Spark
78 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingThe question I most get having now written 5 books together with my kids is not about the characters or the dog or the castle or if Lu will ever stop eating fries.*
No. The question I get from parents is, "How in the world did you manage to do a creative project with your kids, how did it go, and how can I do it, too?"
The answer was:
1.) I just decided to do it,
2.) it went both terribly wrong and wonderfully right, and
3.) this book is how you can do it, too.
One parent pulled me aside, a bit frazzled, and almost threatened me with, "If you ever hold a weekend workshop on how to do a creative project together with your kids, I'll pay whatever you want to charge."
When I sat down with my then-8-year old on the red chair in early March of 2014, having just read a really bad children's book and said, "Wow, that book was pretty bad." I then immediately followed up with, "We can do better than that." My son looked at me like I was crazy (I was) and challenged me to follow through on my dare.
I did.
Within a month, we had a book on Amazon.
Now we can boast almost all of the list below:
1.) We have sold 1,000,000+ books in 89 countries and 7 languages.
2.) We sometimes had to resort to bribery, coercion, and ice cream to get a chapter done.
3.) Just on royalties alone, Li is eyeing a Maserati for his 16th birthday.
4.) We created something from nothing and no one can ever take that away.
5.) We get regular calls from Hollywood producers about making the movie versions.
6.) We broke all of Audible's rules when we recorded the audiobook version--and got rejected.
7.) Both boys have transformed into perfect angels who study Mandarin in their free time after violin lessons and before their volunteer work for global literacy.
8.) I have a audio proof of my 10-year old narrating Chapter 8 that I can use at his wedding to embarrass him beyond his wildest nightmares and I can bring that up whenever I like to remind my boys that we are a family who shares experiences (and it's good for blackmail).
9.) We did it all right.
10.) We did it all wrong.
11.) We did it. Period.
HINT: Take the list above and choose which one you like.
This podcast is proof that we can create something from nothing together with our kids. What you're about to embark on is a journey that no one can take away from you. We're going to create a time capsule you'll be able to cherish until your 89-year-old neighbor finally tells you she's deaf and hasn't heard a word about it.
This is going to help you create a bond with your kids.
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Episodes
Afterword
December 17, 2020 15:00 - 41 seconds - 1.59 MBI would say “I can’t believe I finally did it.” except that I can believe it.
Ch. 39: Questions for Parents
December 10, 2020 16:00 - 1 minute - 3.88 MBStuff is going to happen.
Ch. 38: Spark Campfire
December 03, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 5.93 MBIf there are marshmallows, we might even get Li & Lu to visit.
Ch. 37: How would your own kid sell his own book?
November 26, 2020 16:00 - 3 minutes - 8.68 MBBest Ways to Promote your Book
Ch. 36: Make money, teach your kids math, and clean the house…at the same time.
November 19, 2020 15:00 - 9 minutes - 21.5 MBIn fact, some days, any of those alone seem impossible.
Ch. 35: Loss leaders, sales, flea markets and 12-year olds who want new shoes.
November 12, 2020 17:00 - 9 minutes - 22.4 MBI still haggle. You have to. That's the point of a flea market.
Ch. 34: How to instill creativity in your children in three not-so-easy steps.
November 05, 2020 16:00 - 5 minutes - 12.3 MBChallenge: he doesn’t wanna.?
Ch. 33: Part VI: Introduction: Matches
October 29, 2020 18:42 - 4 minutes - 10 MBI’ve been working on this book for the past four years.
Ch. 32: Linda
October 22, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 6.36 MBMusic has always been a huge part of my life.
Ch. 31: Keep it legal, but keep it real
October 15, 2020 13:00 - 4 minutes - 10.4 MBLet’s take a trip back to the pasta restaurant off Highway 80.
Ch. 30: Don’t talk about the project. Start the project.
October 08, 2020 13:00 - 3 minutes - 9.02 MBTell no one. Tell everyone. You choose.
Ch. 28: How to make friends and influence…your kids
September 24, 2020 14:03 - 3 minutes - 9.01 MBDon't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.
Ch. 27: Want to truly learn something? Learn it through your kids.
September 17, 2020 14:00 - 7 minutes - 16.6 MBLearn through what your kids learn.
This is me sparking motivation into you to write that nonfiction book
September 10, 2020 15:00 - 10 minutes - 7.95 MBIt's time to get your own book done--or that of someone else you know.
Ch. 26: Meg
September 03, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 6.74 MBHere’s Meg with the play by play of how it went down.
From CREATE | Give the Gift of You
August 20, 2020 14:00 - 2 minutes - 2.1 MBI gave them something only I could give.
Ch. 24: Halfway will never finish
August 13, 2020 14:00 - 1 minute - 2.84 MBThe trick, the joke, the bad news comes when you realize that halfway will never get to the finish line. Sure, at the end, the distance will be microscopic, but by definition, he’ll never make it.
Ch. 23: Replace Car Engine in Two Steps
August 06, 2020 14:00 - 2 minutes - 6.57 MBIt was basically a comedy hour. The two guys were so funny it didn’t matter what they were talking about.
