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Author Diana Zimmerman By Mike O'Sullivan The adventure-fantasy Kandide and the Secret of the Mists brings together many themes that are part of the writer's life. Zimmerman has long been fascinated with faeries, the mythical creatures of European folk tales. She has built an extensive collection of faerie art, from the 18th century to modern times. Her other passion is magic. At the age of eight, she was impressed with a magician who was able to produce money from thin air. She started learning magic herself, and by the age of 13, was very good at it. "I won a magic competition and I discovered that there weren't any other girls doing magic. And I was the only one I could find because the other girls were handing the trays or jumping in the boxes, and I was actually doing the magic. And I thought, wow, this could be kind of fun. Maybe I should do this for a living," she said. Zimmerman moved to California, performing magic to work way through college. She became a leading stage performer, billed as the world's foremost lady magician. She had a magical revue in the resort town of Lake Tahoe, and appeared on major variety and talk shows on television. Behind the scenes, she created illusions for other top performers, including David Copperfield. Zimmerman was a member of the famous Hollywood magic club, the Magic Castle. With the help of a fellow member, the actor Cary Grant, she set up a training program for young magicians, seeing magic as a way to teach self-confidence. |
"That was 33 years ago. We've had over 2,500 kids go through the program. And some of our kids are starring in Las Vegas. Neil Patrick Harris, the actor - a wonderful talented actor - he was a member of our program," she said. Zimmerman says her passions for myth and magic led her to write a fantasy book about a magical land, and an arrogant and spoiled faerie princess. The princess, named Kandide, is expelled from her perfect kingdom when she suffers a deformity as her wing is damaged. The character struggles to rebuild her confidence, and realizes that life is more than a quest for physical perfection. The book touches on fantasy themes found in many stories for young readers, with its make-believe places peopled with elves, gargoyles and wizards. Other books have been made into movies, from The Spiderwick Chronicles to the Harry Potter series. Zimmerman says these stories and films have a special appeal in our technological age. "We're looking for escapism. Harry Potter, of course, is the classic example. And there, too, is a young man who was put down. He didn't live with his own family and yet he has these powers. And in reality, each of us do have special powers. I've never met a young person or an individual that didn't have something very, very special about them. And that's the real magic," she said. Zimmerman has left the performing stage to become a motivational speaker and marketing expert. But her first love is magic and the mist-shrouded worlds of mythical creatures. She says magic -- whether presented through fantasy books or stage performances -- gets youngsters to move beyond conventional thinking and set their sights high. "Magic teaches you to say Why? instead of Why not? It teaches kids to think I can instead of I can't—I can float a lady in the air. Well, if I can float a lady in the air, I could become president and CEO of a major corporation, too," she said. Zimmerman's book Kandide and the Secret of the Mists is the first in a trilogy. The second book will be released next year.
Illusionist turned author creates magic, promotes anti-bullying with book, Diana Zimmerman makes appearance at O'Fallon Library By J.W. Campbell
"As a magician I took my audience into a world of fantasy and adventure, where things can't really happen, but yet they do," she said. "That's what I do through my literature as well. The other thing that I discovered while I was performing is that we all kind of wear masks. So when I started writing 'Kandide,' I found that a lot of the knowledge that I gained performing - my understanding of an audience's psychology - could be translated into my book. With Kandide (the book's main character), she wears this mask of perfection. She lives in a land like high school. If you're not perfect, you don't count. In speaking to school kids, what I'm finding is that "Kandide and the Secret of the Mists" really resonates with them. Almost all kids have been bullied. It's a terrible problem in school. Because of that, we try to create the illusion of what people think we should be." Zimmerman, who gave up her magic career to form an international marketing firm, started writing fiction as a break from the mundane world of business. "I saw this painting and decided to write a short story about it," explained Zimmerman. "I gave it to somebody to read and they said 'oh, this is really good, why don't you make it a little longer?' So I made it a little longer and showed it to some other people who said 'why don't you put a villain in it?' So I did that. Five years later, there are three books that have come out of it. "Like J.K. Rowling and everyone else, I got my share of rejections when I started looking for a publisher; but finally somebody said yes. Now it's on the Amazon.com best seller list." Zimmerman said she thinks people have responded so well to her book because it has such a strong pro-social, anti-bullying message. "It evolved into that," Zimmerman admitted. "I didn't even realize that was there until I started taking it to schools." She said that an experience she had with a child named John in a Florida school made her aware of the power of her book. John never talked because he stuttered. He was, however, a talented artist. After drawing him out of his shell, John told Zimmerman that he