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Children’s Author and Illustrator 2025

Inspiring Children’s Picture Books 2024

As we approach the end of 2024 I am delighted with the new children’s picture books I have added to my children’s book collection this year. This year my books have been inspired by significant people I have met in my life, aspiring role models that have had a purpose and legacy that cannot be summed up in a little book. Yet I have tried my best to honour them in my modest little scribbles and writing!

Children’s First Prayers and Commandments!

My First Prayer Book

Inspired by both a teacher and family friend who would appear at our little cottage in Morningside like ‘Mary Poppins’ this book was dedicated to ‘Our Sister Magdalene’. Sister Magdalene would regularly visit offering my parents a break from myself and my 8 siblings. She always appeared on her motorcycle with her leather bag tied to the back seat of her Honda. We would all sit eagerly waiting around the fireplace to discover what she had tucked away in her bag; arts and crafts, puzzles or games -she never ceased to surprise us!

Sister Magdalene

Children’s Ten Commandments

Surprisingly my second book this year ‘Children’s Ten Commandments; Whispers from God was also inspired by another nun Sister Martina Boylan. I first met Martina in my early 20’s after graduating from Art College where we struck up a friendship and I discovered her amazing life’s story in particular her work in Uganda in the 1960’s and 70’s. Martina’s miraculous fervour for life continues unhampered even at 93 only earlier this summer she suddenly appeared at my front door with her zimmer after jumping on a train from London to come and visit her friends in Scotland.

Already both of these books have become personal favourites of mine with a special young nieces seal of approval by insisting that her dad reads her ‘My First Prayer Book’ every night.

I am not sure what new books I will have in store in 2025, and who will inspire me to put pencil to paper but both of these books were a pleasure to create, in honour of two of the most remarkable women I have had the pleasure to know!

Children's Ten Commandments; Whispers from God picture book by Children's Author and Illustrator Denise McKeever
My First Prayer Book picture book by Children's Author and Illustrator Denise McKeever

Learn more about reading both books along with Granny Burn Story Time!

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Digit: Encourage your child’s interest and love of numbers and counting

Discover The Scribblers and Digit: Encourage your child’s interest and love of numbers and counting! Available to download FREE in eBook format from 29th February to 2nd March 2024 only.

Welcome to the wonderful world of ‘The Scribblers’ and the joyful world of Digit! Discover and encourage your Child’s individual skills and talents through numbers and understanding their love of counting and numeracy with our wonderful character Digit! If your child love’s numbers, counting and arithmetic this humorous characterisations of your Child’s talents and joy of numbers can develop into something wonderful and creative. 

Why not discover if you may have your own little Scribe,Doodle,Splat or Digit?

  • The Scribblers book series is an Exciting and Creative Book Series!
  • Each Book Highlights the Individual Skills and Talents of Children at an Early Age!
  • Does your Little One Love numbers & counting? 
  • Introduce your child to our Fantastical Creative Creatures that they will Love and Identify with as they discover their Own Individual Talents, Interests and Loves.
  • Read this book along and aloud with Granny Burns Story Time on YouTube!
  • REMEBER ALL of our Paperbacks/Hardbacks are printed especially for your individual order by Amazon!

Enjoy also some humorous characterisations of young children depicted by Digit who loves numbers, Doodles fascination of drawing or Splats exuberant joy of self expression. Just a few of the many books created by Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator Denise McKeever.

If you would like to learn more about our quarterly FREE give aways and promotions visit sign-up now!

If you enjoy our book we would love your feedback so please feel free to leave a REVIEW with any recommendations on how we can improve our books for your Little One’s!

Many Thanks

X Denise

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‘Truth’ the 1st principle in Parenting Teens

In my Young Adult fantasy novel ‘The Gamekeepers; the Highland Games’ the character Misneachail teaches the most important concept missing in the 21st Century ‘Truth’. Misneachail epitomises the necessity for calling out the ‘Truth’ and its necessity for the world and society to function.

   ” ‘A’Damh Misneachail’; Misneachail the Stag meaning courageous. Misneachail the Stag was a force of nature that was fearless and renowned for his forthrightness and outspokenness in pursuit of only one thing the truth. There are opposing tales of what he was like some stories portrayed him as a bully while others describe a captivating storyteller of tall tales and mischief.”