Section V: How: Introduction: Sparks
July 30, 2020 13:00 - 1 minute - 4.48 MBThis is the section where I explain how to do it.
Lorena
July 16, 2020 19:26 - 4 minutes - 10.1 MBWhen I asked her where the story was today, the pain and regret were evident in her voice.
Ch. 19: Rich
July 02, 2020 13:00 - 3 minutes - 7.68 MBAs much as I don’t like the “threat” of It’s Now or Never, it really comes down to…It’s Now or Never.
Ch. 18: It’s Now or Never
June 25, 2020 17:07 - 3 minutes - 7.78 MBYour future self is going to thank (the present) you.
Ch. 17: Part 4: When: Introduction: Kindling
June 18, 2020 16:28 - 1 minute - 4.21 MBThis section is called When. For me, the answer to that question is simple: now.
Ch. 16: Arlene
June 11, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 6.19 MBDo you ever have it where your kid’s school has a program or an event but it sounds so good you’d like to do it yourself?
Ch. 15: Create more than you consume
June 04, 2020 13:19 - 4 minutes - 10 MBConsuming is easy. Too easy.
Focus, Fergus
May 21, 2020 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.35 MBWe all could use a little Fergus in our lives.
Create + Spark = Give the Gift of You
May 14, 2020 14:00 - 3 minutes - 2.83 MBVisiting the SPARK world from the latest book, CREATE, here’s Chapter 14. When you think you don’t have anything to give, you can still give this.
Creating Breeds More Creating
May 07, 2020 16:00 - 2 minutes - 2.29 MBEven more reason to get going.
Build your confidence when 8-years-old. Oh, it might also help you get into university.
April 30, 2020 16:00 - 1 minute - 1.08 MBIt's never too late--or too early--to create.
SPARK Student Highlight: “Random Acts of Kindness” by Dede Charbonneau
April 23, 2020 14:00 - 9 minutes - 9.04 MBWhat effect might your action have today on someone years from now?
The Dog Ate My Homework: How Things Might go While at SPARK Campfire
April 16, 2020 16:00 - 1 minute - 1.59 MBCo-creating at its worst. Oops, then improve.
Ch. 13: The Great Unknown
April 09, 2020 17:00 - 2 minutes - 6.19 MBIt’s an experiment. We don’t know the outcome.
While much of the world is shutting down, maybe it’s time to start up.
April 02, 2020 16:00 - 5 minutes - 4.02 MBCue the woodpecker.
“Grandma, how do you make fried chicken?” My 81-year-old student narrates a chapter of her (audio)book
March 26, 2020 18:13 - 5 minutes - 4.84 MBHow's your audiobook going?
Transforming reader, parents, and kids into writers with Craig Tuch from HiddenGemsBooks
March 19, 2020 16:00 - 17 minutes - 13.3 MBIncluding my secret plan to take over the world.
Seems like the time is ripe for another SPARK Campfire
March 12, 2020 21:27 - 3 minutes - 622 KBTime to get sparkling.
Would you like to earn some extra cash? Become a Spark affiliate.
March 05, 2020 17:00 - 4 minutes - 3.27 MBBecome an ambassador for Spark and earn 40% of the sale price. Take the course, Publish a book (with your/a child), Request “affiliate” status, Share your special link with your friends, You can even offer them a 25% coupon to sweeten the deal, Rake in the cold, hard cash. I know, crazy, right?
I know an 8-year-old girl who has her name on the cover of a published book. If she can do it, so can you.
February 27, 2020 15:32 - 5 minutes - 4.81 MBNot 8 decades old. 8 years old.
Ch. 12: It’s an Experiment
February 20, 2020 15:00 - 1 minute - 3.73 MBWe're not going to call it a test or a project. It's an experiment.
Annual Autobiographies
February 13, 2020 16:00 - 6 minutes - 4.95 MBA short story, written by your kids, every single year.
Who will you be next?
February 06, 2020 18:00 - 3 minutes - 675 KBYou get to choose--your kids, too.
The other side of your fear
January 23, 2020 18:41 - 3 minutes - 3.51 MBAt the scene of a crime--or a dream.
This month in the life of your child is only going to happen once and it’s only going to happen right now.
January 16, 2020 16:00 - 3 minutes - 2.72 MB“Next year will be different.” It’s not really about better or worse. It’s about now and then. Maybe your kid is just about the same from 12 to 13. Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s capture the voice in their hearts right now. If next year is better, great, let’s do it again. “My dog is as […]
SPARK opening doors March 1, 2020
January 09, 2020 16:00 - 5 minutes - 4.37 MBTime to write that book.
8-year-old Cassie Akers talks about her first published book
January 02, 2020 17:15 - 14 minutes - 11.9 MBIt's about flowers, happiness, and a spark of a start to 2020.
Spark alumna Madeline Dines talks confidence, world domination, and what it means to write a book when you’re a 17-year-old girl
December 27, 2019 01:56 - 16 minutes - 13.3 MBYeah, I have a book on Amazon.