liked the book because it emphasized that it was alright to be different. Zimmerman then praised his artwork, which also then drew the approval of his classmates. "That one thing made it worth writing the book," said Zimmerman. "That was probably the first time in John's life that had been included. "Can books stop school violence? Can they prevent a Columbine? I don't know. But I think it's a good start. If we can get kids reading books that have these kind of special values and messages and don't put an emphasis on perfection, we can make some progress." Zimmerman said that she continually gets e-mails from children who read her book and loved it. "I actually thought the book was mostly a girl's book, but I've gotten the most amazing letters from the boys. I didn't realize that boys have as much of a problem with bullying as girls do. I'm not a boy. What do I know?" In addition to positive feedback from children throughout the country, Zimmerman said she's getting good reviews from critics as well. "Vince Smith, who calls himself the midnight bookworm and has a syndicated show on America First radio, just sent me the nicest review. He said 'Diana S. Zimmerman is America's answer to J.K. Rowling.' I don't know if it's true or not, but that's pretty heady stuff." While in O'Fallon, Zimmerman provided the library with several signed copies of her book. According to Children's Librarian Teri Rankin, those will probably be given at as prizes during one of the library's special events. The book is 289 pages long with nine full-color illustrations by Maxine Gadd. "She's an Australian artist," offered Zimmerman. "I brought a painting from her and fell in love with it. When I did the book, a contacted her and ask her to do the illustrations for it." At one time, Zimmerman was billed as the America's foremost Lady Magician, having developed illusions for David Copperfield and Lance Burton. For a time, she had her own show on TV in the Los Angeles market. In 1974, she teamed up with Cary Grant to found a young magicians group in Hollywood; but after 25 years of entertaining, she transitioned into the corporate world, establish her marketing firm, CMS Communications, International. "I got tired of traveling all the time for performances," said Zimmerman. "I was probably on the road 80 percent of the time. I also had to starve myself to stay thin, so I'd look good on television. "I guess the pressure to be perfect, which of course is impossible, affects all of us in some way," concluded Zimmerman.
Sunday, June 22, 2008 Kandide and the Secret of the Mists by Diana S. Zimmerman Meet Kandide, the faery princess who is heir to the throne of Calabiyau—and also a completely self-centered, vain girl. She’d really rather be admiring her reflection and perfecting her looks in front of a mirror than anything else—except for a quick game or archery practice. Her sister, Tara, is the complete opposite—a bit boyish but an exceptional healer, she is caring and patient, unlike her selfish older sister. Their younger brother, Teren, is a mischievous faery aspiring to be a magi, or one who wields magic. Her father is one of the most beloved kings of Calabiyau, with a council to help him make decisions. He was the one to unite the different faery clans of Calabiyau and each clan has a seat on his council. But now he has fallen ill, and he must pass on the Gift to Kandide so she can bring the Frost and preserve nature’s cycle of birth and rebirth, as well as rule the people of Calabiyau well. But for one who was spoiled and is utterly self-centered, can Kandide rule her future people well? Or will she be too caught up in herself? Not one to listen to advice, Kandide decides to go to the meadows instead of performing her coronation and queenly duties to go have fun and pick pomegranates with her sister. Ignoring her sister’s advice to return home since the weather is taking a turn for the worse, Kandide ends up crushed under a tree branch struck by lightning, barely clinging onto life. Her sister rushes her home, but the healers cannot manage to heal her damaged wing completely, even though the save her life. Heartbroken and enraged, Kandide feels less than perfect and vows to hide her imperfection, since crumplewinged and other imperfect faeries are cast out in her society. But when she is accidentally exposed, the council is shocked and her mother sends her away, and lets Tara be crowned queen. Lost and afraid, Kandide wanders around in a dark forest as Tara is a rather unhappy and unprepared queen back in Calabiyau. But Kandide happens upon a place beyond the mysterious Mists her father was rumored to have created, and meets new people that dispel her old prejudices. Her life changes forever as she goes on a journey to learn acceptance of others, to learn to be more selfless, and to learn that outer beauty is far from everything, and that physical perfection does not guarantee inner perfection. Can Kandide learn how to accept her own ‘imperfections’ as well other’s? Or will she revert to the same selfish old Kandide before her accident? Can she solve the trouble and treachery brewing at home? Or will her own reflection hold more of her attention? Can she fulfill her father’s last instructions to unite her country and bring peace and understanding, or will she let it fall to the overly ambitious and sinister individuals? Diana Zimmerman wove an enchanting tale that especially younger audiences will enjoy! The message that inner beauty is what truly matters rings true in this novel that will have young readers wanting to read more of Kandide’s adventures! — Dominique, The Book Vault
Granite City, Press-Record California Businesswoman Makes a Name for Herself— By Michael Heil
