About the Accidental Poet: You will be delighted by books by Nate Whiting, his wife Jo Gilley, and Illustrator Shayna Renee Olivier (ShaynaPaints)
About the Accidental Poet: “My goal is to make anyone who reads my poems smile and forget for a moment where they were going or what was on their agenda, and emmerse themselves in another place and time,” shares Nate Whiting, an accomplished poet, singer, and songwriter born and raised in Beverly, Massachusetts, and now residing in Glen Burnie, Maryland, with his wife, Jo Gilley, and his two sons, Leif and Clay.
Nicknamed “The Accidental Poet,” Nate has written hundreds of poems to entertain friends and family with his “Whimsies.”
Nate holds a Bachelor’s & Master’s in K-12 Teacher Education, Health, & Physical Education from West Virginia University. For over a decade, he was an elementary school teacher in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he started writing children’s poems for his students and fellow teachers. Nate continues to write poetry and play music full-time in the Baltimore/Annapolis area. His literary works have often been described as a fun and playful mixture of the poetic stylings of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. His stories delight children and adults alike with humor, heart, and a dash of magic.
About Nate’s journey: Nate got into book publishing in 2018 when his wife Jo heard him read his poem, “The Tale of the Christmas Wish Crackler,” to their boys on Christmas Eve. She encouraged him to publish the poem, and thousands of copies later, the beloved story has become a cherished family holiday tradition. The couple continues their literary adventure with plans for many more magical stories to come!
About Jo Gilley: Jo Gilley is a creative strategist, publisher, and graphic designer originally from Tullahoma, Tennessee, and now residing in Glen Burnie, Maryland, with her husband, author Nate Whiting. With a degree in Business Marketing, she spent years expanding her skills through independent study and professional experience. In the corporate world, she learned to unite strategy, communication, design, and practical execution.
Her journey into book publishing began in 2018, when she heard Nate read “The Tale of The Christmas Wish Crackler” to his sons on Christmas Eve. Nate hoped to publish the poem, and Jo set out to help him turn it into a book that could be held and shared. What she expected to be a single project gradually grew into an unexpected creative partnership. Eight books later, their publishing journey has become far more than either of them originally imagined. That unexpected journey gave Jo a new way to apply the skills and instincts she had developed throughout her career. Naturally curious and deeply creative, she has a gift for seeing how ideas, details, and possibilities fit together. Her artistry lies in understanding what a creator hopes to convey and drawing its many elements together with clarity and purpose. She is most drawn to work that allows her to elevate other artists and bring meaningful ideas to life.
About the Illustrator, Shayna Renee Olivier (ShaynaPaints): “Hello everyone. I am a South African illustrator based in Cape Town. My work is done in watercolor, pencils, and fineliner. NO AI. I mainly illustrate children’s books for a living and have plenty of experience working with clients from all over the world. I am published with Penguin Random House and numerous wonderful self-published clients.”
Find more of Shayna’s art here.
Check out the books: NateWhiting.com
An Axolotl In A Bottle — What would you do if you found a bottle floating in the sea? If you’re Squattle the Axolotl, you’d build a submarine, of course! Packed with imagination, laughter, and underwater adventure, this clever little axolotl proves that the biggest adventures can begin with the simplest ideas. Climb aboard the Sea Compass and join Squattle and all her fishy pals on an unforgettable journey that just might lead you home.
A Sock Monster Army — Julie Leda McSchmidt, an adventurous young lady, was folding her laundry when she suddenly noticed…ALL OF HER SOCKS HAD GONE MISSING! She realizes there must be a SOCK MONSTER living in her closet! Julie recruits her younger brother, Tristan, to build the GREATEST TOY ARMY the world has ever seen to vanquish the mythical beast! LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!! Join Julie & Tristan on the first of their many EPIC adventures together!
Where’s The What Thing?! — In a world full of hustle and bustle, one curious question can bring everything to a HALT!!!…Take a break for a moment from the “Busy-Buzz-Biz-ness” of your day and come explore your imagination. Discover everything from unicorns and leprechauns, and bubble-powered balloons, to pelicans and elephants, and a lazy afternoon! Sometimes the best adventures begin when you dare to answer a single, silly question…”Where IS the What Thing?!”
