Los Angeles, CA – May 5, 2021 – For author and screenwriter Dr. Melissa Caudle, writing comes easy for her. “I love to write, and writing children’s fiction has always been close to my heart,” says Caudle, who has published dozens of award-winning children’s books, fiction novels, and how-to books for screenwriters, authors, and filmmakers. Her love shows in her latest children’s book, The Creek Dweller in the Bayou, as it makes its way to a bestselling book. However, that wasn’t enough for Caudle. With the help of her seven grandchildren, ages four to eighteen, they penned The Creek Dweller in the Bayou during a family camping trip. Caudle says, “I won’t ever forget that night. We were all sitting around a campfire at Jellystone Park when a raccoon came up. At first, all of the children were frightened. With a little coaxing, all calmed down. Then, my grandchildren asked me to make up a story. So, we did it together.”
The Creek Dweller in the Bayou tells the story of seven cousins who go visit their grandmother in Louisiana. Based on her grandchildren, the children in the story come across a magical creature in the bayou for a fun-filled adventure. “The challenge was not writing the book or publishing it since I own Absolute Author Publishing House, “ Caudle says. “The challenge was finding an illustrator who could capture the essence of my grandchildren in cartoon form.” One thing led to another to the point where Caudle, an award-winning screenwriter, and author, adapted the book into a children’s animation script. “I never once thought it would take on the traction it has,” Caudle says. “It’s very exciting to see something your grandchildren helped write come to fruition in book form. But, to see it become an animation film will be something else.”
After Charlie Brown, producer with 311 Studios and Caudle, who are collaborating with other film projects, found out about the script and the book The Creek Dweller in the Bayou, she encouraged Caudle to enter it into festivals and screenwriting contests. “You can imagine my surprise when I found out the script won. I owe Charlie for this encouragement,” Caudle says.
Caudle and Brown are collaborating on Ombre Ma Fi, Dead Soldier, Never Stop Running, and A.D.A.M. The Beginning of Life to create sizzle reels to obtain funding. They recently filmed in New Orleans, LA, for the Ombre Ma Fi series, written and directed by Brown through 311 Studios owned by Brown, and On the Lot Productions, which is owned by Caudle. “This is a match made in Heaven,” Brown says. “We balance each other so well to be such strong women in the film industry. We know our wheelhouses and use them to our advantage.”
Brown and Caudle look forward to a long filming relationship as they have five projects in the works and have more scripts in the pipeline.
The Creek Dweller in the Bayou is available in eBook, paperback, audible, and hardback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. “I can’t wait for the animation film to come out and share it with my grandchildren. I hope this experience has encouraged them to keep writing, publishing, and one day discover the film industry and love it as much as I do. Another exciting thing is that my grandchildren and I are writing another children’s book and will create the animation script for that as well. I guess it shows, that the phrase out of the mouth of babes, is so true. I can’t think of a better writing team for children’s books than my grandchildren. It gives a whole new meaning now for us on sleepovers when it is storytime. We read a lot and we make up stories that will all become books and animation films.”
The cartooned characters based on Caudle’s grandchildren. From left to right: Aryc, Blythe, Jax, Eli, Roger, Stamati, and Jayden.
Media Contact
Company Name: AAPH Press Distribution, LLC
Contact Person: Dr. Melissa Caudle
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Phone: 5044677181
Address:1231 Williams Blvd
City: Kenner
State: LA
Country: United States
Website: www.drmelcaudle.com