Tina Turbin 2010 on Danny the Dragon et al

I met Tina Turbin over the internet when she sent me her book, dvd and cd all to do with Danny the Dragon, from America. On the surface Tina appeared to be a writer but dig a little deeper and what I discovered was an amazing person who is doing so much to help people especially those who have a problem with Gluten, and has three websites that show the different facts of her life.

How could I not do an interview with her - enjoy.

Vicky: Can you remember anything about the photo shoot with the Bing Crosby family when you were 36 months?

Tina: I recall vividly the pool, the swimming lesson and feeling so free in the water. I was not all that into the attention. I was just so proud that everyone loved to watch me swim. I was terribly young.

Vicky: Did this perhaps unconsciously spark the interest in your going into showbiz? Not really, to be honest.

Tina: I was around some very well known people in my upbringing and this never really was an interest of mine. I simply loved Sports and the Arts. I eventually worked in the business end of Entertainment business. It is vastly different now to then.

Vicky: What drew your interest in working with children in showbiz and setting up your own business in this area?

Tina: I was friends with Linda Moss, mother of the very talented and now grown up Elizabeth Moss (MadMen- TV). Her daughter was doing well in television work and my with a few pointers by her, my son's young career took off suddenly and easily. Many were calling us both for help as a result. This is when Linda said to me, that I should help others and start a little consulting business. It eventually grew into a studio with a variety of classes, casting people connecting up etc. I loved helping others to succeed, especially working with such talented children.

Vicky: What was the first book you wrote called?

Tina: It had a number of titles: Mom and Me, Mommy and Me, The Funny Day, A Very Funny Day- I even think it had a couple others. I was 16 so you can imagine my vivid never ending creative ideas.

Vicky: How did the idea for the Danny the Dragon series come about?

Tina: I have not specific thing in my life that sparked the idea it was an accumulation of events, people, personalities and ideas I was gathering up. Since the day my first son was born I sent my dreams as a writer aside, and knew when the kids were older, I'd be back at it. I sure am!

Vicky: The artwork is brilliant - how did you choose the artist for it?

Tina: I interviewed SO many illustrators. She was on of the first. I came back a year later and we made the arrangements. I loved everything about her., absolutely everything. She understood me and my passions with this book.

Vicky: Danny the Dragon was also in the final for an award - did it win?

Tina: It was up for the Arizona Author's Awards and came in 2nd and it placed again in Best Children's Picture Book for 2009. I ma very proud to share that this same book is currently honored as a "Finalist" in the "Children's Novelty & Gift Book" category with 2010 International Book Awards and again with the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards my Danny the Dragon book is a Nomimee as "Finalist" in the "Children's Picture Book" category! There is a lot happening with my little characters in this book. People love them and the story and the direction it is going.

Vicky: What will your next book in the Danny the Dragon series be called?

Tina: Currently, I have no idea and sometimes the names are changed for various reasons out of the author's control.

Vicky: You do the video in an interesting way with a person signing for the deaf on one side - how did this come about?

Tina: On my East Coast Book Tour I visited the Blossom Montessori School for a reading of my Danny the Dragon book. The school works with kids from very young all through High School and they had a number for deaf children students. Carol Downing did the sign while I read to these lovely children. These kids amazed me, the staff inspired me and I walked away from that day with a new view on many aspects, and so did my photographer who came with me for the reading. I got in the car and my ideas starting rolling away on how I could help or do more. I first attended a fund raiser and donated to that and that was just not enough. I fell in love with the kids and the staff. So now we have the DVD of my book with Carol's sign language as well, being released in April. I am donating part of the profits to this cause- educating the deaf with hopes to raise awareness to the statistics broadly in this area. Most high school deaf students graduate with a 4th grade education. How could I ignore that!

Vicky: Your Danny the Dragon cd is interesting in the fact that you have the story narrated at the beginning, and then the rest of the tracks are more on the classical side - what was your reason for doing it this way as opposed to doing a mixed media book and cd?

Tina: The audio-book is titled Danny DREAMS. It is a bedtime and "easy listening type CD. We had many composers supply original music after one talented composer write an original, Danny's Theme Song. It is truly beautiful music and we already have many other songs from other genres supplied for the next audio-book, when we decide to do another. All the contributing composers write for movies and television and reside in the Los Angeles area,

Vicky: Do you play any instruments yourself and are you on the music part of the cd?

Tina: I am surrounded by music with two boys in the professional music arena and I dropped my skills early on with the piano. My son has offered to teach me (he teaches as well) but I am other quests that are my passions, to be honest. I enjoy hearing them play for me.

