Children’s author Stephen Nawotniak is here with me today
talking about Mubu the Morph.
talking about Mubu the Morph.
Bio:
Stephen Nawotniak OTR/L has a Self Designed Masters from Buffalo State
College and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Utica College. For 8 month’s
he hiked, biked, sailed and canoed from Buffalo, NY to Key West, FL. He gave
presentations to over 1000 youth on the values of volunteerism and education
and completed over 230 hours of community service along the way.
College and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Utica College. For 8 month’s
he hiked, biked, sailed and canoed from Buffalo, NY to Key West, FL. He gave
presentations to over 1000 youth on the values of volunteerism and education
and completed over 230 hours of community service along the way.
Living WITH a condition, not just coping with an
illness is the focus of Stephen Nawotniak, OTR/L. Stephen blends his personal
experiences of rebuilding his life after 2 hospitalizations for his bipolar
condition and professional experiences as an occupational therapist to share
skills and systems to accommodate needs and enjoy a desired quality of life.
His award-winning Mubu the Morph children’s book series speaks to the inner journey
we all face as we discover our purpose. In his is book Handbook for Healthy
Living with a Mood Disorder, Stephen shares his journey with authenticity and
vulnerability to provide hope for those suffering from depression, anxiety and
bipolar conditions and help for them to take back their lives. He has committed
to use his experiences to help break down the stigma associated with mental
illness and demystify the experience of a mood disorder. Stephen currently
lives and practices Occupational Therapy in Buffalo, NY.
Welcome, Stephen. Please tell us about your current
release.
release.
This rhyming, rhythmical
read along is perfect for the young at heart. It is a tale of Mubu the Morph as he searches with a
bird, dog and fish for his purpose. In each case, he uses the talents of the
animal to help him search for his hearts song. Its only when he stops looking
outside of himself, and turns to self understanding, that he begins to see that
his own gifts and talents are what makes him special. He then begins to
understand that he gets to choose how he views his gifts and that personal
choice plays a significant factor on how he lives.
read along is perfect for the young at heart. It is a tale of Mubu the Morph as he searches with a
bird, dog and fish for his purpose. In each case, he uses the talents of the
animal to help him search for his hearts song. Its only when he stops looking
outside of himself, and turns to self understanding, that he begins to see that
his own gifts and talents are what makes him special. He then begins to
understand that he gets to choose how he views his gifts and that personal
choice plays a significant factor on how he lives.
An adult message in a child
friendly tone, Mubu shows us that while we make take many roles and identities
throughout our lives, our true identity is created from the inside out.
friendly tone, Mubu shows us that while we make take many roles and identities
throughout our lives, our true identity is created from the inside out.
Mubu the Morph is written for children in grades K-3 yet may all readers experience a
shift of self value and purpose from external validation or a comparison with
others to an expression of their own internal gifts. First without, then
within…are you ready to begin?
shift of self value and purpose from external validation or a comparison with
others to an expression of their own internal gifts. First without, then
within…are you ready to begin?
4 Points of Interest
about the book’s content or story:
about the book’s content or story:
1. It was developed from the
intense experiences from living with a bipolar condition
intense experiences from living with a bipolar condition
2. It was inspired by the
Dr. Seuss book “Oh the places you will go.”
Dr. Seuss book “Oh the places you will go.”
3. The character of Mubu
represents “hope”
represents “hope”
4. Mubu’s journey of self
discovery parallels the journey we all take throughout our lives.
discovery parallels the journey we all take throughout our lives.
What inspired you to write this book?
Being a licensed
healthcare provider as an Occupational Therapist I am committed to supporting
people in living the best quality of life that they can. Living with a bipolar
disorder has taught me the realities of stigma, the importance of life lessons
and stories which overcome struggles. Having both has illuminated the need to
pass on principles and life lessons to the next generation.
healthcare provider as an Occupational Therapist I am committed to supporting
people in living the best quality of life that they can. Living with a bipolar
disorder has taught me the realities of stigma, the importance of life lessons
and stories which overcome struggles. Having both has illuminated the need to
pass on principles and life lessons to the next generation.
What exciting story are you working on next? Our next book, Mubu’s Heroes, shares how we all have
talents/powers within us that can be seen or unseen. We can use these powers,
regardless of our circumstance, to help others and our community. This book
will feature superhero like drawings as well as everyday heroes like
firefighters, teachers and emergency medical responders. We plan to release it
in 2017.
talents/powers within us that can be seen or unseen. We can use these powers,
regardless of our circumstance, to help others and our community. This book
will feature superhero like drawings as well as everyday heroes like
firefighters, teachers and emergency medical responders. We plan to release it
in 2017.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I published my first book
in 2000 which was about the internal struggles experienced while planning an 8
month, non-motorized Trek from Buffalo, NY to Key West, FL. Since then I have
written another adult book titles Handbook
for Healthy Living with a Mood Disorder, 2 journal articles related to
Occupational Therapy and 3 children’s books. I guess I got the bug off my first
book and have been playing with it ever since
in 2000 which was about the internal struggles experienced while planning an 8
month, non-motorized Trek from Buffalo, NY to Key West, FL. Since then I have
written another adult book titles Handbook
for Healthy Living with a Mood Disorder, 2 journal articles related to
Occupational Therapy and 3 children’s books. I guess I got the bug off my first
book and have been playing with it ever since
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day
like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to
write?
like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to
write?
My full time job is as the
Director of Peer Advocacy at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. The Mubu the Morph
series is a fun, creative outlet I enjoy building and a legacy I want to leave
behind.
Director of Peer Advocacy at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. The Mubu the Morph
series is a fun, creative outlet I enjoy building and a legacy I want to leave
behind.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
When I write I actually
play with word sounds and craft it around a message. I feel like it is more
like putting a jigsaw puzzle together than writing a story.
play with word sounds and craft it around a message. I feel like it is more
like putting a jigsaw puzzle together than writing a story.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an outdoor
adventure guide, like for canoe trips, backpacking trips and white water rafting.
That desire led me to developing my 8 month, non-motorized trek of service
discussed earlier.
adventure guide, like for canoe trips, backpacking trips and white water rafting.
That desire led me to developing my 8 month, non-motorized trek of service
discussed earlier.
Anything additional you want to share with the
readers?
readers?
The achievement of a dream
is the dance between the personal growth of an individual and the evolution of
an idea.
is the dance between the personal growth of an individual and the evolution of
an idea.
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