Carla Kessler

Award winning author, Carla Kessler, began her journey in elementary school, where she immersed herself in the world of her beloved fantasy characters—those heroic figures destined to save the world. From there, she transitioned to actively participating in civil rights protests during her high school years. She discovered her true source of empowerment as a teacher, nurturing the minds of the next generation through the transformative mediums of music and writing.

A cellist, passionate gardener, and writer, Carla aspires to ignite the same fervor in those embarking on a similar journey. Dive into the enchanting tale of Terracolina, where fanciful creatures and vibrant plants empower a young Thomas to create a meaningful impact in his real world.

Richard Kessler loved to draw as a child but didn’t take it on as a career. Instead he toggled between music and chemistry in college and music won, ultimately leading to a doctorate and a professorship in piano. When the opportunity to join the tech world arose, he changed course as a systems engineer (keeping music and art by his side) until his retirement. His love of technology and art made the perfect formula for becoming an illustrator.

Awards:

1st place Bookfest Awards in Juvenile - Science and Nature

1st place Speak up Talk Radio - Firebird Awards in Juvenile - Fiction

Interview with Carla Kessler - 10-9-23

*If you had to explain this book in one sentence, what would you say?

In a world filled with busy adults who often overlook 12-year-old introvert Thomas, his determination to rescue his forest from destruction is tested when he stumbles upon a magical realm where his commitment is greatly valued, causing him to grapple with conflicting loyalties.

*Who are the major influencers on your life and philosophy?

My parents, especially my dad, taught me to marvel at the wonders of nature and treasure my connection with the woods and wildlife. Dad’s spirit of exploration and curiosity is an important characteristic of Thomas, the main character of Terracolina.

Jane Goodall believes that all good change starts with children, as do I. She helped us all to better understand the connection between humans and the animal world.

C. S Lewis, through his Chronicles of Narnia Trilogy, Frank L. Baum in his Wizard of Oz books, and Frances Hodgson Burnett in The Secret Garden helped me sustain my belief, as a child, that magic does exist around and within us and that I was not alone growing up in my own fantasy world.

Robert Frost touched my soul with poetry that never saw cruelty in nature, only our place in it.

Mary Oliver’s poetry continues to inspire me to remember that there is strength and resilience in an immersive relationship with nature.

*What other authors or books influenced you to write this one?

Besides my childhood favorites, C. S. Lewis, Frank L. Baum, and Frances Hodgson Burnett, so many other authors shaped me and provided possibilities within their pages that were and still are unforgettable: Ray Bradbury, Marcus Zusak, Katherine Patterson, Barbara Kingsolver, Sue Monk Kidd, Elizabeth George Speare, Gary Paulsen, Madeleine L’Engle, and many others.

I was privileged to be able to share the worlds these authors created with my middle grade students during my career as a teacher.

*What are some of the major ideas that you integrate into this book or your life in general?

Live as one with nature and your fellow humans, not apart from them. This means listening to the needs of the people around you, the plants, ecosystems, wildlife, for without their health and preservation we are doomed. I have a deep faith in the resilience and wisdom of children and see hope for our world through them.