Diana S. Zimmerman's newest chapter in her life has turned into a magical moment for the former magician, who invented illusions for renowned magicians David Copperfield and Lance Burton. Zimmerman spent 25 years as a magician, earning the title as "America's Foremost Magician," and the last five years writing a book on fairies and magical creatures that's reached No. 4 on Amazon.com in the fantasy and literature categories. Friday, Zimmerman displayed charm and savvy of a magician at the Six Mile Regional Library District's main branch on Delmar Avenue during a book-signing session on her new book: "Kandide and the Secret of the Mists."The session featured a PowerPoint demonstration in which the book was illustrated in color and with music. The 289-page book is directed at young adults. Zimmerman signed about 30 paperbacks and hardback copies, at $10.95 for the paperback and $17.99 for the hardback, during the hour-long session. She also gave two hardback books to the library. "I think the book has been successful because readers see a vain beauty get what she deserves," Zimmerman said. "The book could also be described in a way that a bully gets his due, if the reader can focus away from the beauty Kandide personifies, but that's hard to do." Zimmerman compares Kandide to a spoiled Paris Hilton, but Kandide realizes that the true meaning of life has nothing to do with beauty when she, after a mishap makes her less than perfect, is cast away to a treacherous world of strange beasts. Zimmerman has written two sequels to the book that will come out in the spring and fall of 2009. "I have another book planned (to go with the sequels), but nothing in writing, just some ideas," Zimmerman said. Zimmerman was at the library as part of a cross-country tour to promote her book that took her to Glen Carbon on Friday and Fairview Heights on Saturday. She already has visited New York, Boston and other parts of the Midwest as part of the tour. "From here, it's back to Los Angeles and then to Atlanta (to promote the book)," Zimmerman said. "I've really enjoyed my stay in this area of the country." When Zimmerman, 59, isn't writing about or teaching magic or lecturing, she's vesting time in a company she created, CMS Communications Intl., an international marketing communications firm whose clients include several Fortune 500 companies. As the company's chief operating officer and president, Zimmerman finds time to collect fairy art. She said her collection, one of the largest in the world, has pieces dating to the 1700s. "A painting by Australian artist Maxine Gadd is in my private collection and inspired the literary legacy of Kandide," Zimmerman said. Kandide and the Secret of the Mists" is available everywhere fine books are sold. LAS VEGAS AROUND THE CLOCK The release of Diana S. Zimmerman’s first fantasy adventure novel, Kandide and the Secret of the Mists, on May 10 at the NeverEnding Story Book Shoppe introduced a bit of her magical kingdom, Calabiyau, to your earth-bound, humble correspondent, lucky enough to attend the book signing and meet the author herself. An ornate sheet cake featured the book’s cover and title, Kandide and the Secret of the Mists, including a portrait of the proud and beautiful Kandide, Queen of the Fée (faery clans). So bewitching was her ethereal countenance that I guess you could call her the face that launched a thousand forks. Copies of the book flew off the shelves as if they possessed wings of their own.
The aptly named magician, Michael Close, was also on hand to entertain guests with card tricks revealing puzzling and mystifying results right under their noses. With children and adults as willing participants and sometimes even in the lead, Close baffled and impressed his subjects with masterful sleight of hand and a witty manner which included wordplay and shuffled shenanigans to delight the assembled crowd. About the book: Aiming for the 9-12 age group, Zimmerman does not write down to her audience, illustrating the importance of intelligence as she weaves a tale of physical beauty that does not always appease, satisfy or compensate for bad behavior. Kandide’s loveliness does not excuse her self-centeredness and she learns values that are not lost on young readers as well. Think boys can’t relate? Count on Kandide’s brother, Prince Teren, for mischief and magic and the terrifyingly carnivorous (even cannibalistic) garglans, part gremlin, part gargoyle, for menace and mayhem. Kandide’s sister, Princess Tara, is kind and level-headed, unconcerned with glamour and blessed with good judgment and compassion. Dangerously attractive but hot-headed Lady Aron of the Fire Clan has an evil agenda all her own, and even our heroine, Kandide, is prone to bouts of haughty arrogance and vanity. Zimmerman’s character variety provides moral conflict amid a fantasy component, where life-changing epiphanies are discovered amid fanciful adventures in pomegranate meadows, palaces, dark woods, and underwater caverns. You’ll be absorbed into Kandide and the Secret of the Mists as if you were making the journey yourself, aided by Zimmerman’s gentle, descriptive prose that perches on the edge of poetry and at the crossroads of invention and imagination. Kandide and the Secret of the Mists has been named a Finalist in the Children's/Juvenile Fiction, Young Adult Fiction and Science Fiction/Fantasy categories of the 2008 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. A copy of Kandide and ten tiny glow-in-the-dark faeries left with me as well as a free magic trick featuring 10 garglans who become 11 then go back to 10. Surrounded by wings I was, indeed, lifted by the charming afternoon of magic and beauty, eager to delve into Kandide’s debut tale, which left me in a cliffhanger just in time for book two, Kandide and the Lady’s Revenge, to be released later this year. Book three, Kandide and the Flame is Fleeting will follow shortly thereafter.
