Meet Suzy Beamer Bohnert, Author of the Game-Day Book Series and Binkie Learns to Fly
What inspired you to become an author?
I come from a family of athletes. My sister and brother both played collegiate tennis, and I played three sports in high school. I lettered in basketball, soccer, and softball. Ever since I was a young child—and I’ll date myself—we had a Weekly Reader that we had each week in school. There was a section in it where you could write about whatever your passion was. I always wrote about sports.
I think I started having the Weekly Reader in third grade, and even then, I would tell people that I wanted to be an “arthur.” I couldn’t say “author”—couldn’t pronounce it—but I knew that I wanted to write, and I wanted to write about sports because I was a tomboy. I would play with all the kids in the neighborhood—it didn't matter if they were boys—and we would play football, and baseball, and basketball. From that experience, I always knew that I wanted to chronicle the happenings in the sports world. I was always fascinated with sports at a young age. That was my passion, and it still is.
How did you come up with the idea for a series of books that teach lingo used in various sports?
I told my Dad that I had this idea about writing a book, but I didn't know it would lead to a series. I always liked to bounce ideas off my father. He said, “Yeah, I think that’s really good because to know a game you really have to understand the language of it. Then, once you understand the language, you can learn more about the rules and how the game’s played.”
So, I was trying to aim the first book for those that were beginners learning the game and also those with a sophisticated knowledge of the game. I had different reviewers, including friends—men and women—and my Dad—and they all seemed to like it.
What I decided to do, too, was to make the books humorous. I didn’t want them to be dull. I made them pocketbook-sized, very brief and concise, but very factual. That has aided in their success because people enjoy them, they can relate to them, and they find the books entertaining. That has helped sales and made the books popular among women, men, and youths.
What was the first book you ever wrote?
My first book was called Game-Day Goddess: Learning Football’s Lingo. I came up with the name because I wanted something catchy. I knew the book would be about the language of the game as well as an overview and the rules. So, I thought, what’s a catchy way to—when you’re talking about a game—to phrase that? I didn’t want to use language because that sounds like a dictionary. So I came up with “lingo.”
Then, I asked, what can catch the women? A goddess. Everyone wants to be a goddess, and you want to be your best on the day of the game. So I strung it all together, and it became the title it is today!
How long did it take to get your first book published?
I learned to be persistent. I thought I had a good idea and wanted to press forward with it. It took about a year. I contacted a lot of people at different firms until I got the "yes" I was looking for. I learned that I shouldn't let the first person who said "no" stop me from going forward.
What inspired you to write Binkie Learns to Fly?
My son was learning to swim, and he had doubts about whether he should jump in the pool because the water may have been too cold, or he was not sure if he’d float. I told him that I would write a book for him if he tried.
Binkie Learns to Fly is a heartwarming story about a butterfly, an insect afraid to fly until he gets encouragement from his mother, who points out the joy of seeing the world. At first timid, Binkie butterfly gains confidence and then learns to soar in the air, overcoming his fear and relishing flight. This is an upbeat book for babies through preschoolers, with an extended market to younger children, who may want to read the book to a sibling, neighbor, or friend.
What do you hope readers will learn from your books?
I guess that depends upon the book. Some of my books have been geared to adult women and adult men--the Game-Day Goddess Sports Series. I also have kids' books--the Game-Day Youth Sports Series and Binkie Learns to Fly, and those are geared for children kindergarten and up.
For the sports books, the message I’m trying to get across to people is that sports are not difficult to understand. They are very easy if you understand a few simple concepts. Also, sports can be a lot of fun. Whether you’re a gal or a guy, you don’t need to be afraid of sports because, yes, some who have played the game before or who watch it more than you might know more than you now, but with these books you can really learn a lot quickly. They're written in simple language, so that you can pick it up in a speedy way.
With Binkie Learns to Fly, I want people to know that they can overcome doubt.
You have won several awards for your books. What does that mean to you as an author? While I'm thrilled to win awards, it's even more satisfying to get good feedback. A lot of women have had positive reactions to the books--both the Game-Day Goddess Sports Series and the Game-Day Youth Sports Series--and they were seeing it from different perspectives. There were the women who, for instance, were football widows. Their husband or boyfriend would watch the game or they went to see their kids at games, and they knew nothing about the games. So they felt isolated; they were on the sidelines and not in the game. Those women were glad to find a resource that they could read quickly and pick up on the key points, so that they could enjoy the game with a friend, a boyfriend, or a husband.
