The Ripple of a Lie

Every time a lie is told, a raindrop falls. When the lie is revealed, a thunderstorm rages. When the lie is repaired, a flower appears. Yet, even when the sun is shining again, puddles still remain-- The Ripple of a Lie. This children's book is geared for ages Kindergarten through 3rd grade, when lies or half-truths are told on the playground and spread like wildfire. It includes a section with games to talk to your child about the consequences of lying.

Paul A. Stankus is a poet, short story writer, and author of three books, including his first children's book, The Ripple of a Lie, a visual representation of the effects of playground gossip and lies. Always observant, he finds a simple absurdity in life -- that single grain of truth --that he weaves into a masterful tale. Paul churned nearly 250 short stories about his experiences as a new father into his book, Dad Desperately In Need of Training Wheels while commuting daily in the last car of the DC Metro train. As the DreadPoet Roberts, Paul led a virtual poetry jam every Monday evening for nearly five years, composing over 150 poems on the spot with nothing more than a name, a place, and an action shouted out by the audience. His audience has grown from a small handful to a routine of 5 storytellers to an assembled crowd of over 100 patrons nightly. Paul currently has several writing projects in the works, including a book of poetry, and an 18th century pirate trilogy. In his spare time, he is a board member of the Gaithersburg Book Festival where he was a featured presenter in 2012 and hones his craft by editing books for friends. He balances his time writing with a daytime gig wrangling federal funds for schools. Mostly he does it for the children -- but it also pays for his writing vices.