About the author: She is a performer, entrepreneur, and businesswoman with an impressive 25-year stage and television career as the "World’s Foremost Lady Magician.” Having invented magic illusions for Lance Burton and David Copperfield (among others), she sponsors the Junior Magicians’ Club—a youth group she founded in 1974 with the help of legendary actor, Cary Grant—at Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle. She’s starred in her own television show, “Enchanted Palace” as well as her own magical revue show in Lake Tahoe and has appeared on virtually every major TV talk and variety show. Currently the President and CEO of CMS Communications, Intl.—an international marketing communications/event production agency whose clients rank among the Fortune 500, Zimmerman sits on the board of the Academy of Magical Arts Educational Foundation, Inc. and was an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” finalist. Kandide and the Secret of the Mists is her first book in the fantasy adventure genre, but she is also the co-author of the business strategy book “Tactical Abyss.” With talent in both corporate and faery worlds, this multi-talented Renaissance woman can tackle wing-tops in the boardroom, while creating shimmering ones for faery kingdoms where it’s virtually impossible to be bored. That type of juggling act takes skill, talent, diplomacy, and a creative spirit. That Zimmerman possesses these attributes is no secret. About The NeverEnding Story Children’s Book Shoppe: Offering art classes for the 9+ crowd or birthday party celebrations, (there’s even a baby shower registry) Las Vegas' premiere children's book shoppe also features family story times, book clubs, gift book baskets, gift cards, educator discounts, and school promotion days. Personal assistance from owners Jennifer Ahn and Kimberly Diehm and their knowledgeable staff enhances the experience even further. The story may end, but not the lifelong learning a place like this can engender in a developing mind.
New Zealand Magic e-zine I read with great interest in Magic New Zealand that Diana is publishing her first book. The name of the book is ' “Kandide and the Secret of the Mists.” I suspect it is going to be well worth reading. I am putting in my order with Amazon right away. Since I first met Diana in the mid 70s, she has done many different things and she has done them all well. For starters, Diana along with Bob Dorian has pioneered and masterminded the Magic Castle junior program. In so doing she has helped launch many successful careers and allowed scores of talented young performers develop into fully-fledged artistes. Bravo.
