Mom’s Choice Awards is excited to announce another post in our interview series where we chat with the inventors, designers, publishers, and others behind some of our favorite family-friendly products.
Hi, Mom’s Choice readers! Thank you for joining us for another interview in our series. For this interview, we were able to speak with Renee Goodwin, author of the MCA award-winning book, GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork. GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork is one of the first books in the GG Life Lesson Storybook Series which teaches about the rewards a little teamwork can bring. All of the books in the GG Life Lesson Storybook Series contain entertaining stories that teach children life lessons expressed from the perspective of a very energetic and adventurous puppy, named GG. Keep reading to find out more about Renee and her award-winning book, GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork!
MCA: Hi Renee, it is so nice to be speaking with you today! Congratulations on your Mom’s Choice Award for GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork. Books such as GG Cleans House are great tools for kids to learn about taking care of a home and how they can do their part. Can we first start this interview by you telling us about yourself?
Renee Goodwin, author of the MCA award-winning “GG Cleans House.”
Renee: I believe: ”Your education belongs to YOU to encourage YOU to become that special YOU to share with others. Education is the path of beginnings.”
My name is Renee Tyer-Goodwin, however, I use Renee Goodwin as my pen name. I live in Tyler, TX surrounded by my loved ones, my husband Warren, and my two sons Joseph and Michael, Leo and GG. In my personal life, I am a wife, a mother, and a canine caretaker. In my professional life, I am an accomplished teacher, engineer, businesswoman, and children’s book author.
I learned at an early age the importance and appreciation of education. I witnessed my mother and father live on very little, supporting my siblings and me while my parents worked several jobs and attended school at night. With this dedication my father received a college degree, then graduated from a medical school serving as a family practitioner for over forty years. My mother received a college degree and has worked as a teacher, a hospital facilitator, and continues her work as a realtor. My parents made sure throughout these years, my siblings and I attended schools where we could receive the best education offered no matter the sacrifice.
I received my upper-level education at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas graduating with an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in curriculum and instruction (mathematics and chemistry). I was a teacher at St. Gregory Catholic School and Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic High School in Tyler, Texas.
I earned an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University and I am a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas. I was the first woman offshore drilling engineer in the Gulf of Mexico working for British Petroleum.
I earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Tyler. I established an oil and gas corporation, TP Exploration Inc. (TPX) based in Tyler, Texas, and served as President/CEO for thirty years.
I enjoy spending leisure time with my husband and my sons, Leo and GG. I dabble in arts and crafts creating original acrylic paintings using pour-painting techniques. I love riding horses, playing my guitar, singing and writing songs.
MCA: That is quite an extensive and impressive background you have, especially with having been the first woman offshore drilling engineer in the Gulf of Mexico! What inspired you to transition from a career in engineering to become a writer?
“GG Cleans House” cover art.
Renee: GG is my inspiration. GG entered my life at a very pivotal time when my engineering world was coming to a close. GG opened up a new world for me, writing. With GG’s unique character I would watch her go from one adventure to another. I began writing stories of her adventures in my mind realizing I needed to write them down so I did, quickly. With my passion for education and my teaching background, I highlighted words instrumental in the story and added the words at the end of each story as vocabulary words. The vocabulary words encourage additional activities and discussions.
Then, I knew I needed to take that “Leap of Faith,” contact a publisher, and…I am so grateful to have contacted Fulton Books, visiting with a lovely lady there. She suggested I submit my manuscript and within a few days, she called me with the great news that my manuscript, GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork was accepted and my publishing journey began. Now GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork is an award-winning book. I am so honored.
MCA: What was your inspiration for writing GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork?
Renee: Real-life experience with GG was the inspiration for writing GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork. Actually, the GG Life Lesson Storybook Series TM books are based on real-life GG adventures and escapades.
Every day as I began the house chores, GG was there to help (in her own special way). As I carried the laundry down the hall, GG would grab a sock, and off she would go racing me to the laundry room. Changing bed sheets was really an adventure. Come to find out, GG loves pillows. Then cleaning the shower was a huge treat. GG ran all around shaking water everywhere. The expression on her face was true excitement and pride. She knew she had done a great job. Cleaning the kitchen was really a treat, licking all the dishes as I loaded the dishwasher. But as the book highlights, vacuuming proved to be the most fun of all. GG worked hard catching that vacuum. Her dedication and hard work were rewarded with a treat. Believe me, GG loves treats!!
MCA: That is so adorable. Can you tell us some of the key lessons that readers can find within GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork?
• Renee: The word teamwork itself gives rise to numerous discussions, i.e.
- Teamwork – joining together to help.
- The word team suggests individuals coming together to share something in common.
- The word work brings to the mind performing activities.
- Teamwork – the enjoyment of sharing meaningful projects with others.
- Teamwork – creates bonds, personal satisfaction, and self-confidence.
MCA: What kind of response from readers have you received?
Renee: Readers share with me that they enjoy the story. They love reading about GG’s ways of helping. Readers remark of the repetition of a key sentence: “GG, you are so funny!” The bright colors of the covers and the illustrations are pleasing to readers. GG’s character drawn showing endless motion and smiling expressions are fun for the young readers to experience.
MCA: If you could ensure readers of your book walk away with one main lesson, what would it be?
Renee: If I could ensure readers of my book, GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork walk away with one main lesson, it would be to believe that they could find excitement, fun, enthusiasm, dedication, and love in everything they do, especially when shared with others.
MCA: What can we expect to see next in the GG Life Lesson Storybook Series?
An illustration within “GG Cleans House.”
Renee: GG Life Lesson Storybook Series TM has several books and lessons to share. Available now, GG Meets Her Match – Becoming Forever Friends tells of GG meeting her “big surprise,” Leo who becomes her best friend forever.
End of Summer 2021/Beginning of Fall 2021, GG Takes Action – Practicing Health Safety and GG Asks, “Is Jesus In Your Class?” – Seek, Know, Guide, Inspire will be available.
GG Takes Action – Practicing Health Safety helps children understand viruses, infections, disease, medicines and guide them to practice measures of health safety such as washing hands, and wearing masks “like GG.”
GG Asks, “Is Jesus In Your Class?” – Seek, Know, Guide, Inspire shows GG sharing storytime each day with Mrs. Gee reading stories of Jesus from the Holy Bible. The book encourages children to know Jesus, to learn of the miracles he performed, and how he guides all with love.
I am devoted to my passion for education. I am honored to be able to share my GG Life Lesson Storybook Series TM and I am dedicated to continuing to share these stories.
MCA: And we are dedicated to continuing to hear them! Thank you for sharing them and sharing so much with us today. Please keep us posted on the GG Life Lesson Storybook Series!
You can learn more about Renee Goodwin and her award-winning book, GG Cleans House – Learning Teamwork by visiting her MCA Shop pages.
