I’d love to hear some thoughtful and honest opinions from parents and grandparents — both those with Christian values and those without. How do you feel about children or teenagers reading stories that include Gothic themes, witches, wizards, magic, spells or darker fantasy worlds, such as Harry Potter? For those with Christian values, do these themes conflict with your beliefs enough that you would avoid buying or recommending such books for your children or grandchildren? And for those without Christian beliefs, I’d be equally interested in your perspective. Would witches, magic or Gothic imagery bother you at all, or would your decision be based more on things such as the child’s age, how frightening the story is, the overall message, or simply whether it is a good story? I’m also curious about where people draw the line. Would you feel differently if the story contained witches and magic but ultimately focused on values such as: - friendship and loyalty - courage - standing up against corruption or injustice - making difficult moral choices - good versus evil - finding your own identity and purpose Do you see fantasy magic simply as imagination and storytelling, or does the presence of witches and spells immediately make a children’s or YA book less appealing to you? I’m genuinely interested in hearing both sides, rather than looking for one particular answer. So, parents and grandparents: would a Gothic or magical theme make you less likely to let your child or grandchild read a novel — and does your personal faith or belief system influence that decision? 🤔

I just released a new podcast episode, and this one covers a mistake I made with my very first children's book that completely changed how I publish today. If you're still deciding what your next book should be about, or you're wondering why one book sells better than another, you'll definitely want to give this one a listen. In this episode, I share how choosing evergreen topics and seasonal themes can make your books easier to discover, easier to market, and easier to sell year after year! 🎧 Listen here: https://authorharleighrose.com/episodes/20-steal-this-strategy-to-sell-more-children-s-books-on-amazon

I have an original sci-fi book of 131 pages (6x9 format). It is book 1 of a six book series. Title: The Machine Front Subtitle: The First Machine War – Without Human Soldiers Drones vs. Robots Trust me, it’s a “page turner”. DM me that you want to read it. I will see that you get a copy for free. I would appreciate a review… but, of course that is up to you and not required for receiving the book. It’s set in the 22nd century where humans are prohibited from the battlefield. Drone armies controlled by Mara go to war with robot armies controlled by Rourke. They are fighting over a huge energy field named Daedalus under the crust of the moon. As the war progresses, something changes as the autonomous war machines begin to think for themselves. Perhaps a new civilization is dawning.

I'm asking on behalf of an author friend who has already published books on Amazon and is now considering purchasing ISBNs for future books. He lives in New York, USA. For those of you who have gone through the process, where would you recommend buying ISBNs? Are there any tips, things to watch out for, or lessons you learned along the way? I'd really appreciate any advice or recommendations. Thank you in advance! 😊

We often hear that the early years of childhood play an important role in shaping a child’s confidence, beliefs and attitude towards life. If you could intentionally teach children one positive mindset from an early age, what would it be — and at what age would you begin? For example: - A growth mindset: mistakes help us learn - Self-belief and confidence - Kindness and empathy - Resilience when things go wrong - Gratitude and appreciation - Curiosity and independent thinking - Healthy attitudes towards money - The courage to be different - Understanding and expressing emotions Do you think these ideas should be introduced through everyday conversations, stories, games and real-life experiences rather than taught as formal lessons? I’d especially love to hear from parents, grandparents, teachers and children’s authors. Which mindset do you believe would make the greatest difference to a child’s future — and how early is too early? 📚✨