As parents navigating the 21st Century we face many challenges, none more than an ideology that ‘Hurt Feelings’ supersede the intrinsic need for reality and truth. The fabric of society will slowly and then quickly crumble when we fail to have the courage to be ‘the parents in the room’ and defend and teach the truth to our children and teenagers. Ideologies have came and gone in every civilisation and are eventually swept away when based on a lie, untruth or fictional concept.

At 53 the greatest male and female role models of my lifetime in parenting were strong men and women individuals brought up in the 1920’s and 1940’s.

“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”

Similarly ‘Hard times create strong parents, strong parents create good times, good times create weak parents and weak parents create hard times’.

Parenting isn’t about the the big issues but multiple small intrinsic lessons in the principles, habits and standards we demonstrate, teach and show by example to our children. The now functioning responsible adults I once knew as children came from parents that believed in being a real ‘Parent, Mum or Dad’ rather than ‘your Best Friend’. Parenting is wonderful, a privilege and the greatest gift you can ever receive but is an ever changing challenge, a roller coaster ride that to navigate you need structure, consistency and the hardest thing of all ‘tough love’.

It can take many decades before you recognise the truths in life, it often takes time before you recognise those that spoke the ‘Truth’. That firm auntie or uncle, that scolding grandparent did so because they understood that true love isn’t always about being your best friend or being liked, but by teaching you that the ‘Truth’ always prevails. Even if on reflection it may take you until adulthood or even decades to recognise who truly loved you?

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SPRING NEWS

Welcome to our quarterly newsletter with the latest Spring News & updates about our new books, ebooks, story times & promotions. Our followers will have enjoyed our FREE giveaway of our Ebook ‘Puppy Love’ in January on Amazon books- ensure you sign-up & follow me & stay in the loop with my FREE Gifts.

Likewise if you aren’t already familiar with Goodreads and Smashwords sign-up and join us and take advantage of all our annual New Year & Summer promotions on Ebooks.

In our next Summer edition we will be announcing our successful ‘Granny Burns Story Time- Series 2’ following the success of Series 1 of 11 Episodes with Granny Burns. Our episode ‘My Scottish Alphabet’ has been a roaring success with 52k + views.

This Spring we have added lots of new articles which we share on all our social media accounts from Pinterest, X to Instagram & Facebook. We now have some excellent articles with book recommendations for Parents on Self Help & Personal Development-some of my all time favourites. Plus a whole section for teenagers too.

This March we will be running a FREE Ebook Give away on Amazon for ‘Digit: The Scribblers encourage your child’s interest and love of numbers and counting’. So make share your following me and watch out on X, Facebook or Instagram for a reminder of the final dates! See you soon xx!

Not on our mailing list yet?

Get our quarterly Newsletter; exclusive FREE give aways, promotions etc! SIGN-UP NOW!

Web: www.denisemckeever.com Email: info@denisemckeever.com Youtube: Granny BurnsStory Time

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Tips for Helping Creative Children!

What are the Top Tips for Helping Creative Children? As a Creative; Art student, Design Graduate, Maker, Fashion Designer, Product Designer, Illustrator, Writer what helped me growing up as a Creative Child?

For me my greatest pride as a 10 year old was the old diary I carried everywhere, which I filled with my copies of Disney characters. This was the beginning of my love for drawing & illustrating children’s characters. I got the bug from a competition in my village library where I can remember myself as a 5 year old devastated that I never won! A disappointment that never disheartened me but was the beginning of my journey as a creative child and then adult.

For me the five key elements that helped that creative child were;

  1. Support, encouragement and interest from others- my parents, my aunts, uncles, teachers. Every talent has an opportunity to flourish and grow if encouraged.
  2. Basic tools– as the second eldest with eight siblings my parents helped us all where they could to give us the basic tools for our interests and passions. In my case in the 70’s cheap affordable sketch books and drawing pads weren’t common place and affordable. But I relished using paper off cuts from my dads business old unused and unfilled diaries- they were my sketch books. The lined paper didn’t stop me from drawing.

3. Competition– my talents grew when I always had someone to compare myself against. Whether this was one of my best friends in 6th year at High School who later went on to study Sculpture at Art College who I constantly compared myself against and shared a common passion for art and drawing. To the primary school library books where I glimpsed a collection of four Disney catalogues that imprinted my earliest memory of my favourite Artist- Walt Disney. That was what I wanted to aspire to become!

