Lesson Summary

Morgen chats with Meriet about her journey of writing children's books, inspired by a gift of honeybees received some years earlier.

Overcoming obstacles like dyslexia and undiagnosed ADHD, Meriet crafts stories influenced by her passion for beekeeping. She emphasizes the significance of visuals in children's books and aims to educate through storytelling.

Following the chance meeting of another author at a local book signing, Meriet enlisted Tegan Sharrod as her illustrator and was passionate about working with her, even deciding not to work with a traditional publisher who insisting on using their in-house illustrator.

Meriet and Morgen discuss the complexities of traditional versus self-publishing, with a focus on the critical role of marketing for book success in the industry.

Being a public speaker as well as an author, Meriet aims to raise awareness about the honeybee decline, their environmental impact, and the lessons derived from honeybees' sustainable behaviour.

Also mentioned in the chat were:

Bees for Development ~ https://www.beesfordevelopment.org

Rogers Wasibi, Mount Elgon Coffee and Honey Cooperation ~ https://mountelgoncoffeeandhoneycoop.com.

Meriet's books 'Betsie Valentine And The Honeybees' and 'Betsie Valentine And The Honourable Honeybee' convey educational messages in an engaging manner. A former professional photographer, Meriet combines this background, her beekeeping passion, and storytelling to create captivating children's books that children, and adults, of all ages can enjoy.

Meriet is a knowledgeable and entertaining Speaker, Children’s Author and Beekeeper - passionate about what we can learn from honeybees.

She has written two children’s books, Betsie Valentine And The Honeybees and Betsie Valentine And The Honourable Honeybee, both of which are extensions of her talks, wrapped up in magical adventures, making it easy for children to learn about honeybees.

For over twenty years Meriet was a professional photographer, the last seven of which she worked in the media, in live television and theatre. During that time she accidentally became a beekeeper; therein lies another book - as yet unwritten! However, as soon as she was properly introduced to the honeybees she fell in love with them and joined the chalfontsbeekeepers.co.uk. There, she started learning about the honeybees and the more she learned the more she wanted to tell as many people as she could what amazing creatures they truly are.

After a couple of years, while inspecting her bees, Meriet had the idea of writing a children’s book thinking that this would be the best way to start; with a children’s book, she thought, children, teachers, parents and grandparents would all learn at the same time. Two years later, having found a wonderful illustrator, Tegan Sharrard, Tegan_art.co.uk who brought her words to life, she retired from the world of photography to concentrate on getting her book published.

Since publishing her first book, Betsie Valentine And The Honeybees, and subsequently the sequel, Betsie Valentine And The Honourable Honeybee, she’s gone on to be a public speaker, travelling all over the UK giving talks about the lifecycle and importance of the honeybees to schools, communities and at events. The intention behind her books and talks is to help broaden and deepen children’s and adults understanding of the honeybees and the world-wide concerns for their decline which ultimately would have an effect on our ecology and environment.

With her books and talks Meriet takes you on a fun filled, inspiring journey into the complex world of the honeybees and demonstrates just how much we, as a society, can learn from their sustainable and respectful approach.

Meriet now lives on the borders of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Wales with her husband and a “naughty fox-red-labrador”. She has three “gorgeous” sons and two “delicious” grandchildren. She says: “The honeybees really have changed my life and the way I think and, for that, I am truly grateful. Do you believe in destiny? I do… I was born in Middlesex in Honeypot Lane!”

You can find her books on her website: https://mdthequeenbee.co.uk.