Collegian (Hurst, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 15, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 29, 1992 Page: 6 of 12
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6 / Collegian
Features
Wednesday, January 29, 1992
Inspiration brewed from teapot for writer f
By Denise Jones
Reporter
A former TCJC student with a
teapot has spun some tales and wants
all children to hear them, so she has
become her own publisher.
Eileen Borell Johnson, former
NE Campus student, has written more
than 20 children’s stories during the
last 30 years; and at the urging of her
family, she formed the publishing
company Teapot Tales and put her
own stories into print
“After much encouragement
from friends and family, I made the
decision to publish my own books
and maybe somehow contribute to a
trend toward a more gentle approach
to life in children’s literature.”
The name Teapot Tales was cre-
ated because a lot of plans for
Johnson’s books were made over a
steaming hot cup of tea.
Johnson cares what messages
her stories give to children.
“The stories present unique situ-
ations andcircumstances which bring
out the hidden resources or virtues of
the characters,” she said.
“I feel very strongly that we must
get back to old-fashioned moral prin-
ciples and virtues when choosing
books for our children,” she added.
Johnson utilizes rhyming in her
tales. Most of her stories are about
animals whose adventures teach chil-
dren how to cope with life.
“Children deserve to read books
that help them use their imaginations
and feel good about themselves,” she
said. “When children’s books are
done well, parents are more enthusi-
astic about reading to their children.”
Johnson’s series of stories are
designed to entertain as well as teach
children about different aspects of
life. These stories were originally
written for her own family; and up
until the last few years, she had not
thought about publishing them.
But Johnson’s family felt her
stories were full of the joy of child-
hood that should be shared, and they
encouraged her to publish her stories
so others could enjoy them.
“I have wanted mom to publish
her stories for a long time because I
feel they are something that have
taught me morals and values,” Glenn
Johnson,NE Campus student and the
author’s son, said.
Glenn, who is developing music
to Johnson’s stories, added, “I’m glad
other people can share in these sto-
ries that have enriched my life.”
When Johnson decided to pub-
lish her first book, Gregory Matoose
The Christinas Wish this past No-
vember, she found out how compli-
cated it is to go through the process
and to get a good finished product.
“There is so much to learn: how
to begin, who to call, where to get
work done, how to protect your
work,” she said. “In working with
my own book, my company, Teapot
Tales, developed a network that en-
ables me to pursue selling the end
Eileen Johnson
product, including working with Dale
Brandon, the originator of Chads
Rainbow and now an industry con-
sultant. He has been invaluable in
getting the book distributed.”
By forming Teapot Tales, John-
son is able to help other people pub-
lish stories and avoid thelong, some-
times expensive learning process.
“My goal is to be able to publish
works for other people the way they
wrote it rather than have someone
revise and edit their work,” she said.
Johnson wants to print works
with high moral content and stay
away from violence and crime sto-
ries. As well, she hopes to publish
unknown authors.
“A lot of publishers and agents
will not work with unknown authors.
Therefore many wonderful books
never get published,” she said.
Johnson’s next book, the second
in her series Peek-A-Boo Kangaroo,
will come oi t soon. The book is
about a baby kangaroo with certain
imperfections who learns he is more
critical than others about himself.
“This and many of my other
stories were written when my chil-
dren were young,” Johnson said. “I
wrote this book to teach my children
how to overlook their own and oth-
ers’ imperfections. As in all my
stories, I try to teach but not preach.”
As each book is published, John-
son will give the Lighthouse For The
Blind State Library in Austin per-
mission to put it on tape, enabling
blind children to enjoy the stories.
“I feel that in this world you
must give back some of what you
gain,” she said.
Dr. John P. Hill, education spe-
cialist at the Texas Education Ser-
vice Center for Region XI, has asked
Johnson and other family members
involved in Teapot Tales to conduct
programs at various schools. During
these programs Johnson’s books are
read and the children learn how books
are put together and published.
Johnson has also read Gregory
Matoose The Christmas Wish and
other stories to the children at the
Children’s Center on NE Campus.
“It is rewarding to share these
stories because I feel it encourages
children to read,” she said. “A good
book is like a good friend, always to I
be cherished.” ■
Gregory Matoose The Christ-
mas Wish tells about a moose who
longs to go with Santa as he makes
his way around the world. The book
was published last Christmas. g-
Brandon describes Gregory I
Matoose as one of the most delight-
ful stories he has seen.
“I feel that the limited first edi-
tion of Gregory Matoose will be sold
out in a very short time,” he said.
Gary Blankenship, owner of F
Yapco toys, a toy development com-1
pany, said, “This book is a quality
piece not only in book binding and
appearance but also in the excellent
content of story.”
Kathy Berger, Johnson’s twin
sister who is also an author, said,
“Those who have had the opportu-
nity to read the story agree that Gre-
gory MatooseTheChristmasWish is
sure to become a Christmas classic.”
The old-fashioned illustrations
in the book are done by Lynda Clark
Schafer.
‘‘Gregory Matoose is a wonder-
ful story, I had fun illustrating it, this
is something that I have always
wanted to do even as a child,” Schafer
said.
For more information on Gre- _
gory Matoose The Christmas Wzs/zj
and Johnson’s other future books®
contact Teapot Tales, P O Box 500,
Hurst, 76053.
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Collegian (Hurst, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 15, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 29, 1992, newspaper, January 29, 1992; Hurst, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1183109/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarrant County College NE, Heritage Room.