4. Variety– an opportunity to try different genres, styles and areas of art. At Art College my foundation year was fabulous! Jam packed into one year I tried sculpture, ceramics, stain glass, graphics, illustration, fine art, fashion, jewellery and silversmithing! A reflection of my childhood surrounded by a Mother who taught us all to sew, knit, crochet, a Dad that loved drawing horses, and aunts and friends that would appear with bags full of paints and crafts and spend endless hours doing crafts with me and my siblings.

5. Knowing– that instinct for knowing what I loved, what I enjoyed what made my heart sing. That early recognition of what I would spend hours doing without effort. What reflected my introvert persona, my pleasure of working alone and the satisfaction and love for just creating.

If you think you have a creative child why not check out my books series ‘The Scribblers’. Do you have a child that is an budding artist, builder, creator what I call a ‘Doodle’. A child that loves making a mess, splashing, the outdoors, gardening a ‘Splat’. Or maybe a little one that loves numbers or words a ‘Digit’ or ‘Scribe’. What ever your child’s talents are support them with, encouragement, resources(tools), variety, competition and space to discover who they are ‘their love & talent’.

If you want yo learn more visit my Youtube page to see me live at work!

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Teaching Kid’s about TRUE Love!

As a parent navigating the various stages in your child’s life can be challenging. As we all know you overcome one challenge and a new one appears. That is the responsibility that comes with the blessing and priviledge of being called Mum or Dad! Sometimes it can be difficult to navigate different subjects and find new ways to introduce and explain emotions, feelings and experiences.

As a Children’s author and illustrator I believe that books in particular picture books are a fabulous way to relate to your children and introduce them to different subjects that we as parents may be at a loss to explain or convey. Two of my favourite books are ‘My First Friend’ but on this subject in particular ‘Puppy Love’ these books teach the principles of both friendship and love through the relationship a child has with their puppy and pet dog. In the case of ‘My First Friend’ my own Polly our family Golden Retriever or who I refer to as the fourth wean (child) in the family.

TRUE LOVE!

In my case everything I would never have allowed parenting my three children I forgot with the fourth wean- a lesson in life I will relate in a future post.

If you are looking for a gentle and fun way to teach your little one about ‘True Love’ and what it really means both these books are a great starting point for little ones. A particularly nice gift for Valentines Day or for sharing in a slightly more detached way about the behaviours, expectation, respect and feelings of experiencing true love!

Puppy Love: Your First Love the Perfect Valentines book for dog owners

My First Friend: Your First Dog a heartwarming picture book for dog lovers.

SOLD in 42 U.S.A States!

My Favourite Dog books Collection:

LEARN MORE! FREE GIVEAWAYS!

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Scottish Story Teller & Author 2024

Discover Scottish Story Teller & Author ‘Granny Burns’

As a Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator I decided to create my own Story telling podcast on Youtube. ‘Granny Burns Story Time’ has been a roaring success! Allowing us to share our books with a wider audience of children & parents.

Perfect Bedtime Stories!

Over a 9 week period every Saturday at 5pm UK time we scheduled our weekly podcast with ‘Granny Burns’ narrated by Denise. Since its launch we have seen a great uptake in new subscribers and great viewing figures. This has given us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our wide range of children’s picture books! This gives children and parents a taster of our books before they buy one of our paperbacks, hardbacks or ebooks.

Also Granny Burns lives in the fictional town of’ Brigadoon’ in the Scottish Highlands in ‘Burns Cottage’. A little dedication to the great Scottish Poet & Lyricist Robert Burns better known as Rabbie Burns. Auld Lang Syne, perhaps Burns’ most famous work, is one of the most widely sung songs of the English language. The song has crossed borders and oceans and can be heard across the globe on Hogmanay. Incidently ‘Burns’ is also Denise McKeever’s maiden name!

Over the nine consecutive episodes every Saturday evening we have had particular interest in our children’s book’ Scottish Alphabet: for Children’. Currently with over 10 thousand views and climbing!

Sign-up Now and watch all nine episodes with Granny Burns!

