Sophie Chats With... Ed Rosek (Part 1)

Ed Rosek, 64, is a new resident of Fayetteville, Pa., having moved there from Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born in Alaska and graduated from East Anchorage High School. He later studied art at Clark County  (Nevada) Community College.

Ed has experience working for parks and railroads, as a firefighter, and as a writer and graphic designer, among other things.

Fun fact: Ed has seven books and audiobooks published, but he didn't start writing books until he was 60 years old -- just four years ago!

What was your first job?

Centennial Park

My first job was working at Centennial Camper Park in Anchorage, Alaska. It was during my school summer vacation, and I was 14 years old at the time. I worked alone, out of the historic log cabin office. I earned $2.71 an hour. My job was to welcome visitors to the campground, and assign them campsites throughout the park, as well as collect the fees. It cost just six dollars a night to camp back in 1970! 

My other duties included cleaning the campsites by sweeping and raking leaves, picking up pieces of trash, and making sure the campsite, picnic tables, and fire pits were ready for the next campers. I also had to clean the restrooms, including washing the floors and showers . . . ICK! Hair in the drains! Blech! That was horrible; even worse than cleaning the toilets. Although, I would say, overall, it was a fantastic job for a kid my age, and I loved it! I worked by myself and I was my own boss. That is, until a month later, when the new park manager showed up to take over. 

You see, I alone was assigned to the park to keep it running until his arrival. I thought I’d be the only one there . . . forever! But no, they had to send in an adult to take over. So, I was forced to work hard-labor by the new tyrant . . . I mean, the new boss. It was horrible! He made me do lots of not-so-fun jobs, like digging post holes, picking & shoveling, sawing firewood, and more. It was miserable. I liked it better when I was the boss. I could just sit there picking my nose and watching porcupines if I wanted to. Never did though.

I worked there for three summer seasons and made enough money to buy my first car; a 1968 Pontiac GTO. I have to say, I learned a lot from my first job:

I learned how to work hard even though I didn’t like it. I learned that hard work makes you a better person, whom people can rely on. And ultimately, I learned that just because a boss makes you do hard work, it doesn’t make him or her a tyrant, it makes them a good boss for the company, and makes a good worker out of you!

I learned a lot during those three summers, and the wonderful memories will stay with me forever!

What is your most recent book? What is it about?

I actually have two recent books; one that is published, and another, which is still in the editing stage.

The one that is unfinished, is called Sister Witches - the call for help. This book is the second in the Sister Witches series. The first one is just called Sister Witches. Sister Witches - the call for help is only unfinished because it needs to be edited first, which takes a long time and a lot of tedious work. It has to be perfect! 

The story, as the title suggests, is about three sisters, who are witches. Bellony is the youngest. Sister Araxa is the middle one, and Scarafina is the eldest. All three sisters are kind, loving people, who have some special powers: They can cast magical spells–though, only good spells–no bad or horrible spells, only for good! 

In the beginning of the book, the sisters receive a “batmail” from their Uncle Vladicus, who’s having a hard time in his up-country mansion. It seems that evil spirits have invaded and are spooking the guests and staff at Rocking House Mansion. Uncle Vladicus Barclay knows his nieces have special powers, and he needs all of them now. Throughout the book, the three sisters will make you laugh at their antics and the funny foods they eat, like a tarantula popsicle, roasted bat, and lizard gizzard stew! You’ll also meet many unique characters in the story, like Revacula the Evil, and Miss Pettifen Chancy, the housekeeper. It’s a war of good versus evil in the possessed mansion, and the fight is fierce! Especially when the evil takes the form of a "Serpentipede"; a cross between a blue viper snake and a poisonous centipede! 

It’s a little scary, and a little funny, but mostly, it's a story about the supreme importance and love of family, and how crucial it is that family stick together to help one another during trying times. After all, family and love ARE the most important! 

This book will be appropriate for ages 6 to adult, and will also be available as an audiobook.

The most recent book, and audiobook, that Lara and I created and published, is Buddy Bat & Kennedy Cat, a fun Halloween story for kids, about two creatures that go out on Halloween night to find a friend. They're from different worlds: He’s a bat who lives in a cave, and she’s a cat who lives in a house in the nearby town. Both are very lonely, and hope that while observing the Halloween festivities and watching the neighborhood kids trick-or-treating, they will find a friend. They do, indeed, meet each other while watching the trick-or-treaters, and become the friends they’ve both been looking for!

The book is a combination of storytelling and rhymes, with Lara wonderfully narrating the characters in the audiobook format. There's also a secret message hidden in Kennedy Cat's necklace that can be discovered by checking each picture of her in the book in order. I created the artwork for the book and the characters are adorable, if I do say so myself!

This book is appropriate for kids 4 and up.

From where do you draw your inspiration for your stories and artwork?

Ever since I was a kid in school, where I did well in art classes, I've loved creating my own artworks and get a great feeling of accomplishment from the things I create. I think it’s my natural instinct to do that. The inspiration comes from my own life experiences as well as things I see in the world, including other's artworks, designs in cities, towns and buildings, and natural and beautiful places, like Alaska–my favorite!  I love to use a lot of bright, vivid colors in my art. Here's a few of the artistic things I've

tried: I’ve made custom soap, painted oil on canvas, and designed and created furniture. I even built my own custom home! I've carved and whittled wood. I also enjoy burning artistic designs into wood. And now, I'm writing books. That's one of my very favorite things to do. That gives me the opportunity to create more graphic art. I incorporate character art and graphic designs into my written books, as well creating the artwork for our audiobook covers. I also love photography. The photo possibilities are endless.

Inspiration is everywhere . . . Just let your mind wander . . .  and it will come!

Thank you so much, Mr. Ed, for being such an exciting interview and your very interesting answers! Readers, please make sure you check out Part 2!