At the Magic Castle, I watched with interest as Diana took her sophisticated magic show and then added illusions to create a superb magical review. The show was a big hit during its run in Lake Tahoe where it achieved critical and commercial success. Whenever I watch Lance Burton perform the illusion with the giant gramophone in his show. I think back to Diana performing it in her full evening show. Maybe it is the record collector in me, but I always loved that trick. No sooner had Diana perfected the art of grand illusion but she was tackling something new, and in my opinion, totally scary. She reshaped her show to feature a pickpocket segment. The thought of breaking in a pickpocket show causes me to break out in a cold sweat. However, Diana quickly perfected it and ended up with something very special. I suppose there might be a more commercial idea than a beautiful lady picking men's pockets onstage, but I'm damned if I can think what it could be! The next thing Diana did was move offstage and behind the scenes as a producer of corporate events. Her company, CMS Communications, Intl., (www.cmsbiz.com) quickly established itself as one of the leading production houses in the business. It isn't easy to take all that performing knowledge and make it work as a top-notch producer. Diana makes it look effortless every time I work with CMS. It is a delight to finally working with a producer who gets everything right. Bravo again. Now we are watching yet another facet of Diana's talent as she sets her sights on becoming a bestselling author of an adventure story for teens with a taste for the mystical. I am betting that it will be another success story in the non-stop development of one of the magic world's most versatile and visionary performers. Take my advice and pick up a copy of 'Kandide and the Secret of the Mists' as soon as it arrives in bookstores. I have a firm feeling that it is going to be the start of something special. As always, check out my website at www.nicklewin.com Press Release Kandide and the Secret of the Mists THIS SEASON’S “MUST READ” FANTASY ADVENTURE NOVEL KANDIDE AND THE SECRET OF THE MISTS EXPLORES THE DOWNSIDE (AND DOWNFALL) OF A SOCIETY OBSESSED WITH VANITY, PERFECTIONISM & INTOLERANCE Kandide and the Secret of the Mists (May 2008, Noesis Publishing) is set in a world that rings true for almost every tween and teen – one that’s obsessed with beauty and physical perfection, with a healthy dose of intolerance and distaste for those who do not fit this mold. Author Diana S. Zimmerman merely changes the scenery – the story takes place not in the ruthless modern-day hallways of a middle or high school, but in the equally harsh world of the Kingdom of the Fée, where beauty and arrogance are revered and anyone who looks or acts “different” is shunned. In Kandide and the Secret of the Mists, Kandide is privileged and entitled -- spoiled beyond belief, vain beyond control, and beautiful beyond compare. Before she can be crowned Queen of Calabiyau, her wing is crushed in a terrible accident. No longer the personification of perfection, her mother cruelly casts her away to the Mists – a treacherous land where the Imperfects are sent to fend for themselves. Her younger brother and sister set out on a perilous journey to find their sister, while Kandide wrestles with her own internal revulsion of what she has become and surviving among those that she fears. Ultimately, the journey brings her to acceptance – of herself and of those around her. But can her strength, new-found insight, and her innate ability to lead affect change in Calabiyau forever? Kandide and her siblings find themselves fighting for their lives against a presence far more deadly than the dark magic and hideous beasts she encounters in the Mists. With a palpable connection to the TMZ-obsessed environment we live in today, Zimmerman creates a glittering, dangerous faerie world that embraces “Perfects,” discards the flawed and challenges Kandide – and the reader – to a fast-paced adventure that raises this important question: What if everything you loved was suddenly taken away. . . And everything you feared became your only hope? Kandide and the Secret of the Mists launches a trilogy, The Calabiyau Chronicles. The second and third installments in the series are scheduled to publish Spring and Fall of 2009. Readers can explore the book trilogy’s interactive website at www.kandide.com. Games, contests, book trailers and links to other fairy-inspired sites can be found. About the Author: Diana S. Zimmerman has captivated audience with her talents as a performer, journalist, author and marketing expert. Her illustrious performing career garnered the title “World’s Foremost Lady Magician” and the starring role in the Enchanted Palace television series. Diana’s transformation into the corporate world as the CEO of CMS Communications, Intl, catapulted the company into one of the nation’s top Marketing Communications Agencies. She is also an avid Faerie art collector with pieces dating from the 1700s. Kandide and the Secret of the Mists