Additionally if your little one’s love dogs you will love our three episodes on our three dog books Puppy Love, My First Friend & I Love My Dog. ‘My First Friend; your first dog’ has been a great success in the U.S. successfully selling in 42 U.S.A. States with Five Star reviews!

Alternatively if you have creative wee one’s and Toty kids you will love ‘The Scribblers’ choose from Doodle, Digit, Scribe or Splat.

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New Children’s Author 2024

What do we need from Children’s Authors and Illustrators in 2022?

As a mum of three the past nineteen months could have been either the most positive or most negative experience for my children. So what should a new children’s author be writing about in 2022? What do kid’s need?

As a parent and children’s author I believe we need to reassess first what our children really want to read and hear. Not what in day to day life the teachers, academics, media, politicians, social warriors and government task groups want or think they need to hear.

PARENTS KNOW BEST

Parents ultimately know what is best for their children! I believe we need more Children’s Authors in 2022 who are parents. Parents that will speak up for the real issues facing children in this 21st century.

As I have said before when we receive the greatest honour in life when ‘I becomes Mum or Dad’ we become their lifelong gatekeepers but more importantly a voice to speak on their behalf.

Many of us as parents just want to get the basics right & have happy, confident children with good mental & physical health. And a positive educational experience that supports them in fulfilling their dreams.

In my first Young Adult book ‘The Gamekeepers; the Highland Games’ which I published in early 2019, I shared my thoughts on the two challenges I believe teenagers are facing today. First the 21st century distracted and absent parent and secondly the over-stretching power & influence of Social Media.

Importantly in the past nineteen months I believe we have changed the growing trend of the distracted or absent parent.

For many of us as parents who have had to work from home we have had to face some sobering realities. Becoming teacher & surrogate classmate we have become closer to our children. We have discovered how to listen more, we have become present in the moment, less distracted. And our relationships with our children have become better for the unplanned circumstances of working remotely.

Unfortunately we still have the greater battle to win ‘the damaging forces of Social Media!’.

ARE you a New Children’s Author for 2022?

So for any mums or dad’s out there looking for a new career in 2022.

Could you express what your children want to hear?

Can you express on paper the real challenges your children are facing day to day?

Could you offer some inspiration and escapism for your children’s generation?

Can you be a resounding voice for your children?

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Why we need to protect the innocence of Childhood!

As a society we have already seen the erosion of our adolescence. The line has already been crossed between adulthood and teenager where our teenagers are baring the weight of adult worries, ideas and thinking well before their time. Played out in social media, advertising and day to day life they are bombarded with identity politics and adult content.

The same infringement is now seeping into what I call the Sacred Chapter of Life ‘Childhood- a time and space for only childlike thoughts and things’. The lives and minds of our under 12’s are now the next battle ground and focus of attention. And as parents we need to wake up as we are asleep at the wheel.

I believe that from the moment you bring your little bundle of joy into this world and your identity changes from I to Mum or Dad you have a duty of care to feed, clothe, shelter and care for your baby. But to truly provide the emotional, love security and happiness each child deserves the right to a childhood free of adult things. We need to readdress something that for many years now we have got VERY wrong.

When I becomes Mum or Dad

When I becomes Mum or Dad small decisions, responsible thoughtful decisions and habits matter. We have become a society where we are trading childhood innocence and allowing the education system to teach issues that have no place in a virtuous and ethical society and not relevant to this Sacred Chapter of a child’s life.

As parents we are the protectors and guardians of our children’s mental health and wellbeing their care and protection is our duty and responsibility. This is OUR JOB NEVER THEIRS that is why we have been given the greatest privilege in life and blessed with title of being called Mum or Dad.

Learn more about our picture books!

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How to protect yourself against Negative influences!

My favourite book of all time is ‘Think and Grow Rich’. Over the years I have possessed various editions which I frequently have to replace as I keep giving them away or lending them to someone in need of a little inspiration.

My dad first introduced me to the book when I was 16 yrs old but its significance and value was only realised when I began to pursue the idea of starting my own business and facing major challenges in life. It is a book that many assume is simply about money rather than the principles and values if practiced create an enriched Life!

The book has many powerful lessons which I have found invaluable in life but none more helpful than the single chapter on ‘ How to protect yourself against Negative influences’. Written in 1937 over 80 years ago its lessons still ring true today.