There were other women who wanted to use the books to advance themselves in the business world because they wanted to do business with people who have the same values and interests. So let’s say their boss was a big Washington Redskins fan. Well, if they knew something about the game, maybe it would give them a chance to become more open and comfortable with one another. So they didn’t just have to talk about business, they could talk about personal things, such as sports.
I think those same women wanted to be accepted as a member of a team. If you do something simple like read the book then, for instance, you can comment on what happened on Monday Night Football. You say something that the guys and gals in your office can relate to. You talk to them about something that they know, and you can be a part of that conversation. So it creates a bond for people.
Another thing was people who had customers, because they might have been in sales and they dealt with men a lot, they found the book to be a great icebreaker. If you have a common interest and a shared value with someone, you can get that business conversation started right away.
Children's authors don't always get to choose who illustrates their books. Are you happy with how your illustrations turned out in Binkie Learns to Fly? Are the characters as you imagined them?
Because the book's theme is conquering doubt, I think the illustrations need to lift the spirits of infants, young children, and adult readers. This is a wonderful bedtime book with a positive ending, emphasizing the important relationship between parent and child, and I think the illustrations are just delightful and well done by Helen Tucker.
Are you working on any other books?
I am working on Game-Day Youth: Learning Football's Lingo. It will come out later this year, and it is another book in the Game-Day Youth Sports Series. These are perfect books for kids who, for instance, may play basketball, football, or baseball in gym class. They may play it with their friends at the local park, or they may play in a league, or they may want to watch the game on TV with Mom, Dad, or a friend. They might want to learn about how the game is played. These books are primers—whether they’ve just started out playing or whether they’ve played for several years. They’re helpful in learning the language of the game. If they don’t understand certain terms, there’s lingo in the back of the book that’s alphabetized, and all they have to do is flip to the back, and if they hear a term, they look it up and find out what it means. It’s helpful for a boy or a girl to use the books to learn the language of the game and how to play the game. Parents love them, too!
You can find out more about Suzy Beamer Bohnert and her books by visiting www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and mysite.verizon.net/suzybohnert. The books are available in print and e-book format.
I come from a family of athletes. My sister and brother both played collegiate tennis, and I played three sports in high school. I lettered in basketball, soccer, and softball. Ever since I was a young child—and I’ll date myself—we had a Weekly Reader that we had each week in school. There was a section in it where you could write about whatever your passion was. I always wrote about sports.
I think I started having the Weekly Reader in third grade, and even then, I would tell people that I wanted to be an “arthur.” I couldn’t say “author”—couldn’t pronounce it—but I knew that I wanted to write, and I wanted to write about sports because I was a tomboy. I would play with all the kids in the neighborhood—it didn't matter if they were boys—and we would play football, and baseball, and basketball. From that experience, I always knew that I wanted to chronicle the happenings in the sports world. I was always fascinated with sports at a young age. That was my passion, and it still is.
How did you come up with the idea for a series of books that teach lingo used in various sports?
I told my Dad that I had this idea about writing a book, but I didn't know it would lead to a series. I always liked to bounce ideas off my father. He said, “Yeah, I think that’s really good because to know a game you really have to understand the language of it. Then, once you understand the language, you can learn more about the rules and how the game’s played.”
So, I was trying to aim the first book for those that were beginners learning the game and also those with a sophisticated knowledge of the game. I had different reviewers, including friends—men and women—and my Dad—and they all seemed to like it.
What I decided to do, too, was to make the books humorous. I didn’t want them to be dull. I made them pocketbook-sized, very brief and concise, but very factual. That has aided in their success because people enjoy them, they can relate to them, and they find the books entertaining. That has helped sales and made the books popular among women, men, and youths.
What was the first book you ever wrote?
My first book was called Game-Day Goddess: Learning Football’s Lingo. I came up with the name because I wanted something catchy. I knew the book would be about the language of the game as well as an overview and the rules. So, I thought, what’s a catchy way to—when you’re talking about a game—to phrase that? I didn’t want to use language because that sounds like a dictionary. So I came up with “lingo.”
Then, I asked, what can catch the women? A goddess. Everyone wants to be a goddess, and you want to be your best on the day of the game. So I strung it all together, and it became the title it is today!
How long did it take to get your first book published?
