Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another episode of Couple of Nukes. As always, I'm your host, Mr. Whiskey. And for those of you listening as a podcast, not watching on YouTube, I am once again in my Couple of Nukes hoodie, because I'll tell you what our YouTubers can see that you can't. I am in a winter wasteland, nuclear explosion behind me, and even our guest has up some winter decorations because we are celebrating Christmas in the middle of July.
As that saying goes, it was not planned. My guest and I met months and months ago and the email just never got sent out. And now it lined up perfectly. This is why I believe in God, because now we have Christmas in July, actually unplanned. I'm here with Mr. Todd Zimmerman. He is an author. Not just any author, an author whose work has been read by the first lady.
And we're going to talk about that. What we're going to talk about is not just as books, but the power of children's books. How much power do books have over our children, the books we read them and the books they find on their own. So ladies and gentlemen, comment below, what is a book from your childhood?
And we're talking early childhood. So not the magic tree house or R. L. Stein. I'm talking before that, like. Would you get, if you give a mouse a cookie, the hungry, hungry caterpillar, we're talking about children's books for those younger children. What is your favorite and why, what was it? The lesson was the artwork.
Why did it stick with you? Maybe, maybe it's just nostalgia. Sometimes it's just the fact that it was a family tradition. A lot of families have it where every year the father of the household will read the same book on Christmas or whatever holiday in this case, Christmas. Oliver the Ornament.
So, Mr. Zimmerman, please introduce yourself a little bit, and then tell us all about this book. Well, thanks so much for having me. So, like Mr. Whiskey said, my name is Todd Zimmerman. I am the author of Oliver the Ornament. Oliver the Ornament is a seven book series about one family's collection of Christmas ornaments.
The first book starts the Thanksgiving night. The last book ends Christmas morning with every book ending with a really super exciting cliffhanger. Each book in the series tells how the different ornaments entered the family's collection while also teaching kids really important lessons like friendship and forgiveness and determination and really most importantly kindness.
Wow. Now, how is it being a children's author? Because I'm an author but I write to a much older crowd and I've thought about writing my own children's book and it's such a different world because you have to get it down to their level without losing the message and without belittling them. So how did you end up, where did this all start that you ended up writing a children's book?
Well, it's really kind of a wild, a wild story. I was in corporate America for 20 years and was very comfortable, was very, just my career was planned. I was planning on retiring in X amount of years. I had a great pension. I had a great 401k. Everything was good stuff. Yeah, it was all perfect.
And then on my 20th anniversary, I lost my job in a major downsizing at the company that I was at. And, 10 months later I was decorating a Christmas tree and I was hanging the last Of 200 ornaments on the tree. And someone said to me, you don't have to hang every ornament on the tree. And I looked at them and I held up the last ornament and I said, well, what am I going to do with this one?
Put them in the attic where he's going to miss out on all the fun this Christmas. And then all the other ornaments are going to go back into the attic in January and make fun of him because he missed out on all because he missed out on all the fun. Right then the light went on in my mind. I'm like, wow, this is brilliant.
And a children's story about an ornament that gets left behind in the attic. So for four days, my wheels are just spinning. Back and forth. My background is marketing and advertising, and I'm just thinking, okay, this is too good of an idea not to execute. And I'm thinking, okay, it has to be a series.
There's going to be ornaments sold with it. There's going to be other products that go with it. I'm just like, I'm just thinking, this is that million dollar idea, if not larger. And Christmas morning, you said, why you believe in God, Christmas morning 4 30. I wake up at my mom's house and the story popped in my mind.
I went down to her computer and by 515, the story was written. And, 18 months later, I launched the business. Wow. I gotta say 200 ornaments is a lie. As soon as you said that number, I was like, wow, that's a very, celebrative family. It's funny in my family, we didn't have the classic ornaments.
We each had our own unique ornaments. So I had a pickup truck with a tree in it. I had a violin. I had a raptor. And each year we would always hang up our own, ornaments. We had our own personal ones, each family member. And then the rest were whoever wants to hang it up. My parents try to get a, the ornament where you can put pictures in it.
They try to get one of them with each of my siblings. And I. So we each had a family ornament and I got to ask you, Mr. Zimmerman, are you a star on top angel on top? What kind of tree topping kind of guy are you? Well, very good question. I grew up with star on top, but in my series, but in my series, there's angels on top, one of which is named, one of which is named after my mom.