For anyone who has found this past year a challenge- to say the least- may I recommend this little book of wisdom as one of your book selections for this summer. Here is a few of my favourite extracts from over 50 questions on ‘How to protect yourself against Negative influences!’

Do you have a DEFINITE MAJOR PURPOSE, and if so what is it, and what plan have you for achieving it?

Do you make deliberate use of autosuggestion to make your mind positive?

Do others easily influence you, against your own judgement?

What is your greatest worry? Why do you tolerate it?

Does your presence have a negative influence on other people as a rule?

Has today added anything of value to your stock of knowledge or state of mind?

Which do you value most, your material possessions or your privilege of controlling your own thoughts?

To which do you devote most time; thinking of success or failure?

………………. Learn more Think & grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

When I have ever faced any unsurmountable questions in life this little book for some reason has always presented the answer. Happy reading x

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Favourite best selling Baby books!

What was your first baby book?

Can you remember the first book you ever read?

My earliest memories of reading are associated with a collection of Ladybird books. Our family book collection included Rumpelstiltskin, Puss in Boots, The Three Billy goats Gruff. Plus The Elves and the shoemaker and my favourite The Sly Fox.

However I have great difficulty remembering the very first books I was introduced to. In the 70’s parents weren’t as aware of how important books are at pre-school and nursery as we are today.

Your Childs favourite First Book.

For example as a parent I have fond memories of my children’s first book and favourite books. All of my children have loved certain books for different reasons. My eldest loved his personalised copy of Toy Story and had a great love for the character Woody. And my eldest daughter loved the The Little Ballerinas as we would recite the book replacing the characters name with her name. Where as my youngest always loved the Calm Down Boris puppet book and would go into uncontrollable fits of the giggles as we gradually followed through the pages (not always a great book for bedtime).

Plus I believe the greatest best selling baby books have great illustrations that capture children’s imagination before they can ever read or understand letters in the alphabet.

Therefore when creating one of my first books ‘My Positive Alphabet’ I realised that I was onto a winner. When my nephews and nieces visited my studio one day and my nephew just burst into animated giggles as he pointed to my ‘gallus’ (cheeky) highland cow.

Additionally I am not overly concerned about book reviewers or publishers opinions but as an ex-entrepreneur my only real critics are my customers- children.

However when a 4 year old who cannot yet read pronounces the word ‘capercaillie’ seeing a drawing. And a two year old with a love of dinosaurs has his eyes light up at the sight of your ‘Nessie’ you know you have created something wonderful for your little customer.

P.S. Why not learn about my first book ‘My First Friend; your first pet dog’ and my pal Polly?

Learn more about Denise McKeever on Goodreads.

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Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator 2021

What are the challenges of trying to break through as a Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator in 2021?

With the ever growing opportunities and tools available to create and publish your own books in the year 2021 the book and publishing industry is becoming an ever crowded space. Everyone with the will, time and energy has the tools at their fingertips to self-publish. The big challenge is standing out from the crowd and breaking through to make an honest and financially rewarding career for yourself whether you are a writer or illustrator. Today with great platforms such as Amazon books, Apple Books, Smashwords and Kobo to name just a few you can upload an ebook, paperback in a matter of minutes. For me being a successful Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator in 2021 is about being unique and different and yourself.

My experience as a Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator in 2021 has shown me that success like anything in life takes persistence, hard work and attention to detail and approaching book selling like any other business. Creating a great product that people want yo buy and finding effective ways to market and sell your books to the correct customer in the most effective and intelligent way possible.

My tips for new authors & illustrators!

Crunch down who you are as an author? What genre, style, reader do you relate to? What do you understand and know better than anyone? What unique perspective or story do you want to share with others? What drives and motivates you to write or illustrate? Who is your tribe, clan or group of readers and book buyers that share your thinking and ideas?

Understand the industry of self publishing and publishing!

Do you want to be totally autonomous and independent? Do you have the skills and talents to market your books yourself?

OR

Do you want the prestige of a publishing deal and allow others to market and sell your books for you?

Shortcuts in self publishing!