I learned to be persistent. I thought I had a good idea and wanted to press forward with it. It took about a year. I contacted a lot of people at different firms until I got the "yes" I was looking for. I learned that I shouldn't let the first person who said "no" stop me from going forward.
What inspired you to write Binkie Learns to Fly?
My son was learning to swim, and he had doubts about whether he should jump in the pool because the water may have been too cold, or he was not sure if he’d float. I told him that I would write a book for him if he tried.
Binkie Learns to Fly is a heartwarming story about a butterfly, an insect afraid to fly until he gets encouragement from his mother, who points out the joy of seeing the world. At first timid, Binkie butterfly gains confidence and then learns to soar in the air, overcoming his fear and relishing flight. This is an upbeat book for babies through preschoolers, with an extended market to younger children, who may want to read the book to a sibling, neighbor, or friend.
What do you hope readers will learn from your books?
I guess that depends upon the book. Some of my books have been geared to adult women and adult men--the Game-Day Goddess Sports Series. I also have kids' books--the Game-Day Youth Sports Series and Binkie Learns to Fly, and those are geared for children kindergarten and up.
For the sports books, the message I’m trying to get across to people is that sports are not difficult to understand. They are very easy if you understand a few simple concepts. Also, sports can be a lot of fun. Whether you’re a gal or a guy, you don’t need to be afraid of sports because, yes, some who have played the game before or who watch it more than you might know more than you now, but with these books you can really learn a lot quickly. They're written in simple language, so that you can pick it up in a speedy way.
With Binkie Learns to Fly, I want people to know that they can overcome doubt.
You have won several awards for your books. What does that mean to you as an author? While I'm thrilled to win awards, it's even more satisfying to get good feedback. A lot of women have had positive reactions to the books--both the Game-Day Goddess Sports Series and the Game-Day Youth Sports Series--and they were seeing it from different perspectives. There were the women who, for instance, were football widows. Their husband or boyfriend would watch the game or they went to see their kids at games, and they knew nothing about the games. So they felt isolated; they were on the sidelines and not in the game. Those women were glad to find a resource that they could read quickly and pick up on the key points, so that they could enjoy the game with a friend, a boyfriend, or a husband.
There were other women who wanted to use the books to advance themselves in the business world because they wanted to do business with people who have the same values and interests. So let’s say their boss was a big Washington Redskins fan. Well, if they knew something about the game, maybe it would give them a chance to become more open and comfortable with one another. So they didn’t just have to talk about business, they could talk about personal things, such as sports.
I think those same women wanted to be accepted as a member of a team. If you do something simple like read the book then, for instance, you can comment on what happened on Monday Night Football. You say something that the guys and gals in your office can relate to. You talk to them about something that they know, and you can be a part of that conversation. So it creates a bond for people.
Another thing was people who had customers, because they might have been in sales and they dealt with men a lot, they found the book to be a great icebreaker. If you have a common interest and a shared value with someone, you can get that business conversation started right away.
Children's authors don't always get to choose who illustrates their books. Are you happy with how your illustrations turned out in Binkie Learns to Fly? Are the characters as you imagined them?
Because the book's theme is conquering doubt, I think the illustrations need to lift the spirits of infants, young children, and adult readers. This is a wonderful bedtime book with a positive ending, emphasizing the important relationship between parent and child, and I think the illustrations are just delightful and well done by Helen Tucker.
Are you working on any other books?
I am working on Game-Day Youth: Learning Football's Lingo. It will come out later this year, and it is another book in the Game-Day Youth Sports Series. These are perfect books for kids who, for instance, may play basketball, football, or baseball in gym class. They may play it with their friends at the local park, or they may play in a league, or they may want to watch the game on TV with Mom, Dad, or a friend. They might want to learn about how the game is played. These books are primers—whether they’ve just started out playing or whether they’ve played for several years. They’re helpful in learning the language of the game. If they don’t understand certain terms, there’s lingo in the back of the book that’s alphabetized, and all they have to do is flip to the back, and if they hear a term, they look it up and find out what it means. It’s helpful for a boy or a girl to use the books to learn the language of the game and how to play the game. Parents love them, too!
You can find out more about Suzy Beamer Bohnert and her books by visiting www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and mysite.verizon.net/suzybohnert. The books are available in print and e-book format.
Stacie Theis / beachboundbooks@yahoo.com / copyright 2012