Mickey Mcguffin's Ear (Mickey McGuffin) (Mickey McGuffin) - Hardcover

Equally of interest was his fascination with children and how they learn. Returning to college, he earned his primary grades certification and taught second and third grades for five years before moving out of the classroom as a full time educational consultant, teaching teachers innovative ways to build their classrooms around children's writing.

Though his multi-faceted career eventually took him into the world of business, his mutual love of children and of writing continued to run strong. At one point he founded a children’s product design company, along the way working with the likes of Jim Henson and Disney. Sometime when you get a chance, ask him about his adventure with Big Bird and Grover.

John now devotes full time to writing, recently starting his own children’s book label, Red Rocket Bookworks, together with award-winning illustrator, Stephen Gilpin.

John spends one day a week in grade school classrooms showing kids how books are created and encouraging them to write their own. He is the single father of four elementary aged children who attend Poplar Grove School, where not coincidentally his official fan club is also headquartered.

His seventh grade son, John Gabriel, will soon release his own book entitled "21 Things Every Kid Wishes Their Parents Knew". Devynn, his third grade daughter is a talented artist and storyteller with several books currently in the works.

You can generally find John either writing at his Franklin, Tennessee studio or on the floor somewhere with a bunch of kids.

Illustrator: Stephen Gilpin

Stephen Gilpin was schooled at the New York School of Visual Arts where he earned his BFA and graduated with honors. While there he also developed a taste for abstract expressionism and a frustration with being constantly at the mercy of the public transportation system. He currently lives and works in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wonderful wife Krista and their four kids. He drives a car now, and if he’s late, it’s his own fault. Aside from being a husband, dad, and visual artist, Stephen is a fine bagpiper and novice gardener. He also enjoys long walks on the beach.