Burplefizz Philosophizzm: Whimsies of An Accidental Poet, Book 1 — Dive into the whimsical land of Burplefizz where the delightful Purpleblurps reside. Come learn about their unique perspective on life where hearts are smarter than minds and joy is found in the simplest things. Embrace the philosophizzm and begin to see the world through Blurple-colored glasses!
A Squirrely Breakfast: Whimsies of An Accidental Poet, Book 2 — One morning, while out gathering breakfast, Twirl discovers that two mischievous Grizzlies have ransacked his winter food store! Come on this whimsical adventure and see how even the biggest messes can be “Chef’ed” into something marvelous!
Shy-rannosaurus Wrecks: Whimsies of an Accidental Poet, Book 3 — Meet Charles, a mighty young T-Rex who rules over all the creatures in his world… or so he thought! At a fancy Dino-Diner, Charles faces unexpected challenges as he tries to hold onto his Alpha-Rex status and make the other dinosaurs tremble. But what happens when things don’t go his way? Join Charles on this fun-filled adventure and discover that sometimes the best surprises come when you find a new friend in the most unlikely places.
If Whispers Could Wonder: Whimsies Of An Accidental Poet – Book 4 — If Whispers Could Wonder invites readers on a playful journey of imagination, where whispers ponder everything from koalas in pajamas to polar bear pirates. Dream big and explore the magic of your own curiosity. Let your wonder wander and listen closely…What will your whisper have to say?
Learn more: NateWhiting.com • Scroll down for our Q&A with Nate!
What the Accidental Poet has to teach us
Inkandescent Kids: What advice do you have for kids who want to become writers?
Be in love with words! Invest in learning the language in which you will be writing. Learn its nuances, its root structure (Latin, et al). If you understand a language, your words can be so powerful.
Don’t be afraid of criticism. Encourage feedback on your work. It will guide you to better writing. You don’t have to heed all advice, but you should hear it and make note. Criticism of your art is not failure. It is a tool to improve and enhance your voice. Use it to your advantage.
Study the genre(s) in which you hope to write. In other words…READ, READ, READ!
Not everything you write has to be printed. I have written HUNDREDS of little poems, lines, and thoughts. I am the only one who sees them. They make me smile when I read them. They bring me back to where I was when I thought about them. Keep everything you write! It will OFTEN be future inspiration!
Inkandescent Kids: How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve never really considered myself to be a writer. I have been writing poetry since I was
7 or 8 years old. I’m not sure people decide to become a writer. You either are, or you are not. It would be the same to me if asked “When did you decide you wanted to be creative?” or “Left-Handed?” I just am.
Inkandescent Kids: What is the most important thing you’ve learned about writing?
To always be thinking about writing. Use your environment to inspire you. Positive or negative, your experience in life is the ember of your voice. Harness it!
Inkandescent Kids: How did you get the idea for your books?
Most of the time, I get my ideas from little interactions in my life. Shy-rannosaurus Wrecks was inspired by a little boy I met at a book event in Lancaster, PA.
He was following his parents through the rows of tables, the whole time clutching a handful of plastic dinosaurs, pretending he was a T-Rex, stomping and roaring. He roared at me as he stomped past. I put my arms up (T-Rex style) and gave him a little “Smile-Rawr” back. He got a little spooked and went and hid behind his dad’s leg.
After a few seconds, he poked his head out with a shy smile. I thought to myself, “Aww, he’s a Shy dinosaur.” I immediately grabbed my notebook and started writing.
Sometimes, ideas come to me from a single word. When I learned about axolotls, the first thing that came to mind was “That rhymes with Bottle!” and I went from there.
Inkandescent Kids: What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
That thinking silly things and writing things that make YOU smile is OKAY!
Inkandescent Kids: What was it like to see your work published?
Not gonna lie…I cried! It was incredibly emotional to see our books in print! I NEVER thought
anything I wrote would be something others would read, let alone celebrate! Every time we have a new book published now, I still get a little verklempt. If you create something with your heart and soul, it doesn’t matter how many “units” you sell. You are OFFICIALLY a creative that has contributed to the world in a positive way! No one can EVER take that away from you!