Some simple basic advice I would give to anyone pursuing a future in self publishing whether your a children’s orauthor or adult is ;

  • Read & Research
  • Plan & Prepare
  • Get Tech savy
  • Go big on social media

Read & Research

Next have a direct strategy starting with Amazon & Smashwords profiles and accounts sort the rest later. Master amazon self publishing first especially if you are an illustrator Kindle Create & Kindle Kids’ Book Creator are so straight forward to master. You will find all the data, software and technical advice through your KDP account sign-up. Set up your full author profile on Author Central (sign-up on every continent available). Remember to set up your accounts in both the USA & UK very important.

Your second target is Smashwords your middle man upload to Smashwords and get straight into to lots of retailers incl. APPLE, BARNESANDNOBLE, GARDNERS, KOBO, ODILO & SCRIBD to just name a few. Download your FREE guides on formatting for Smashwords from founder Mark Coker Book Marketing Guide, Ebook Publishing Success & Smashwords Style Guide.

Plan & Prepare

Also have a planned strategy for your goals and objectives as an author or illustrator. Is this a hobby or future career? Set goals from sales revenues, no. of book sales, free give aways and launches.

Get Tech Savy

Read all the technical small print from accurate planning of your book templates for picture books to formatting for heavy text writing and creating your own templates for future use when coming to publish your 2nd, 3rd and 4th book.

Read, research, read technical blogs of other self published authors and great advisors i.e. The Creative Penn

Go Big on social media

Lastly ensure you understand all the big social media platforms and their different uses, benefits and down falls as a Scottish children’s Author & Illustrator I have realised how important the continuity of using the same profile URL is in not loosing followers .

Ensure you can secure a memorable name & identity the same across all platforms from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest to Linkedin. More importantly get visible on book reader hubs i.e. Goodreads and Wattpad.

Discover how to use FREE software like Hootsuite to push out multiple social media adverts in on go.

Most importantly as a new author or illustrator just take that first step and get creating and writing, the first step is always the most difficult!

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Why did I start writing & illustrating books for children?

As a Scottish Children’s Author and illustrator I am always inspired by the great authors and illustrators that have came from the United Kingdom from Roald Dahl, J K Rowling, Beatrix Potter, J M Barrie, Michael Morprugo to Julia Donaldson. As a country we have a rich heritage of creativity and imagination whether in the creation of Young Adult Novels, Fantasy Novellas to hardback books and picture books which honour and value the importance of childhood with all its magic.

Therefore as both a Young Adult Fantasy Author & Picture Book author and illustrator my greatest passion is the creation of picture books and baby books. Over the past year the creation of my characters such as The Scribblers Scribe, Digit, Splat and Doodle has been a great source of positivity and optimism.

CHILDHOOD

For me the precious time during pregnancy, to birth through to the age of seven years old is the most influential period in our children’s personal and social development. Those early years and months are a time to inspire, uplift and instil positivity and optimism in our children. My journey into writing came after 20 years as an entrepreneur when I was involved in a mentoring program promoting entrepreneurship in High Schools. During this short experience I was disdained and dissapointed by the lack of inspiration and optimism in our Youth. Unlike myself in my youth many of the young people I met had a very negative and uninspired vision for themselves and a real absence of any dreams for the future.

Where at 16 years old like my friends I had an outward energy fuelled by dreams of travelling the world, becoming a success in our chosen fields or venturing on to College or further education, the majority of pupils I met and spoke with had a cloud of negativity and suppressed vitality.

So as a student of personal development since an early age I believe that something has been taken from this generation. Something I have never seen in all my years working with or around teenagers. Is it a change in cultural behaviours, education, teaching, parenting, the influences of social media and tech culture?

ARISTOTLE

I believe strongly in the quote by Aristotle “Give me a child until he (she) is 7 and I will show you the man (woman)“. As a children’s Art teacher in my early career and someone surrounded by children all my life I know something has went wrong. What has changed with this young generation in those first 7 years of life? What did I see in the eyes of those young teenagers? How can we ensure this trend is reversed especially with the challenges our youth have faced this past year? How can we ensure the next generation are empowered and inspired?

For those young teenagers I was inspired to write my first fantasy book ‘The Gamekeepers; the Highland Games’. And for the next generation under the age of seven I hope to encourage and inspire them to simply dream starting with ‘The Scribblers’.

Plus if you love dogs learn more about ‘My First Friend; your first pet dog”

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Have you lost your Passion?

