly where I’m headed. Back to Winterspell, the small community in Eastern Washington, where magic runs rampant and humans are outlawed. Faster than you can say hocus pocus I’m unpacking my bags and settling into the guest room of my parents’ house, trying to ignore the creeping sensation that I’ll never break free again.
The one thing Winterspell has going for it is the sweets shop in the center of town, a bakery filled with magical creations designed to enchant the tastebuds and charm even the pickiest of connoisseurs. Luckily for me, I get the friends and family discount since my parents own the famous Sugar Shack. If I want room and board I have to frost cupcakes and sling macaroons with the rest of the fam.
Unfortunately, things in Winterspell aren’t all sugar cookies and rainbows. According to the local news, a dangerous sea serpent has claimed the lives of three missing girls. The journalist in me has to have a look for myself, and what I find is something far more deadly.
Book 1: FOREIGN DECEIT
Sergeant David Wolf of the Sluice County SD headquartered in the ski resort town of Rocky Points, Colorado, receives word that his brother has committed suicide in the Alps of Italy. Devastation and resentment over his only sibling's selfish act quickly gives way to a nagging suspicion that he isn't getting the whole truth.
Conviction alone is enough to pull Wolf from pressing events in his Colorado Rockies home town to the entirely foreign land of Northern Italy, and into a deadlier situation than he could have imagined.
With the help of a beautiful officer of the Carabinieri, Wolf must piece together the mystery of his brother's last fateful night without ruffling too many feathers, or paying the ultimate price.
FBI agent Emma Griffin is sent undercover to the small sleepy town of Feathered Nest to uncover the truth behind the strings of disappearances that has left the town terrified.
To Emma there is nothing that can lay buried forever. Even though her own childhood has been plagued by deaths and disappearances.
Her mother's death, her father's disappearance, and her boyfriend's disappearance. The only cases that she hasn't solved.
Her obsession with finding out the truth behind her past was what led her to join the FBI.
Now, she must face what may be her biggest case. In Cabin 13 there lies an uneasy feeling. The feeling of her movements being watched.
When a knock on her door revealed a body on her porch and her name written on a piece of paper in the dead man's hand. Suddenly her worlds collide.
With the past still haunting her, Emma must fight past her own demons to stop the body count from rising.
The woods have secrets. And this idyllic town has dark and murderous ones.
Either she reveals them or risk them claiming her too.