Cracking the Code: Spreading Rumors is a great book about life as a child, overcoming life's ups and downs, growing up, facing challenges, and more. Children can relate to the characters, and feel comforted by their experiences.

Amber Housey is a local Michigan author with an Education background and a husband who has started a local charity. She has written Just Because, a book about the value of sharing, taking action to help those in need, and seeing another person's point of view. Amber has creatively written about a valuable life lesson for children to understand. I interviewed Amber about Just Because to learn more about how she came to write this wonderful children's book.

Lisa LaGrou of OaklandCountyMoms.com: How long have you lived in Michigan?

Julie Llewellyn is a local Michigan author who has just written her first book, I Am Not a Wimp! And, I'll Prove it! I Am Not a Wimp! And, I'll Prove it! is a childrens book about perseverance and aims to teach kids that if you try hard enough at something, you can attain your goals. Hard work pays off! I Am Not a Wimp! And, I'll Prove it! takes place in Michigan and uses the example of a young girl learning how to water ski to prove to herself (and her brother) that she can do it.

I interviewed Julie Llewellyn about her book, I Am Not a Wimp! And, I'll Prove it!, and the Michigan inspiration behind it. Here's what she had to say:

Get Your Kids Off Crap by Michigan author Kathryn Shelton is a no-nonsense, no-holds barred cookbook filled with all the recipes, knowledge and power needed to help you help your children on a path toward better nutrition. Kathryn Shelton is a fellow Trader Joe's/Whole Foods mom and her company, Real Meal Foods, prepares and serves mostly organic lunches at Eagle Creek Academy in Oakland Township, MI.

Valerie van Heest is an award-winning local author and filmmaker with a great focus on Michigan history. Her story for how she began her journey as an author on the subject of Great Lakes shipwrecks is quite intriguing. I interviewed Valerie so she could tell us more.

Michigan Author Linda Sicks has created a book series that incorporates a cat (her very own pet cat, Nick) that teaches life messages to children. I interviewed Linda to find out how she began her book series.

Holly Skelton is a Michigan author and has written A Perfect You, a children's book that  encourages children to discover their talents so that they can live a life of purpose and happiness. A Perfect You helps children discover that God has blessed them with gifts and talents that make them totally unique and able to serve the world in a very special way. With your talents, the possibilities are endless! I interviewed Holly to find out how she came to write this helpful book for children.

The Secret Zoo book series is about a group of children that live next door to the zoo. Mysterious events ensue and the suspense thickens as the children get entangled in the magic and mystery of The Secret Zoo. Author Bryan Chick resides in Clarkston, Michigan with his wife and three children, and has currently written three books for his popular The Secret Zoo series. I interviewed Bryan Chick about The Secret Zoo.

Michigan author Lisa Rivard has a tremendous amount of experience with children and education, and has utilized her skill set in developing her latest children's book, I Am Stumped!.