Oh, that's beautiful. And so, wow. I just love this. This idea is just. How the way book ideas come about, as an author, I've had some crazy, some of my science fiction, my realistic science fiction. It was just in high school biology class and teacher just said something. I was like, well, what if we just change this thing?
And then I'm just like, you said the wheels are turning for a few days afterward. I'm like, how can we, and then I, before the book is written I've always been the same way. What merch can we make? What, how can we market this? Right. And, especially you having that background for so long and. It's a blessing and a curse.
Like you talk about getting laid off right at the end, and that happens to way too many people. I mean, companies don't want to pay their retirement package or whatever it is. But for you, it was, as one door closes another open and it led you to this whole new life you're living, after when you were supposed to be retired right now, and now you're out there working a whole second career almost, right?
Yeah, it's kind of funny because I'm in a big group of my college friends, we've got a group text that goes on and our friends are starting. Some of us are starting to retire and the group name is future retirees of America. That's our text. And I tell them, I'm like, I'm never going to be retired.
I realized I will not be retired in my life. I will be working until I'm dead. Which, which is fine because this is. This isn't really, it is work at some point, but it's so magical and so enjoyable. It's funny. I was just on a group call yesterday with the amazing Steve, right? He'll say drop in Tuesday event on the managers who lead Facebook group.
And we talked about the infinite race, how, when it comes to podcasting and writing, it's, it's just an infinite race. A lot of people, there is no winning. There's no end goal when you're podcasting, you're writing. Because you're putting out a message, whether it's through books or podcasting, and the only way you lose is if you drop out.
And like you said, it's something that we can do more and more. So I got to ask, do you have more books in you that you plan on writing and releasing one day? Or is it just Oliver, the ornament is going to be the main focus. I have I have a few that I'm working on, that I'm conceptualized.
One is a team chapter book that is really magical and involves time travel. And it's a series where children will go back and they'll study, the moon landing and they'll learn about Abraham Lincoln and they'll learn about Martin Luther King. So that's one, that I'm working on.
I'm also. I have a novel idea, which I don't have the talent to write a novel. I would have to partner with someone, but that's a World War II. That's a World War II story. Okay. And one is a spiritual book about signals of signals from God. So those three I'm working on, but really the biggest thing I'm working on right now is I am working with a studio in Los Angeles to bring Oliver the Ornament.
To create Oliver the Ornament as an animated Christmas series. So that is That's beautiful. Yeah, so that, when you think about it, there has not been A quality animated Christmas special for children created since 1970 when Santa Claus is Coming to Town was released. I can agree. Yeah, I can agree with that.
If you look at all the specials that children watch today, those specials were created in the 60s. It's Rudolph, it's Frosty, it's Charlie Brown Christmas, it's Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Those are the four big ones. Right, and they started in 1966 and the last one ended in 1970. So wow. There is a, there it has been a 54 year void of inequality, entertainment being created, so I'm super excited about that.
Now, Mr. Zimmerman, I don't know if you've even thought of this, I'm gonna push for it. Will you be the narrator, you know how there's always a, the narrator telling the Christmas story, or in this case Oliver's story. Are you gonna be the narrator? I sell on my website, narrated eBooks. I'll take out that I'll answer that question a minute, but I'll take an off ramp real quickly.
So I created these narrated eBooks because so many people travel during the holidays and haul all these books along with them. So I thought, well, I'll create these narrated eBooks. So I went to a studio, we, I hired a studio. And we we had we had five voiceover talents come in and do readings. And, and the first one I was like, ah, I'm not crazy about that one.
The next one here, I'm not so crazy about that one. The next one, the sound mixer, she didn't like it. And for whatever reason, we, none of us agreed. On any one of them. And then the the producer said Todd, why don't you, why don't you go in? You kind of have a radio voice. And so I went in and I am the narrator on those narrated eBooks.
So, and, I should be because nobody knows the story better than me. So I know where the inflection should go. I know where this should go. So, but now to get back on the highway and answer your question no, I will not be the narrator. We are in discussion. We will be in discussions with some Hollywood talent that would make this a remarkable, remarkable endeavor.
So, the name Todd Zimmerman doesn't resonate like, the name of a celebrity that we're hoping to get. And you think about those specials back in the sixties, you had Fred Astaire was the mailman. In Santa Cla in Santa Claus is coming to town. You had Boris Karloff was the Grinch.
