Louie and the Dictator by Lisa Bournelis @lbournelis

About the Author

Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book, Louie and the Dictator, What is it about?

“Louie and the Dictator” is an uplifting story inspired by my child’s experiences with anxiety and OCD during the pandemic. Imagine living with the fear that if you don’t do what that ‘voice in your head demands’, something catastrophic will happen to you, or your family. The story provides a message of hope for anxious or neurodivergent children on how to shift mindsets when things are feeling scared and shows how these shifts can transform their circumstances. Besides the practical messages focused on beating anxiety, it’s a fun, rollicking adventure for any child who reads it! Who doesn’t love a dog rescue, unexpected trials, a wizard and touching moments between the hero and his family? For those that purchase the story, you will be pleased to know it will support a great cause. I will be donating a portion of my royalties to support pediatric OCD research at BC Children’s Hospital.

Here’s the blurb:

Louie’s word is getting smaller with each passing day. An authoritarian mastermind has set out to control his every move. To make matters worse, there is an unknown virus infecting the world, forcing everyone to lock down in their home. Playdates, soccer games and even his birthday party are cancelled!

Outside the confines of his room lies a world of darkness: – the calamitous cracks, the rock of evil, the steps of doom. Even the food and air are poisoned. As the Dictator continues his onslaught, Louie worries he will be imprisoned forever in the solitude of his home, with only his Tales of King Arthur and his anxious rescue pup, Baily, for company.

Louie’s dreams of living an ordinary day are shattered when his beloved Baily is lost in the forest. With the Dictator and his dark forces closing in, will he muster the courage to face his fears, lead a rescue, and bring his furry friend home?

Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, Louie and the Dictator, is it directed at any particular market?

Any child aged 7-12 can relate to, and enjoy this story. I would love for this book to be accessed by a child who might be feeling anxious about returning to school, or worried about what the ‘new normal’ might look like after the global pandemic. Children who are neuro-divergent, who have OCD, who experience anxiety will also benefit tremendously from this story, as it provides practical tools for shifting mindsets in the fun guise of a story.

Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?

What a breathtaking question! Given that I’m writing as a children’s author, I’ll speak to this first:
I’m a huge fan of children’s classics such as Farley Mowat’s “Owls in the Family.” I love the way he infuses humour in the everyday moments of stumbling through childhood. I hope that I’ve incorporated some of those moments in “Louie and the Dictator.”

From an adult perspective, I’m a huge fan of historical fiction. Philippa Gregory’s work on the Tudor dynasty is a great page-turner.

A few of my favourite memoirs include, “I am an Island” (by Tamsin Calidas) and “Educated” (by Tara Westover). Both are breathtaking in their visceral qualities and leave you hankering for more.

Of course, no list would be complete without the classics. As a child of Greek immigrants, I loved hearing Homer’s epic musings in the “Odyssey” and the “Iliad”. These were my bedtime stories and shaped my love of literature.

Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?

Just write! Take a few moments to write whatever inspires you at that moment every day. You WILL return to it! Feeling stuck during the pandemic, I set an intention to write. This resulted in the set up of my blog www.makeoneshift.com, where I explore how to apply the tools I use in change management and organizational development in your personal life. I also had a dream to deliver a TEDx and started drafting my speech in February, a full 6 months before I applied. I’m pleased to share that I was selected this week to deliver a local TEDx in the fall. I also wrote, “Louie and the Dictator” at that dark time.

My advice would be when the urge comes, whenever the inspiration strikes, write it down! You can return to it later. You will uncover many gems that can spark something new.

Write about your niche, your heart, your expertise, your area of passion. There is little point in trying to emulate someone else or be inauthentic. Your story will shine through if it’s from your heart.

Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?

Readers can reach out to me on @makeoneshift on Instagram or view my blog / podcast on www.makeoneshift.com

I regularly post from the unique perspective as a transformation specialist in a very large health authority on how to apply change management methodology in your personal life to address complex or sticky issues that are making you feel cemented.