Former Hyattsville woman writes a hit children’s book

Plans include three more books in the ‘Angel Bee’ series

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Mignon Pinson has been busy lately. Busy working as a mortgage consultant, busy raising her 21-month old, and two teenagers and busy making sure her family is happy. Busy as a bee, in fact. But pardon the buzz talk.

The former Hyattsville resident is basking in the success of her first children’s book, ‘‘Angel Bee From Heaven” and learning how to delicately balance her new-found fame with her family and work life.

‘‘The message is positive and inspirational,” she said. ‘‘It will be a good learning tool.”

She further explained that Angel Bee doesn’t berate children, but befriends them.

The publishing company has the book listed as geared toward children 0 to 9 years, but Pinson said that any age can benefit from the book’s message.

But as far as parents and children are concerned, according to Pinson, ‘‘Angel Bee From Heaven” has been received well.

‘‘Everybody has been wonderful and encouraging,” she said. ‘‘I’m the first author in the family and it’s been a huge blessing. [The book] has been doing really well.”

The book has various children asking Angel Bee for help while doing various actions during the day, such as brushing their teeth and learning how to eat without making a mess.

‘‘Angel Bee From Heaven” also has obvious clear religious themes, and shows a child walking on the beach and asking for help ‘‘to walk by faith when God calls,” though Pinson insists the book is nondenominational.

‘‘It’s for all religions,” she said. ‘‘[It’s] not geared toward any one religion in particular.”

The idea to have a bee with a halo, wings and sash who helps children make the correct decisions came to her last summer. Pinson wanted to take something negative that most people are afraid of and change people’s perceptions.

‘‘I wanted to turn [a bee] into something that could be good,” Pinson said. ‘‘Angel Bee is warm and inspiring.”

Pinson plans on releasing three more ‘‘Angel Bee” books to complete the series. She said to look for a Christmas-themed book, a counting book and a book where Angel Bee teaches manners.

‘‘We’re trying to get ‘Angel Bee’ out there so children can adapt to it like Barney,” she said.

Pinson met Vanessa Richardson, the book’s illustrator at a festival in Silver Spring last September. The two introduced themselves and a bookish bond was formed.

‘‘She said that she was willing to start the beginning of November and then [she finished] in December. It was a blessing that everything went smoothly.”

The book was officially launched March 11 and a week later Pinson was signing copies of ‘‘Angel Bee From Heaven” at Borders Books in Largo. The batch of 30 books sold in the first hour and Pinson recalled having to leave to get more from her car.

Pinson admitted she was nervous and is happy to stay a behind-the-scenes person, but gushed about the rave reviews she has been hearing.

And with good reason. She already has one successful book signing under her belt and hopes to add school appearances soon.

Pinson also had strong feelings toward literacy and a parent’s role in educating their children.

‘‘I think it is important for parents to read to their children,” she said. She also affirmed that she would do her part to project the positive message of her book.

‘‘I want to continue to do this,” she said. ‘‘And for people to get the positive and unique message that ‘Angel Bee From Heaven’ is about,” she said.

E-mail Sara Schwartz at sschwartz@gazette.net.