Friend or Fée? According to the NY Child Study Center, about 65% of children between the ages of three and five develop invisible friends. For the most part, research has shown that these “friends” appear at a time when children are beginning to form their own identities and are testing the boundaries between fantasy and reality. However, they have also been reported by children as young as 18 months. In the past, it was assumed that kids outgrow their invisible friends by the time they enter school. We now know that fully one-third continue to interact with them through age 7—and some well into their teens and adulthood. For many children, invisible friends are clearly the product of a wondrous imagination. For others, they are as real as the human beings around them. Could it possibly be that they are real? Could it possibly be that children, with their non-jaded approach to life, actually see Fée—or Faeries? Although our modern western culture tends to scoff at this idea, many other cultures—since time immoral—embrace it. Report after report tell of children who have invisible friends knowing about an event in advance of it happening or being able to explain things to their parent’s that go way beyond their age and education. One young child told her mother that their pet bird was going to go to heaven with her “friend” the next day. Although the bird did not appear to be sick, it died the following afternoon. Other children are frantic if a parent sits on a chair where their invisible friend is. And still others carry on heated debates with their invisible friends. According to Karen Majors, an educational psychologist who is carrying out the research at the Institute of Education: “Invisible pals offer companionship and emotional support, aid creativity, boost self esteem and create a ‘sense of self.’ Parents should not worry even if their children have multiple companions. Imaginative children will create imaginary friends. Companionship is a big part of it. They can be a way of boosting self-confidence.” And yet, modern day psychologists are quick to point out that the old concerns of invisible friends being the domain of unbalanced, lonely, or low-esteem children just doesn’t hold up. The NY Child Study Center found that there are very few differences in social or emotional understanding, or in personality between children who have invisible friends and those who do not. They did find, however, that, “those with imaginary friends tend to be better at seeing things from other people's perspective.” They are also often smarter and more intuitive. It is normal for science to discount what it cannot see, touch, or prove. But what if these children really are seeing friends from another dimension? Are we then not doing them a disservice by squelching their perceptive abilities? Diana S. Zimmerman thinks so. She not only believes that faeries exist, she believes she actually saw one. “Five hundred years ago, you would be burned at the stake for believing in a force called electricity,” Zimmerman explains. “Today, you can be burned at the psychological stake if you mention that some children’s invisible friends might actually be real. To me, the existence of faeries seems like a much more logical explanation than what contemporary researchers say—65% percent of children are simply making up the same story—all over the world?” Diana S. Zimmerman is the author of a new fantasy adventure trilogy that is set in the land of Fée and she is passionate about her beliefs. “I don’t think most young children who have invisible friends are hallucinating. I don’t think they are lonely. I simply think they are far more in tune with other dimensions than adults are.” While she is quick to admit that her new book, Kandide and the Secret of the Mists, which is due out in March of 2008, is a product of her imagination, she insists that the elemental dimension—or fairyland—is real. She warns, “Although Kandide and the Secret of the Mists is set in the enigmatic realm of the Fée, it is not the blissful fairy story of childhood lore. It is a tale far more cunning and malevolent—one that takes to task bullying and prejudice for those who are different.” A Fée princess by birth, the book’s heroine, Kandide is arrogant, vain, spoiled, and beautiful beyond compare. She is every parent’s nightmare but every young reader’s joy. The type of individual you cannot help but love—or love to hate. When a terrible accident happens, Kandide is mercilessly sent away. She suddenly finds herself in a land of strange beasts and even stranger Fée. Everything Kandide abhors is suddenly all she has. She is an Imperfect—one of them! But this is only the beginning of her troubles. For within her kingdom of Calabiyau lies a presence far more terrifying. Lessons are learned. Lives are destroyed. And Kandide is forever changed—or is she? Sabal Point Elementary School 5th graders in Longwood, Florida are among those who have adopted Kandide and the Secret of the Mists as a huge favorite following their school’s innovative “Meet Author Diana S. Zimmerman” reading program. Lively discussions on the how to deal with being “left out” will add to a deeper appreciation of the Kandide Trilogy in future school projects nationwide. To schedule a no-cost appearance and learn more about how Diana is motivating kids to read, contact: Tracey Daniels at Media Masters Publicity, tracey@mmpublicity.com (828-859-9456) Can Books Prevent School Violence? When teachers and schools get involved in anti-bullying reading programs, results happen. Senator and Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, concurs: "As a parent of two young daughters, I know how important it is to keep our schools safe. Teachers can be more effective if there is a school wide system of behavioral expectations. Students learn more if they feel safe." Every seven minutes a child is bullied. Adult intervention happens 4% percent of the time. Peer intervention happens 11% of the time. A stunning 85% of the time, no intervention occurs at all. Statistics show that bullying, intolerance, and teasing are the major causes of teen suicide, school violence, and school shootings. Source: Bureau of Justice. The statistics on school bullying are staggering. One out of four kids is the victim of a bully. Dr. Dan Olweus, who is recognized as the “founding father” of research on bullying and victimization, presents even more startling statistics: “There appears to be a strong relationship between bullying other students and experiencing later legal and criminal problems as an adult. In one study, 60% of those characterized as bullies in grades six through nine had at least one criminal conviction by age twenty-four.” Can a book