Oh! So Curious About Tattoos (Author Interview)



https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/oh-so-curious-about-tattoos-victor-ledesma/1142007767?ean=9798823108867

Oh! So Curious About Tattoos looks like an exciting kids’ story.  Can you tell us a little about it?

The book is about my daughter’s curiosity towards my tattoos. We really did have a discussion about my tattoos, different types of tattoos, and how she can get a tattoo once she is the right age.

 

Any plans to turn it into a series?

We do plan to turn this into a series. Our next book is going to be called Oh! So Curious About My Aunt. I have an older sister with profound cognitive disabilities. My children do ask questions about my sister. The objective of that book is to bring awareness that people with cognitive disabilities can still teach. My sister taught me how to love unconditionally, show empathy and sympathy, how to be devoted, and how important family is within our lives.

 

How were the illustrations done in Oh! So Curious About Tattoos?

I had reached out to Corey Miller, star from the hit reality show LA Ink. He is my tattoo artist. I reached out to him with my idea. I already had my manuscript completed when I approached him with my idea. He agreed to illustrate each page and the title once we reviewed the logistics behind the book. Corey is and will forever be a close friend to mine, and I consider him family.

 

That’s an amazing cover.  Can you tell us a little about it?

Corey came up with the idea of the cover. He thought it would be a good idea to put a me getting tattooed by him. Once he put the drawing on paper, I fell in love with it. The colors were hard to figure out with the cover page, because we didn’t want colors that were too neutral, but we also didn’t want colors that would stand out too much.

 

What inspired the idea for your book?

I’m a school psychologist, and I thought that bringing awareness to the world about tattoos needs to be a regular discussion with adults and children. I believe the negative stigma that certain people have of those who are tattooed needs to be an obsolete theory. Not all people who have tattoos are bad. Just like not all people who don’t have tattoos are good. One can be educated and still appreciate the art, beauty, and intricacies behind tattooing. I want the world to know that you can have multiple tattoos and still hold yourself to high standards.

 

How did you come up with the title to your book?

When my daughter continued to ask me multiple questions about my tattoos, I would say to myself, “Amelia, you’re oh so curious about everything.” The words, “oh so curious” just seemed to fit perfectly with the title of the book, just as the fit perfectly with my daughter’s personality.

 

What part of the book was the most fun to write?

I love writing about how tattoos should be meaningful, and we should only be getting tattoos that are meaningful to us. All of my tattoos have meaning, which is what makes them special to me. There’s a personal connection and story to each piece of art that I have on my body. I wanted the ending to convey how I believe tattoos need to be meaningful, because I don’t ever want my daughter to regret getting any tattoos on her when she is older one day.

 

What was your hardest scene/section to write, and why?

I don’t believe any section was too hard to write about. In all honesty, the book was fun to write. I’m passionate about tattoos, and when you’re passionate about what you’re doing, it doesn’t ever really seem to be hard.

 

Can you tell us a little about your background?

I’m a school psychologist within the Los Angeles area. I have my undergraduate degree from San Diego State in communication, graduate degree in counseling option school psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and second graduate degree from California State University, Fresno in Educational Leadership and Administration. Corey has been tattooing for nearly 40 years, and he has traveled the world to display his work.

 

Where can readers find out more about your work?

Readers can find our book through Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/oh-so-curious-about-tattoos-victor-ledesma/1142007767?ean=9798823108867