You had Burl Ives was the snowman. So you have, some really A list talent from the sixties who's, whose work continues to this day. So, I'm hoping that that resonates with the actors and actresses that we want to partner with for the, for this project.
Well, I'm excited for that. And when you say, animated? Is it going to be kind of a 2d cartoon? Are we talking like a claymation or what kind of style are you thinking? It's called stop motion. So it's going to be, it's going to be like Rudolph except 2025 version. So it'll, it won't, it'll be much more technologically advanced.
Right. Than Rudolph was, but it's still an actual, producer in a studio manufacturing the Oliver ornament and moving his arm and moving his leg. We had one prime minute. Wow. I know we haven't seen a lot of that other than the one Pinocchio special not too long ago that was fully stop motion, but that's just a, it's just a style that has So I'd love to see that brought back.
And I think it really keeps with the theme of all the other Christmas movies and specials. So it'd be very, it'll be new, but it'll be nostalgic to a lot of people who grew up watching that stuff, which is most of us, right? So that's amazing. And Wow, it just amazes me. And I mentioned earlier on, if you want to share with us, I believe at Podfest you had mentioned that the first lady one of them, a couple of years back had read your book in a hospital to children, correct?
Yeah. Yeah. So in 2018 my mom was very involved with my business. She loved every aspect of the business she was involved with. We nice, we have a good character created and I'd send her an email. I'd say, mom, take a look at it. And she'd have this belly laugh and she laughed about it and she'd say, oh, maybe we should move this here, that there
And so it was just a great joy for her and I to work together on it. So she called me in January of 2018 and said, Todd, you know what? You need to get the book in the hands of the first lady. And I'm like. I do like, why is that? And she said, well, she has this initiative that's combating bullying. And that's one of the central messages in our book.
It's like, we've, we're combating bullying through, through kindness. And, and she said, if you can get it in the hands of the first lady, that could just change the trajectory of your business. And I'm like, well, I'm like, okay, that's true. And I said, well, How am I going to do that mom? And she's like, well, you're the marketing guy.
You can figure that out. So I'm like, okay. So I write down on my list of things to do. First lady outreach. It's exactly what I put down. Six weeks later my mom passed away very, very suddenly, shockingly. And so it was very difficult. And in August of that year, I'm looking at my list of things to do.
And I see first lady outreach and I'm like, that was mom's idea. I'm like, you know what? I need to send this book. I need to send the book to the First Lady. So, but rather than sending it to the First Lady, I sent it to her Chief of Staff. Didn't ask for a thing. Instead just said, I commend you for what you're doing to combat bullying. I'm trying to do the same, but in a much smaller degree. Right. Todd Zimmerman. She's the first lady of the United States. She is a much bigger platform than I do. So, and again, didn't ask for anything.
Right. And in October of that year, I got an email from the White House saying that the First Lady had evaluated 250 different Christmas books and she had selected Oliver the Ornament to be read at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D. C. Wow. So this, this is an event that, most of your, most of your audience will be familiar with.
It started with Bess Truman in the 1940s when she read Twas the Night Before Christmas at Children's National Hospital. It's been continued by every First Lady ever since. It's nothing political. It's about bringing a smile to kids faces who are facing difficult times. And so I was so honored by the fact that she read my book.
And so I met the First Lady. I'm sitting next to her as she's reading my book. I'm thinking, my goodness, I'm from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This was my mom's idea. This is absolutely, you can't make it up. And so then in The following year in October, I, wasn't expecting that's the year I released the second book in the series, wasn't expecting, I mean, she read my first book.
She's not going to read my second book. All of a sudden I'm just working at my desk and I get an email again from the white house, hadn't heard from the white house since the event, not like I, I mean, we met one, so then. It was, that email was the first lady had this year the first lady had evaluated 200 different Christmas books and she had selected Oliver the Ornament to be read Oliver The Ornament meets Bell to be read at the event.
So for the first time in American History, I'm, I was the first author to have more than one book read at this event. Wow. And then in 2020. I got an email again saying, and that was in September, saying that Mrs. Trump has decided not to evaluate any Christmas books. She understands your third book is being released.
