A few questions for author Helen Hipp:
Q: Your children’s
adventure books are based on some unusual true-life experiences, please explain
and give a brief description of your books.
A: While on Safari in Africa during 2001, my family witnessed
something few get to see – a pink hippo. Separated from the pod and barely
tolerated due to her differences, my son Ray, who has been diagnosed with
autism, felt an instant affinity to the hippo and he named her Rosie.
Rosie – the Pink Hippo knows a lot about being different,
and her adventures offer up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that
transform personal challenges into opportunities.
Q: What vision do you
have for your books and where do you want it to take you?
A: My adventure books have already taken me on a journey’s
that has given me the opportunity to meet a large number of wonderful people,
all of which I refer to as my “Safari Family”. I cannot imagine anything more
rewarding than bringing more of Rosie’s adventures and their powerful message
onto the stage and into schools to create an atmosphere of enjoyment,
understanding, acceptance and awareness.
Q: What appeals to
you most about children’s books?
A: I find the presence of innocence, imagination and
creativity that is woven into many of the children’s books very captivating. I
guess you can say I am a child at heart.
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ABOUT
HELEN HIPP
Helen Hipp has had her own kind of safari through the land
of a large family. She was always exploring new ways to define herself. There are many ways to
navigate the waters of life says Helen. “You may ride in a canoe, sailboat,
motorboat, or you may find yourself on the back of a pink hippo!”
With a mindset that centered on creating opportunities out
of obstacles, Helen explored career opportunities, by connecting her personal
experiences (parenting a child with special needs) with her beliefs, professional
skills, and aspirations.
Helen received her M.A. in counseling and began her career
as a psychotherapist to help people find answers for their life problems. Her
work eventually evolved into a coaching practice, WithinU Life Coaching,
focusing on individuals with special needs and their families.
Helen has authored articles for Family Works and Washington
Family Magazine and written multiple self-help articles published by ezine.com
where she is viewed as an expert in her field. She has been a contributor as a
special needs consultant to FOX44 News in Burlington, Vermont.
In addition to her work, Helen has written two children’s
books creating a very effective way to motivate kids of all ages to meet their
challenges with self-acceptance, confidence and understanding.
Her debut children’s book, A Different Kind of
Safari, released in 2013 addresses the many questions life asks by offering
up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that transform personal challenges
into opportunities. Once again, the engaging safari family, led by Rosie the
Pink Hippo inspires, and help you see your life differently in her new
book, Rosie and Friends Positively Different. With a cast
characters experiencing real-life issues such as anxiety, fear, physical
differences and poor self-esteem, Helen Hipp’s adventure books provide children
with the opportunity to identify, understand and feel supported by the
characters handling of similar fears, interests, and concerns.