Have you Lost your Passion? Find your Passion by thinking differently! We often loose sight of our lives passion at the junction of life when we swap the wrongly perceived characteristics of the child for the adult.

When did you loose your courage?

Did you stop taking risks?

Why did you stop being unreasonable? And start following others ideas & thinking?

Was there a point in life when you gave up on your vision & stopped dreaming?

Did you loose faith in yourself?

When did you loose your passion? And trade your gift for a day job and a wage?

How to regain your Passion!

If you want to regain your passion simply watch your children, listen to their ideas, their dreams and hopes. And there you will see a reflection of what was once your passion in life. Rediscover the six characteristics of the great entrepreneur, the inventor, the creative thinker and the child;

The Spirit; Our Passion

The Believer; Faith in ourselves

The Designer; Our vision and dreams

The Inventor; Our own ideas & thinking

The Gambler; Our willingness to take risks

The Rebel; Our courage to defend what we value

Four secrets to rekindling and discovering clues to your lost Passions in Life;

  1. Rediscover the child within you & analyse the above characteristics.
  2. If at the lowest point in life you had nothing material left to offer your neighbour. What is the single thing you always have to share?
  3. Recall experiences of greatest personal frustration and fulfilment in life (your earliest childhood memory of fulfilled JOY! that wasn’t motivated by the approval or praise of your parents or others). Then ask yourself what clues they offer in identifying your greatest gifts, values and passions in life.
  4. When discussing a specific subject when are you most animated, articulate, enthusiastic & confident. And how is this reflective in the books, author and films you love.

Why not try some of our Ebooks!

Similarly if you love dogs learn more about our dog book collection?

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Who are my Positive Friends?

The great entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie shared with Napoleon Hill what he called the Power of the Mastermind Alliance or in its simplest form the power of Positive Friends.

The lessons of ‘Think and Grow Rich’ are as relevant today as they were when published back in 1937. Yet we still don’t teach its principles to our children in schools or higher education. From my experience Think & Grow Rich is the bible of every great entrepreneur or individual seeking personal or professional success.

Napoleon Hill

A brilliant question from Napoleon Hill’s chapter of self -analysis on ‘How to outwit the six ghosts of fear’ is the question;

‘What connection if any do you see between the people with whom you associate most closely and any unhappiness you may experience?’

Like Andrew Carnegie Henry Ford had his own mastermind group which included brilliant thinkers like Thomas Edison. They understood the power and influence of surrounding yourself with likeminded individuals. They didn’t surround themselves with critics and pessimists but positive friends and visionaries that shared their optimism and a genuine want to assist each other constructively in fulfilling their goals.  

This similarly can have a major affect on the lives of our children and teens. Who are they surrounded by and influenced by? What are their mentors and peers like? A positive or negative influence? Inspiring, encouraging, optimistic? Napoleon Hill has some great insights and lessons for parents on the subject of self help.

  1. Who as a child were your Positive Friends?
  2. Who encouraged supported and lifted your spirits?
  3. Which teacher, role model, parent, sibling or grandparent gave you genuine encouragement?
  4. Who filled your mind with positive ideas, thoughts and thinking?
  5. Who are your children’s friends that uplift, inspire and encourage them most?

As an adult today who are your Positive Friends? Where is your Mastermind Alliance? Therefore sew the seeds in the imagination of your children starting with a positive & inspiring  character, positive words, inspiring and empowering stories and lessons in self-help. But more importantly encourage them to surround themselves with Positive Friends and Positive Books!

Discover some of my recommendations on books and Youtuber’s in my next series of blogs!

Learn more about Denise McKeever!

P.S. if you like our books why not discover our dog book collection?

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Teach our children the Power of Positive Thinking!

As an author & illustrator I was a late starter to reading. My real passion for reading began when I was first introduced to the world of Self-Help and Personal Development aged 16 years old. This genre of book was essential and instrumental to my self-confidence, perception and vision of the world.

Therefore from the perspective of a mother the single skill I would wish for each of my children is to master the power of ‘Positive Thinking’.

‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ by Norman Vincent Peale

One of the first books I ever read was ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ by Norman Vincent Peale a book that has become one of my life’s mantras. As an adult the core principle that has always served me through life’s challenges, up’s and down’s is having possession of my own mind. And to look for the positive in every given situation- no matter how challenging.