help prevent these tragedies? Author Diana S. Zimmerman and teacher Jeff Smith (Sable Point Elementary School, Florida) teamed up to find out. After previewing Zimmerman’s new fantasy adventure novel, Kandide and the Secret of the Mists, Smith decided that it would make an important personal growth and pro-social acceptance reading project for his class. Smith felt that if the kids got involved in this type of book, they would not only increase their reading, comprehension, and creative skills, but learn very important life-lessons—it’s okay to be different, that is what makes you special. And it’s not okay to bully, ostracize, or make fun of others. Kandide is set in a world that rings true for almost every tween and teen—one that is obsessed with beauty and physical perfection, with a healthy dose of intolerance and distaste for those who do not fit this mold. Author Diana S, Zimmerman merely changes the scenery. The story takes place, not in the ruthless modern-day hallways of a middle or high school, but in the equally harsh, mysterious world of the Kingdom of the Fée, where beauty and arrogance are revered, and anyone who looks or acts different is cast off. “Not only is Kandide jam-packed with fantasy, action, and adventure—all the things kids love to read,” Smith explains, “but the central theme of the book strikes a chord at one of the biggest issues kids face, being bullied and rejected, often because they are different.” Smith’s class of ten and eleven-year olds all participated in the six-week reading project. The students also created storyboards illustrating what they learned as they completed each chapter. At the end of the read, Zimmerman flew to Florida to speak to the class. The following conversation is between Zimmerman and two of the students. “Oh, that’s Jon, he never talks much,” one of the students remarked. “Really, why is that, Jon?” Diana inquired. “I… don’t know. I… I just don’t like to.” Jon replied. “Well, your storyboards are pretty amazing. Would you break your rule just once and tell me what you think of my book?” “I think that… that… it’s really good.” “Why?” “Because… um… it… it says… it says it’s okay to be different.” “So?” “So, it’s okay if… if I don’t like to talk much. I’m just… different, and that’s… that’s okay.” “Not only is it okay, Jon. But with your artistic talent, I’d say you are more than okay—you are amazing. Will you be the official Storyboard artist for Kandide?” “Re… really?” Can reading a book help change kids thinking? It changed Jon’s life, and his classmates. With their own stories to write as a follow-up to the Kandide project, several of the kids in Jon’s class drafted him to help create the illustrations for their stories. Suddenly, Jon’s “differences” didn’t matter. A year later, one of Jon’s classmates told Zimmerman, “Not only does Jon talk now, he talks a lot.” “Research shows that both bullies and their victims are more prone to violent behavior than their peers who are not exposed to this type of behavior. Implementing school based programs that address the dangers and long-term effects of bullying is a major step in preventing school violence.” Theodore P. Remley, Jr. – University of New Orleans According to Dr. Russell Skiba of the Indiana Education Policy Center, “Left untreated, the affects of bullying can evolve into depression, physical illness, and even suicide. Additionally, students who engage in aggressive and bullying behaviors during their school years may take part in criminal and aggressive behavior after adolescence.” Skiba goes on to say, “In the year following a comprehensive school intervention program, researchers recorded a 50% decrease in the numbers of bullying incidents, while also reducing the intensity of these problems.” Other studies such as that by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence in Boulder, Colorado concur: “While approaches that simply crack down on individual bullies are seldom effective, when there is a school-wide commitment to end bullying, it can be reduced by up to 50%.” Zimmerman states: “The hour I spent talking with Jeff’s students focused on Kandide’s story, how painful it is when you are rejected or made to feel unimportant, and how everyone is special in his or her own way. I walked into the room and the kids all stood and applauded for nearly three minutes. I received a lot of standing ovations in the years when I was a magician and motivational speaker, but none will ever mean as much to me as that one. The message in Kandide really resonated with kids—both the boys and girls.” Jeff Smith changed the thinking of the kids in his class by utilizing a fantasy adventure novel to help them learn that being different is not only okay, it is a good thing. Even his school library benefited. It suddenly became more popular. “I can’t wait to go there and check out some of the other books,” commented one of the boys. “I didn’t know reading was so cool,” another chimed in. This year, Smith again used Kandide and the Secret of the Mists as the class project, and the kids had a lot of ideas about the life lessons that they would like to see in Book Two. He also had them create podcasts about what they learned. Not only are these kids having fun reading, but they are learning important speaking skills, as well as crucial life lessons. Harry Potter proved that young people will read if they are excited enough about the story. Diana S. Zimmerman, her book Kandide and the Secret of the Mists, and an incredible teacher named Jeff Smith are proving that great books not only inspire reading, but can help change the thinking of kids and the way they view themselves and the world. Can Kandide and books like it help prevent school violence? You bet they can. Diana Zimmerman will be happy to share the details of her two-year success story and how she and Jeff Smith plan to make next year’s school reading program even more beneficial. To schedule a no-cost appearance and learn more about how Diana is motivating kids to read, contact: Tracey Daniels at Media Masters Publicity, tracey@mmpublicity.com (828-859-9456)