Vicky: What made you realise that you have a gluten problem and how did you resolve it?

Tina: I spent time on the internet after so many years of discouragement of blood tests, ultra sounds, guesses and wrong diagnosis. I soon came across this name "celiac" and these various similar symptoms! Oh my, the light bulb went on big time!

Vicky: On your Gluten Free website you have written several books with gluten free recipes - what is your inspiration for each recipe?

Tina: I review cook-books and supply my own created recipes as well as those from some very talented chefs. I love to share other creations and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to play in the kitchen and develop recipes. I love flavours and all sorts of taste from other countries, not just baking. I feel celiacs need to address healthy gf meals, not just baked dessert items.

Vicky: What does being a humanitarian mean for you in the work that you do?

Tina: To me , this means, I observe an area of life needing help or in need, something I can align with. I am one who is doing something about that chosen area ( or areas), either with my efforts, hard work, networking or financially.

Vicky: You have three different websites can you tell me about them?

Tina: My Tina Turbin site is www.TinaTurbin.com is where one can see a bit about me, my overall press pack and my interests. Then I have my adorable children's book website www.DannyTheDragon.com which is where I have the details about the books, audio-book, DVD my tours and activities as a children's author. Then last but not at all least is my means to help others as I am not only a mom, woman and children's author yet I have celiac disease. I want to help others get better educated through my www.GlutenFreeHelp.info site. I also network with many other professionals who contribute on my site with incredible videos, news, recipes, research and of course the delicious recipes. It's proven to be a popular site to help others.

Vicky: Why did you move from the West coast to the East - was this to do with your work?

Tina: Yes, I have a studio on both Coasts and I am currently in the West Coast for about a year. I am researching and working on three books. My Danny the Dragon book took off and now with the audio-book, DVD and now our wonderful apps company deal (also has exclusive with Steven Spielberg's' DreamWorks) for my book to soon be available on download as an app- well I have to get to work and write more, more, more. I also have something in the works regarding celiac disease but can not share much about this at this time.

Vicky: Being allergic or intolerant to foods can be quite an emotional thing to cope with - how do you help the people you are in contact with in this area?

Tina: Education, refer them to my site and where applicable- the many professionals I am connected with across the globe. I am not a doctor and I never give " medical advice", but like to help get others to find what works for them.

Vicky: There is more and more anecdotal and some scientific evidence to show that a diet high in gluten can effect children and adults with autism and ADHD have you found through the work you do that you are meeting more and more parents wanting to know more about this side?

Tina: Absolutely! I also did a book review on Jenny McCarthy's fabulous book, "Louder Then Words". Her book has been instrumental in opening others eyes about this topic as well as immunizations. She uses her status as a Celebrity to do more for the autistic than any other Celebrity at this interview date. Many people ask me about this topic. It is a growing concern and growing awareness- just like celiac disease itself.

Vicky: What are your plans for the next five years in relation to the work that you do now and your three websites?

Tina: I will always be a writer. I will continue to write and attempt to inspire and educate all ages through my written words. I will be getting more children's books out there on the shelves. keep the three sites alive with full of wonderful content to help others and of course, keep having fun. I love what I do!

Vicky: Why do you have two blogs - what is different about the info you put on them.

Tina: The blog connected to the gluten/celiac arena is specifically for that genre. The Danny the Dragon is me as a children's author- and at times, yet seldom I will bring up the topic. It is primarily for the books though and about me as an author. Blogs keep the sites alive and interesting. Statistically, the sites are thriving and each week my new visitors and return visitors just keeps climbing and climbing. I am doing something very right and helpful!

Thank you. This has been enjoyable! Tina Turbin

Here's Tina Turbin's Biography

Tina Turbin wrote her first story at age sixteen, and has since gone on to enjoy tremendous success as an award-winning author, writer and researcher. Working for many years in LA with children in the Entertainment Business, she remains to be an active supporter of children, families, schools, education and works diligently in the arena of Celiac Disease. The Danny the Dragon series fulfills a passion of hers to delight and entertain through her enchanting characters. Her style of writing conveys to the young and young at heart. Ms. Turbin resides in her East and West Coast studios. Proud member of the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), the Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA) the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME). The Danny the Dragon series has been honored with the following awards: 2nd place in Children's Literature - Arizona Literary Contest and Book Awards of 2009; award-winning finalist - National Best Books Awards 2009; finalist for Children's Picture Books - National Indie Excellence Awards of 2010; Finalist for Children's Novelty & Gift Books - 2010 International Book Awards.