Life is as Croesus, adviser to Cyrus, King of the Persians stated;

“There is a wheel on which the affairs of men or women revolve, and its mechanism is such that it prevents any man or woman from being always fortunate…… This same wheel that prevents any man or woman from being always fortunate may provide also that no one shall be always unfortunate, provided he will take possession of his own mind and direct it to the attainment of some Definite Major Purpose in Life.” 

Above all I believe as parents and custodian’s of the next generation we eventually come to a point in their lives where we cannot control what good or bad fortune our children face in life. But while they are children and in our care we can prepare them from an early age with strategies, tools and skills to take possession of their own thoughts with a healthy perspective of the world.

Albert Einstein

One of the most influential thinkers of the last century was Albert Einstein and for all his knowledge and expertise he considered that the most important question facing humanity was;

‘Is the universe a friendly place?’ This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves.

So I would love to ask this generation of children this same question in this age of social media, technology and social change.

Do you view the Universe as a friendly place?

Can you view the future with optimism and possibility?

Do you possess the skill and control to think Positively?

Similarly I believe that as custodians of the next generation we have a responsibility to be honest about the world but more importantly we should offer them reminders that ‘the Universe is a friendly place’.

Beginning at an early age with one small simple positive image, word, affirmation, story or action at a time.

My book recommendations this month;

‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ by Norman Vincent Peale

My Positive Alphabet learn more!

Additionally if you love my books why not learn more about our new book collection The Scribblers?

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AUTUMN NEWS

Welcome to our quarterly newsletter with the latest Autumn News & updates about our new books, ebooks, story times & promotions. Our followers will have enjoyed our FREE giveaways so be sure to sign-up & follow me & stay in the loop with my FREE Gifts.

Likewise if you aren’t already familiar with Goodreads and Smashwords sign-up and join us and take advantage of all our annual New Year & Summer promotions on Ebooks. Just E-mail the words SIGN-UP to info@denisemckeever.com

In our next Winter edition we will be announcing some new additions to our successful ‘Granny Burns Story Time- Series 2’ following the success of Series 1 of 11 Episodes with Granny Burns. Our episode ‘My Scottish Alphabet’ has been a roaring success with 52k + views.

This Autumn we have added lots of new articles which we share on all our social media accounts from Pinterest, X to Instagram & Facebook. We now have some excellent articles with book recommendations for Parents on Self Help & Personal Development-some of my all time favourites.

This November we will be running a FREE Ebook Give away on Amazon. So make share your following me and watch out on our social media platforms for a reminder of the final dates! See you soon xx!

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Web: www.denisemckeever.com Email: info@denisemckeever.com Youtube: Granny BurnsStory Time

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Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator 2024!

Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator 2024! Who is Denise McKeever?

What inspires her to write & draw?

One of the most crucial decisions I ever made in my career was the decision to go to Art College. As a young person I had ambitions to be a Fashion designer and received an unconditional offer to attend both Heriot-Watt University Scottish Borders Campus-Galashiels and Edinburgh College of Art. My years at Edinburgh as a young student were fabulous and opened my eyes to a world of various forms of art & design I had never considered before.

The privilege of attending Art College was the opportunity to have a taster of everything from sculpture, ceramics, product design , graphics, animation, stain glass, tapestry, fine art, jewellery silver smithing, interior design to fashion design. That first love of drawing cartoon characters convinced me of my choice to choose to study for four years at an Art college over a Technical University for Textiles. Still to this day 37 years on this was one of the best decisions I ever made in life.

During this same time I became a late adopter to reading starting with self help and personal development books and also business books introduced to me through my father a self made entrepreneur and business owner. As the years progressed reading has become a key interest and love only second to Art leading me to roles as a Business Mentor to CEO’s & young business start-ups.

Today after over 20 years as a business owner in the Textile & Retail industry I have returned to one of my early passions drawing and illustrating combined with my second love writing.

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My first attempt at children’s illustration began with ‘My First Friend’ depicting my family Golden Retriever dog Polly and my sisters dog Penny. ‘My First Friend’ has received great results in America selling in over 42 U.S.A States. But my favourite book of all is ‘My Scottish Alphabet’ with my own unique characters and personalities of Nessie, Midge & Highland Cow.

Discover Granny Burns Story Time!

Learn more about my books…………..