Striking a Chord . . . You bet it can. It can also make a difference in an author’s life. Author Diana S. Zimmerman and teacher Jeff Smith (Sable Point Elementary School, Florida) teamed up to allow twenty-one, ten and eleven-year olds become junior editors of her newest fantasy adventure book, “Kandide and the Secret of the Mists.” The following conversation was between Zimmerman and two of the students. “Oh, that’s Jon, he never talks much.” “Really, why is that, Jon?” “I… don’t know. I just don’t like to.” “Well, your storyboards are pretty amazing. Would you break your rule just once and tell me what you think of my book?” “I think that… that… it’s really good.” “Why?” “Because… um… it… it says… it says it’s okay to be different.” “So…” “So, it’s okay if I don’t like to talk much. I’m just different, and that’s okay.” “Not only are you okay, Jon. But with your artistic talent, I’d say you are more than okay—you are amazing.” After previewing the manuscript, Smith decided it would make a terrific class reading and personal growth project. “Not only is Kandide jam-packed with fantasy, action, and adventure, but the central theme of the book strikes a chord at one of the biggest issues kids face, being rejected because they are different,” Smith explains. The story takes place, not in the ruthless modern-day hallways of a middle or high school, but in the equally harsh world of the Kingdom of the Fée, where beauty and arrogance are revered and anyone who looks or acts “different” is shunned. Smith felt that if could he get the kids involved with reading the book as a class project, as well as helping to edit the story, they would not only gain reading and creative skills, but also learn some very important life-lessons. It’s okay to be different—that is what makes you special. The project extended over a six-week period, and each kid created storyboards along the way. At the end of the read, Zimmerman flew down to speak to the class. “I spent twenty five years on stage,” the author remarks, but facing twenty-one junior editors is an entirely different issue. I walked in the room and twenty-one kids stood their applauding for nearly three minutes. I’ve received a lot of standing ovations in my years as a magician and motivational speaker, but none will ever mean as much to me as that one.” “The next 57 minutes,” she goes on to say, “were spent talking about Kandide, any changes kids thought would be good, and where they might not have understood a plot point. Then we shifted gears. One of the boys mentioned, rather modestly, that he had written a story. Pretty soon, we had the entire class working on his “book.” Then another boy mentioned that he also had a book in mind, so we worked on his idea. Then one of the girls read a short story she had written. Oh, and Jon? The kids drafted him to do their illustrations.” Can a book change kids? Jeff Smith knows it can. This remarkable teacher, the school principle, and twenty-one kids pushed the creative envelop by helping Zimmerman perfect her story, and in doing so helped the kids learn that being different is a good thing. First Lady Laura Bush knows it too. Each of the kids wrote a her a letter, complete with their storyboards. Now they have a letter from the First Lady, and each “junior editor” is listed in the dedication of Zimmerman’s book. And the school library? It suddenly became a lot more popular. “I can’t wait to go there and check out some of the other books,” commented one of the boys. “I didn’t know reading was so cool,” another chimed in. This year, Smith used Zimmerman’s completed book as the class project, and the kids had a whole lot of ideas about what should happen in Book Two. He also pushed the envelope even more by having them create podcasts about it. Not only are they having fun reading, but learning important speaking skills, as well. The podcasts will be posted on Kandide’s website, www.kandide.com. Zimmerman is speaking to the class on April 30th when she will preview Book Two of the trilogy. Authors often speak at schools. But bringing in an author and letting the kids get involved in helping perfect an unpublished story, puts reading in a entirely different light. It makes the kids part of the process. Harry Potter proved that young people will read. Kandide and the Secret of the Mists, Diana S. Zimmerman, and Jeff Smith gave them yet another reason to want to explore the extraordinary experience that only books can provide. Approaching publishers who have new books and giving the kids the chance to read an unfinished manuscript, then have an impact on perfecting the story is an entirely different experience. It transforms the reading process by making the reader feel incredibly special and involved. Diana S. Zimmerman and Jeff Smith will be happy to share the details of their two-year proven success story and how they plan to make next year even more compelling. To schedule a no-cost appearance and learn more about how they are motivating kids to read, contact: Tracey Daniels at Media Masters Publicity, tracey@mmpublicity.com (828-859-9456) Kandide and the Secrets of the Mists (June 2008, Noesis Publishing) is set in a world that rings true for almost every tween and teen—one that’s obsessed with beauty and physical perfection, with a healthy dose of intolerance and distaste for those who do not fit this mold. Author Diana S. Zimmerman merely changes the scenery. The story takes place not in the ruthless modern-day hallways of a middle or high school, but in the equally harsh world of the Kingdom of the Fée, where beauty and arrogance are revered and anyone who looks or acts “different” is shunned.
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