She loves your books and she would like to read your third book in the series at this year's event. Wow. Yeah. So it was it was pretty remarkable. It was really, really remarkable. And what's the third book? Oliver the Ornament. And this is the irony in the whole thing. I mentioned that one of the angels on the tree is named after my mom.
Her, my mom's name was Marley. So the third book is Oliver the Ornament meets Marley, Joan, and Abby. So here I am in 2020, sitting next to the first lady again, all because the idea that my mom inspired me to, execute her. And the first lady of the United States of America is saying my mom's name over and over and over again.
So it was great. Wow. That is truly beautiful. And you said there's seven total now? Yes. And is that it for the Oliver the Ornament series? Well, you'll have to read this seventh book to find out. You said they all end with a Pretty good cliffhanger. So I'll have to make it to the seventh one to see if that thing keeps up, but that's awesome.
And you mentioned a few other projects you're working on. Are any of those going to be done in time for PodFest? Are you going to, am I going to see you with a brand new book in hand at PodFest? Is that the hope? Or this is going to be a little bit of a longer term project? The hope by PodFest is that we've got some concrete direction with the animation.
Okay. Because that to me. If we can follow that, that is going to be such an exciting journey, that in and by itself from the very kickoff to the premier that in and by itself is a journey that I can't even fathom. I mean, I have chills just thinking about it.
We have our kickoff. We actually have our kickoff meeting with my studio tomorrow morning. So, in which we are, what we're doing is we are creating a four minute we're calling it a teaser trailer. So we're going to create like a three to four minute trailer that we will take out. To actors and actresses, and we're going to take it out to other studios to, gauge their interest and, solicit their interest in the, in becoming part of, coming into the project.
I think the most amazing part of it, especially if you're allowed to, it seems like you're going to be actively involved with it is just seeing all of the little pieces. Of the stop motion, just seeing how there's this set, the intricate, intricately designed and then to watch the movie or the series and just remember that it was just a bunch of little pieces that moved one part at a time.
I can't even fathom walking in a studio and seeing all my characters. Moving around and seeing actors and actresses and being there, during the reading. I mean we're also talking we're very focused on what the music of theories would be, because Every Christmas special has to have music in it.
So what our goal is, is to have the number one Christmas CD of the year that it's released. And so we know who were, we know who we're targeting in terms of musical talent to be involved with this as well. So we're looking, we're looking for original work as well as work that's out there already that we want to be.
Part that we want to be part of the series. Wow. You're bringing us a new series, new lessons, new music, really up in the Christmas game, which has become a very monotonous, so I'm glad to see a new introduction. And I got to ask you as the author, are you Oliver the ornament in some way? Does it draw on from your childhood experiences or are you self inserted in the book anywhere?
How much of your life is reflected into the series? That's, that's a really great question. No, I am not Oliver. But I will say this. The, the whole notion was no doubt inspired by my own childhood. I had a great childhood. I had a great family. I have a great family. And. My mom, every year when she would decorate the Christmas tree would tell us all about the different ornaments that hung on the tree and the story behind them.
This one was made by her parents next door neighbors, Bill and Anna Kirschner. And I still have that ornament on my tree. This ornament came from grandma Hilda and this ornament. So, so the whole tradition of telling stories about your own ornaments was a Christmas tradition at my, at my home. But what I've learned.
Since this, and, but never talked about it outside since I've released the book, I have had thousands of people come up to me or send me emails or send messages through Facebook that telling me stories about just like you did early when we started this off, right? About your violin. You had an ornament you, this, I wrote a children's book that resonates with adults.
And I didn't intend to do that at all, but it's, by the grace of God, I did it. Wow. And I think that's beautiful. I think it really adds to the meaning of Christmas. One of the meanings, which is family getting together. And so having that connection through the ornaments is a really beautiful thing.
And that's awesome. So we've got the. Animated series and work. And is it going to be a, is it going to be like a one episode special? Is it going to be a couple episodes or like a movie? What is the plan? Exactly. The plan would be for it to be seven, just like the book, there'd be seven episodes. So it'd be streaming seven, seven episodes.
Wow. That's amazing. I just listening to all of this, I am just amazed with how. Just like you said, this is a little spark, just a little idea. And then just. How far, I'm sure every now and then you look back and you're just like, wow, I can't believe, you never, it's not like any of this was planned, this is just, it's just.
Self perpetuated. So, when something like this, I was asked a question a couple of weeks ago from someone who said sometimes that can be feel that if you have a new business idea or you have like an endeavor, it Like so difficult, like so overwhelming, like, how do you even begin?
