September 2013

The Children's Corner: Patty Hansen

The Ground Breaker

Patty Hansen

City of Residence: Newport Beach

Claim to Fame: Chicken Soup for the Soul series

Patty Hansen and the Chicken Soup for the Soul co-creators were turned down by 138 publishers before a small company picked up the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book. When this book series bolted — numerous times — to number one on the New York Times best seller list, it opened the door to a new genre: stories shared by contributing authors.

Parenting OC: How did the idea for the Chicken Soup for Kids Soul series begin?

Patty Hansen: The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book debuted in 1993 when our children were eight and six years old. When the book became a best seller and we received so many letters from fans letting us know how much the stories meant to them, for me — as a very interactive mom — it was a no-brainer to want to impart the same inspiration to kids as we had been doing with the adults.

POC : All the Chicken Soup for Soul books that you co-authored for kids had collaborating authors. How difficult was it to find kid authors?

Hansen : It was interesting for sure! One was that my writing partner, Irene Dunlap, and I contacted schools across the county on a random basis asking the school to use us as a writing prompt in their curriculum. We also diligently followed up on each and every letter we received from kids who we felt had an important story to share. We would encourage them to write their story — and at times actually helped them develop and complete it. Although we never wrote the stories, it was more like we were acting as a writing coach for the kids. We helped them create a finished piece of writing that would reach out to their peer group.

POC: How many books have been sold under the banner of Chicken Soup for Kids Soul?

Hansen: Counting the Kid's Book Soul (I and II), the Preteen books, Girl's Soul, Child's Soul . . . millions plus millions.

POC: From your perspective what advice would you give to others with a book series idea?

Hansen: For sure the world is changing rapidly, especially in the book publishing industry. It seems to me that if you do not have a great agent on your side, the next best thing that you can do is to self-publish.

POC: What is the best advice you would like to share with the readers of OC Parenting magazine?

Hansen: Encourage your kids to read, read, read! Read with them, read for them, let them read on their own, but always know what they are reading. Irene and I found that parents who either read with their kids or read the same books as their kids had closer relationships and better communication with their children — not only throughout their childhood, but also through their teenage years as well when it can become more difficult to have good communication. Reading short stories that impart a moral, or a life lesson, can be a much needed launching pad to have a meaningful discussion about delicate, but always important, events in a child's life. No matter how much our world changes, one thing remains the same: The value of a story, told with an open heart, will always continue to inspire us and enrich our lives.

The Children's Corner	Sheri Fink	Robin Preiss Glasser

John Archambault	Steve Bjorkman	The OC Children's Book Festival