Author, Mary Feliciani, is a Canadian author, independent publisher and a former elementary school teacher. She attended UTM where she studied psychology and still lives in Mississauga, Ontario. Mary’s background in psychology, work with children and passionate interest in the human condition, which stems back as far as she can remember, are all evident in her writing.
Mary is here to introduce herself and to share her commitment to writing about the issue of bullying in the school envirnoment. She is also announcing her latest children’s eBook, The Invisible Boy. It is the second installment, in the Bullying trilogy, about a boy who feels invisible at school. The first installment, Big and Small in the Mirror, reflects the effects of bullying on self-esteem.
How her interest in writing stories about bullying evolved – in her own words:
The motivation for the Bullying trilogy actually started with the first book that I authored, The Magic Leaf. The Magic Leaf was published in 2006; in this book, the characters learn the value of friendship. It was my idea, at the time, that I would go on to write books about issues that children faced in their everyday environment. What those issues were going to be was still a mystery to me, but the seed had been planted.
In time, I became increasingly aware that the issue of bullying was very challenging to both parents and teachers and that this would be the issue to tackle. Big and Small in the Mirror was published in 2015, followed by The Invisible Boy near the end of 2017.
When people discover that I am interested in writing about the topic of bullying, I am often asked what the big deal is about bullying these days. This comment is usually followed by statements such as this: “It has always existed. There is nothing new about it.”
What is new about it is that bullying no longer is seen as a rite of passage into adulthood, or as a normal part of school life, as some might have viewed it in earlier generations.
Today, there is a body of research to help us understand the nature of bullying. And as more and more mental health practitioners study the phenomenon, we are learning its long-term effects. Consequently, educators and parents are faced with addressing the problem.
My stories utilize common school scenarios to help create empathy for victims. The totality of the storytelling and discussion questions bring forth certain truths. It is not the victim’s fault. There is nothing wrong with the victim. There is something going on with the bully. Victims need to tell a parent and teacher.
I provide discussion questions at the end of the books to help parents and teachers facilitate a discussion about bullying, and to put the story in perspective.
I would love to hear your opinion or stories.
To learn more about Mary and her books, or to follow her:
amazon.com/author/maryfeliciani
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14210392.Mary_Feliciani
PLEASE NOTE: Mary’s latest eBook, The Invisible Boy, will be on sale for $0.99 from March 26 – March 30 inclusively. Check it out at amazon.com/author/maryfeliciani.