And I had never thought of this before, but I drew the analogy of I'm an avid boater in Chicago, and there's always, unfortunately, a lot of drownings along the shore in Chicago, and it's because of the riptide. And if you know anything, if you're a swimmer, if you know anything about the riptide, the tide take you, you roll on your back, you don't fight it.
You just let the tide take you and you will be perfectly fine. I have let the tide take me on this journey, and I have been perfectly fine. I have not fought it. I have embraced it. It's like, this idea came to me for a reason, and now I'm just, executing upon it, and, trying to execute as, as dramatically and as effectively as I can.
Wow, It's so amazing. And do you ever read it at like local libraries or anything? Like during the winter season, do you host like author readings and signings? That's, and to your audience, this was not a setup. This was not a setup. This was an absolute awesome segue into the next part of my business.
I just got back from. A school counselors association conference in Kansas city, American school counselors association. And I have, so I'll, I'll kind of give you the background. So when I released the book, I started getting invited into elementary schools to do story time. And rather than doing, rather than just doing story time, I wanted to make it more meaningful.
So I created an event called Oliver's Day of Kindness, which I have performed with over 25, 000 students, primarily here in the Midwest. What I hear from every single Teacher, principal, counselor is you need to figure out how to make this program national and to go national with this program because the kids just love it so much.
So I had thought about that and I thought about it and I'm just finally said, yeah, I do need to take this nationally. So I've created the very first at that, the very first ever virtual kindness summit, which I'm Performing this year on November 13th, which is World Kindness Day. So what it is, children from throughout the country, schools from throughout the country will be gathered today in the mission of spreading kindness, so the day is going to start.
With again, it's all virtual assembly. It starts with us having a discussion about what it means to be kind. So you're going to have Children from Buffalo talking with Children from Oklahoma City talking with kids from Miami Beach all about what they've done in the last week. That's kind. Then we're going to get into story time.
So I'll be reading the book to all these Children from throughout the country reading the book to them so they get to hear it. An author reading them there, reading them then afterwards, we're going to ask the children what they heard in the story. That was kind. There's a lot of examples.
And then finally, we have this open kind of this open mic Q and a, and the children love this because they can ask me anything and children. Always, there's all at every school, there's at least one budding author. So he or she will ask me one question and then they'll ask me another question.
And so, and then that wraps up the virtual part of the program. Then the children go back to their classroom. And the first thing they're going to do is make cards for hospitalized children. We're hoping to have 100, 000 cards made this Christmas season. After that, we're creating. What I'm calling the kindness coloring contest, and I'm super excited about this aspect of it because this one involves not just the children, but the community.
So the children will create these pieces of art depicting different acts of kindness. They're going to upload them to a website and then their family, friends, neighbors, moms, pickleball club, all voting on the best piece of artwork. So instead of having 500 children. If you have that, that are exposed to this message of kindness.
If each of the 500 students has 10 people vote on their artwork, you're going to have 5, 000 people all viewing this gallery kind of art. So I'm super excited about that. Then the kids get up, fill out a pledge of kindness, they get a certificate of completion. And at the end of the day, The children are surprised by one final act of kindness.
Every teacher from every participating school is going to give them, is going to give each student a free electronic version of the book with the instructions to do one more act of kindness, and that's share the story with your family this evening. Wow. Talk about this is Zimmerman. You mentioned just letting the riptide take you, and this is a strong, strong curtain.
I mean, I just asked about local, library readings. This is amazing. So, is this going to be the first year that this is this happening? So there's a lot of stress, a lot of excitement. So as well, a lot of excitement for this. So that is amazing. And just the power of technology to connect all of us.
And so. Essentially, there's going to be students are going to be looking at the smart board or the TV in their classroom and you're going to be up on there reading the book. Yeah, well, when I start reading the book, the screen will actually morph into the book. So they'll be able to read along with it.
We're doing another program. 1 of 1 of the 1st schools that signed up for the program said, we really like this idea, but we wish you had more than just 1. So now I created another program, again, I've got seven books. So we're creating a smaller program that's available to only 24 schools nationwide.
And that program is going to be once a week, twice a week from November 13th through the week of Christmas before school lets out, we'll be doing. We'll be doing one program or two programs a week tied to each of my books. So the children will tune in, the schools will tune in, and then the second session, I'll be reading the second book.
