For over three decades, Tina Shepardson, an award-winning teacher, was privileged to share her love of books with students. Now, as a children's author, Tina shares her love of books and creates them herself drawing on her experiences as an educator and parent.

With 33 years of teaching experience and attending grades K-12 in Westhill Schools, Tina's 45-year connection to education and storytelling deeply influences her dedication to both.

Today, Tina stands as the author of Walkout, a picture book, and Canines Unleashed, a middle-grade novel.  She founded and hosts The Lil' Leaders Podcast: Conversations with Kids, a bi-monthly show that empowers children by celebrating their unique traits and experiences. Each episode is accompanied by thoughtful picture book suggestions related to the interviews, fostering a love for reading and leadership in young listeners.

We had a chance to speak with Tina about her upcoming Gnome Road release, The Sorry Seeds. Here's a bit of our conversation.

Our Conversation with Tina:

GRP: Welcome, Tina! The Sorry Seeds is such a thoughtful story. What inspired you to write it? 

TS: Our world is struggling right now in many ways. Being responsible for our actions is huge and starts when we are young. This story is based on my own mistake of taking apples from my first-grade teacher’s tree without asking. I remember this like it was yesterday when really it was in the fall of 1970. Her real name is Mrs. Quint, and I remember after she walked me home, I was so nervous about how I would face her in class the next morning. I didn’t know what to do to help make a wrong a right. I think many kids feel this way and this story can help them to understand there isn’t a right way to apologize, just to find a way that feels right for you.

GRP: What’s your favorite moment or character in the book and why?

TS: When Courtney is sitting under her blanket in her room feeling remorseful but hasn’t yet figured out what to do or say to her teacher. This is my favorite because this is when kids learn a great deal about themselves. How they handle it sets the stage for the next time as there always are more. You can feel in her words and see in the beautiful illustrations her remorse and how she feels disappointed in herself yet wants to find an authentic way to fix her mistake. This scene can help many young readers.

GRP: What are some interesting messages or conversational points your book inspires, if any?  What is unique, intriguing or relevant about it that potential interviewers should know about and might want to discuss with you?

TS: The messages in this story are: the complexity of apologizing, owning up to our mistakes, encouraging empathy and understanding- that our actions impact others’ feelings, creative problem-solving, courage and growth to do the right thing especially when it is hard, and the importance of forgiveness.

What is unique and intriguing is that this is based on my actual experience as a child, I remember it like yesterday. 

GRP: Are there any additional comments you want us to know about you and your writing?

TS: I love creating, finding ways to add value and give back to kids in honor of a career that has given me so much. Going to school every day as a child and later as a teacher was always like going home. My life like everyone’s has had ups and downs, and it was always such a comfort to walk through the doors of the district during those hard times knowing I was surrounded by such wonderful people.

GRP: Thank you, Tina, for telling us more about the inspiration behind your book and we look forward to seeing it on bookshelves this fall.