Tell us about yourself!
Hi! My name is Carmen Allen. I love using my imagination to come up with exciting stories for children. I live on the east coast of Australia in a tiny little town nestled on the river with my husband, Steve…who illustrates my books!
My favourite books to read are action/thrillers with a good strong hero who is brave and fights for justice.
Tell us about your chapter books.
I’ve three chapter books in the Molly Greenwood Adventures. There are also two bonus books you can get via download or purchase the three main books.
The Molly books are for 7-10 year-old readers, although I’ve had adults of all ages around the world tell me they love them. The series is allegorical, which means there are subtle hidden meanings in each story, pointing to having a relationship with God.
What kind of child are you trying to reach with your books?
Although the hero of my books is a 9 year-old girl, I’ve had lots of boys enjoy the stories too! Molly’s adventures are set in a magical world where anything is possible. In the first book, Molly’s Big Decision, we are introduced to Molly who lives in an orphanage. Through a series of magical events, she is adopted by the kind King and becomes a princess. The hidden themes of this first book are adoption and forgiveness.
In the second book, Molly’s Maze Discovery, we learn what happens when Molly disobeys the King’s rules. Molly and her three best friends, Suzie, Rich and Walter end up hopelessly lost in the woods. The hidden themes of this book are peer-pressure and grace.
In the third book, Molly’s Spy Mission, Molly is tasked with a seemingly impossible job. Yet she shows trust and resilience on her mission to find the evil “Trickers” and see that justice is done. Molly and her friends ride a magical train to the “Otherlands” and have many exciting adventures. This book is truly a work of fiction, yet the hidden message is very real. God asks us, as his children, to do justice with him in our world. We are called to make a difference.
Give us a little flavor of some great characters or the setting.
Molly, Suzie, and Rich were adopted by the King from the same orphanage in Hopeville. Walter Jackson, who joins the team in book two, has been adopted from another village.
Rich is a couple of years younger than the others and brings laughter and joy to the group. Suzie is impulsive but always positive. Walter Jackson (he prefers to be called by his full name, thank you very much) has a brilliant memory. Molly, our hero, is brave, caring, and kind. She LOVES adventure.
They all live with the King in his wonderful palace. The palace can be seen by people in all different villages and counties. It really is quite amazing. It is grand with chandeliers and a swimming pool.
Our main characters each have an adult guardian in the palace who acts like a parent/school teacher. These adult guardians were once young orphans and adopted by the King.
What inspired you to write this series?
Believe it or not, Molly’s Big Decision came to me in a series of dreams, right before I woke up each morning. I dreamed of a little girl leaving a palace with a golden pouch of brightly coloured magical tokens. I knew the dreams must’ve been the makings of a book, so I wrote it all down.
How did you know you wanted to be an author?
When I was a young teenager, I loved reading novels so much that I cut up some blank paper, stapled it together and wrote my first story. It was called, “The Case of the Missing Diamond and the Banana.” (Or something like that!). As a young adult, I thought I’d like to write a story about talking bees. Then the Bee Movie came out, so I gave it no more thought!
I can’t say I always thought about being an author. I think the story found me. In fact, I know the story found me and I felt compelled to share it’s message with the world.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
If I could give aspiring writers any advice at all, I’d say “just do it.” And don’t give up. You may have other people speaking negatively about your dream, or putting your down, but I’m guessing your main critic will be you. You’ll doubt that you can do it. I’m telling you – You can! I’m living proof of it.
Did I know how to write a book before I began? No way. But I learned how. I did a writing course and I had professional editors hold my hand every step of the way.
What formats are your books available in?
- Paperback
- Ebook
- Audio
Find them all here.
How can parents find you?
People can find my books on most platforms: Amazon, Google Play, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads. But the easiest way is to just go to my website: carmenlallen.com.
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If you’re in the market for chapter books, I’d love to share my series with you!
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