Guest Post from Greg Allen, Author of Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Super Hero With Autism

Today, author Greg Allen and I are swapping blogs. Greg is a multi-facted writer who writes in a variety of genres. The themes he covers are diverse, but a common thread, whether he is writing for grown-ups or for kids, is the theme of overcoming adversity through perseverence. Today, he's telling us about the inspiration for his children's book,
Chicken Boy, The Amazing Adventures of a Super Hero with Autism.

Heeeeeeeeere's GREG!

Inspiration in the Eyes of my Godson

As an author, I find inspiration in so many places when I’m writing. A dream. A situation that pops inside my head. A tour guide on a vacation can become a character in a book. Something I’ve lived through in my past and want to work through it in a fictionalized way.

With my children’s book, it was something completely different.

I have a long history of working and writing in children’s theater. The first musical I ever wrote for the stage was a children’s show when I was 14. I went on to write two others in high school. When I moved to NY, I toured in every children’s show imaginable including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – so performing and writing for children was in my blood.

Last summer, the idea of Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Super Hero with Autism came to me while having my weekly dinner with my godson and his sister. She and I were watching him eat his chicken fingers (that he must have every week) and this children’s picture book was born. I submitted it to a few publishers, but then it really took off in the fall when it was entered in the MeeGenius Author Challenge. They are a leading eBook publisher and received 400 manuscripts in the fall. The public was able to vote and we were thrilled when it received over 2,000 votes. Now it is in the final week of the last round where only 13 remain and all have been edited and illustrated. It has been an amazing lesson in gratitude for me.

I knew I wanted to tell a story from the perspective of the child with autism. So many are from a sibling or friend and this was a simple way to say “don’t be fearful of who I am…get to know me.” Naturally, I used my godson as who was in my mind – but I’ve heard from so many people that read the book in round one and said “that is my child!” It has touched me beyond words and now the book is about all the children with autism that are super heroes – each living in their own minds and are wonderful, creative, smart people.

Who knows where my next inspiration will come from, but for now – I’m thankful that Gabe not only inspired me, but that I followed through and we’re hoping this book will see publication soon. (Feel free to click on the link to read it and put in your own vote as well! CLICK HERE TO VOTE

I wish great inspiration on everyone reading this blog. You never know where you’ll find it!

And for a video about my inspiration – well HERE he is.

For more on Gregory G. Allen - visit his website at www.ggallen.net or see Melissa's guest post on his BLOG

That's Greg, right there!