The second session will be followed by another discussion about kindness. Children will go back to the classroom. They'll do another act of kindness. So that one, they're going to make cards for the elderly. Then four days later, we're going to have the third book. And there'll be a new kindness activity.
And then what we're also doing with that program is we're connecting first graders from a school in Buffalo with first graders from a school in Oklahoma city. So they're going to have kind of like, it's the old fashioned pen pal, but it's going to be classroom. So we could be creating lifelong friendships from children in Buffalo and, and Oklahoma city, for example.
Wow, that's awesome. And Well, what we really need is where each of the students makes their own ornament and gives us his own story. And then they all swap or. Put it into like a bin and each person grabs one and then, they take home, they have their own ornament with their own story. I think that would be good.
That's a great, that's a great idea. I might add that onto program. Yeah, that's actually, oh yeah. By, by all means, great. Because like you said, each of these ornaments has a story, and then what's really interesting is if you have the kids making their own ornaments with their own stories, it's like.
What, why did they choose that story? And, kids, they can make us some crazy stuff. But what's also interesting is, at least as an author, a lot of what we write is drawn from real life and it's interesting to see what these children draw from. And so. It's amazing that you're able to present some really big, important lessons to children in a fun, but, narrative way.
And so what are some of the big takeaways that you really want the children to leave with? Obviously, kindness is a big one, but it sounds like it talks a lot about outcastment, which we have a lot of that in our society nowadays and with technology, I mean, children are really, their social life is very different and there's a lot of hate being passed around.
Well, what you see with Oliver here, I'll pull them out of, I'll pull them out of the box here put them up so those who are viewing can see them closer, but you'll see. Oliver has a broken arm and because he has a broken arm, he gets bullied by some of the other ornaments, but even though he gets bullied, he still has this magic and this kindness in his heart.
And that's him. That helps him overcome all odds to save the day in every single. So what we're teaching children, in addition to the lessons that I mentioned earlier, what we're teaching children is that even in the face of adversity, if you put your mind to it, and you work with others, you can accomplish anything.
And so that's a really important that's a centerpiece. Of each of the stories. In fact, I have what I call the hero chapter in every one of my books. And then the hero chapter, I'll show you an example in book three, the children are reading a book, they're reading the book, and they see an illustration.
And then all of a sudden, there is the hero chapter where the children actually have to turn the book vertically. And in this example, Oliver, with the help of his friends, Marley and Joan helped save Frazier and Mary from certain doom from a naughty ornament that was left behind in the attic.
Well, and what's great about that, Mr. Zimmerman, which I don't know if this was the thinking behind it, but by having the action associated with it, it really turns it into their memory. It's like that vertical chapter. I mean, you really help ingrain the lessons. Was that planned? You were like, I want to make sure they get these lessons.
I will not take credit for it. It was my illustrator's idea and I thought it was a brilliant idea and I loved it. I loved it so much. And I said, we're doing it in every single, we're doing it every, so it's in every single book. It's so important that the message there because a lot of people and you look at it, whether you're a believer or just a good person, we often show commonly in society that it's like, the good guys finished last at the, life is only going to be difficult if you're a good person and that you should just give up and go on both the villain arc is what, social media really promotes.
But what you have here is. Bad things are going to happen to you. But you got to maintain that goodness and kindness. And in the end, it all works out and that helps produce perseverance. So it's a really great lesson that really needs to be shared. And I'm glad you're sharing it. Like you said, it's.
I was just amazed with how much it has grown from what you initially, started with, and if people want to partner with you to learn more, where can we find you on, social media or the internet? Or, wherever, where, how can we contact you? You can get in touch with me at, through Oliver, the ornament.
com. That's where all the product is available. All the product is available there and you can leave me messages. You can contact, there's a contact us button on the website. If you want to learn more about our school program, or just have a conversation. Awesome. Yeah. And ladies and gentlemen, as always, all that information.
We'll be in the links below. So you can check that out and it's July. So you have plenty of time to get these books in time for Christmas. Especially nowadays you can get them like overnight pretty much. So you got plenty of time, great gifts. Especially if you're, new parents, you got young kids.
