CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two Charleston authors are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of their “Sad Mad Glad” book series.
Jim Strawn and Chuck Stump read their second book to 4th grade students at Ruffner Elementary School Tuesday morning. The book is called “Another Sad Mad Glad: The Anatomy of Your Attitude.”
The books teach and inspire kids of all ages to have a positive attitude.
“We call it the ‘Anatomy of Your Attitude’ because we use body idioms to convey our message,” Strawn said.
Both authors, who have been friends for years, interacted with students as they read the book in the school’s cafeteria.
“We always like to ask them after we read it — what was your favorite message,” Strawn said. “I love hearing ‘bite your tongue’ or ‘put your best foot forward.'”
The idea came to Strawn and Stump on a golf course in April 2002.
“(We were) hitting some really bad shots, encouraging each other with body idioms that we had no idea where they were coming from, but it was like ‘Don’t worry, Chuck. I got your back’ or ‘Don’t worry, Jimmy. Keep your eye on the prize,'” Strawn said.
The two looked at each other and decided it would be good idea for a children’s book. A decade later, the duo has four books out.
The publishing firm Four Dolphins Press has sold more than 20,000 copies since launching 10 years ago.
“Hard to believe we’ve been in hundreds of schools, touched thousands of children. It moves very quickly,” Strawn said. “Like we say in the book: Time flies.”
Every student was given a free book, signed by both authors.