I mean, what better gift than. In fact, you've got gifts for your kids for the next seven years. If you get one book a year, each year, add on another book. And that's really funny that you mentioned that because that's kind of how I anticipated my business. Growing and I just thought people would buy one book and then next year they'd buy the next book and that's right Starting last year.
We bundled everything together last year. We had six books and eleven ornaments Okay, half of our customers bought the entire collection Which I couldn't believe, but then I would hear feedback. So they read the first book Thanksgiving night, then the next week they read the second book and hang that ornament on the tree.
Then a few days later, they read the third book and they hang those ornaments on the tree. So throughout the Christmas season, they're reading the whole story. The last book is a two part book. And the first part one takes place Christmas Eve and part two takes place Christmas day. So they'll read part one, Christmas Eve, part two, Christmas day.
And then there's a surprise ornament that comes with that book. So I've been really surprised by me, pleasantly surprised. So we packaged the, we package it because I saw so many people buying, clicking to buy book two. And there was one book three and those ornaments, I decided to put a whole package together.
That is really a beautiful package of all the books, all the ornaments, and there's a huge savings with the collection of the series. Right. I love that. I love the every few days, because then you kind of extend the Christmas magic between the holidays there. It's like you have something to look forward to throughout.
And hopefully once the animated series is out, parents can partner the episode with the book they're reading, right? Because, so, every few days they can do this episo they'll read the book and then do that episode, read the book and then do that episode. And so And look how I mean, parents families are so busy.
The way it is, when I was growing up, we didn't have schedules. We went out and played and went bicycling, and then came in when, dinner was ready and then we'd go out and play again. Everything is so planned and parents have such, they, there's so much pressure on parents today, with all the afterschool activities and both parents are typically working now, right?
So it's such a challenge for them and that's. accentuated between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And this, this tradition allows a family to just take a deep breath and take 15 minutes a night every three, four nights and read a story as a family and create this wonderful tradition that's going to be, in their kids minds for the rest of their lives.
Wow. Well, Mr. Zimmerman, thank you for helping all these families, add to their Christmas tradition. I'll be seeing you in a couple months and hopefully you'll have some updates, but we might have you back on the show when things are launched. It seems like it won't be this Christmas exact for the animated series.
It'll probably be the, another year or two, but I am looking forward to that. And that gives me time to have some kids of my own to, share and all this in. So I appreciate that because it's not looking like it's happening anytime soon. I appreciate that. You can buy them in advance. Hey, I've gotten, I got nieces and nephews and stuff.
And family friends. So I'll definitely be checking out the book series. I think it's great. And also just to have, regardless, I'm getting it just to have an ornament on my Christmas tree. I'm like, I know that guy. I met that guy. I talked to that guy, that guy knows the first lady. Well, speaking of this, Mr.
Whiskey, let's give your audience a special discount. Let's give them 10 percent off any purchase. Let's it's your choice. What what discount code would you like me to put in for your audience? You can pick, but it can't be Mr. Whiskey. Cause this is a kid's. This is a kid's. I was just, it's funny.
As soon as you said that I was like, I don't want kids. Thinking about whiskey too much, or nuclear explosives. No, no, you could just put Christmas cowboy or something. Christmas cowboy, Christmas cowboy, all one word, all one word enter that when you're checking out and the discount code and you'll get 10 percent off.
Awesome. You know what I should have gotten now? I feel like an idiot not wearing it. They have. Santa cowboy hats. I don't have one because I haven't really been Mr. Whiskey in the winter time, but they have, it's red. It's got like the, the Santa belt buckle on it. And I'm going to have to next time I get to, I know that way I'm a real Christmas cowboy, so this was, it just filled me with joy as an author to, to see you and hear you talk about, This and to see how much it's grown.
And also, I just love helping people, especially our children. Like you said, parents are so busy that children are, I don't want to say being neglected, but they're being left out a lot. And I've talked in previous episodes about how even the school systems, the teachers can't. Be filling parents, the guidance counselors are busy.
They've got 15 to 20 kids each. And so to give them this book and the series to kind of help fill that void and to help them learn and grow, it's truly beautiful. And like I said, everyone, all the information will be in the description below, so be sure to check out the website for more information.
Perfect gift for whoever perfect gift, not just for the children, but for other parents, other young adults, to help them set up their families for the, for a good holiday time. So Mr. Zimmerman, is there anything you'd like to leave us with? Yes. Merry Christmas in July. Merry Christmas in July, everyone.
