Books
WRITTEN OR ILLUSTRATED BY C. L. FAILS
FOR CHILDREN
FICTION
Two picture book series and a series for middle grade readers. There's something here for every child here!
THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE BOOKS
The books that launched my career as an author. Imagine waking up on a plate of cookies meant for Santa on Christmas Eve. This - this is that. Wacky and funny with a message about trusting your gut.
THE ELLA BOOKS
Each book is a love letter to my mom. So far we're 4 books into a 10 book series with more on the horizon. Each one focuses on a different super power and infuses character traits like grit and growth mindset.
RAINE THE BRAIN
Older readers with a sense of adventure will love the Raine the Brain series. Each book follows Raine and the inventions he creates to save the world from other-worldly beings. Part sci-fi, always an empowering message hidden within it.
FOR GROWN UPS
Non-Fiction
Books
From a modern memoir to a book on joy, my hope is that these books find their way into the hands of those who need the messages within them. Each book offers a unique view on life's challenges and how to navigate them.
SO OKAY...
A young high school graduate from modest Dalton, MO, embarks on an expedition to find his way in this big, beautiful world. More than 75 years later, his granddaughter is deployed on her own mission; capturing the unimaginable stories of his incredible life.
The stories shared by this war veteran and Buffalo Soldier hold all the candor you would expect from a 94 year old, with a twist of wit and wisdom inherited from his siblings, parents and grandparents (some of whom were born into slavery). Get your QR reader ready and prepare for a wild ride as you listen to Grandpa James summons his inner griot and teach us about life's universal human truths.
DECODING JOY
Joy feels like something we should all have easy access to. Often though, its elusive nature leaves us out of breath - chasing after it full-speed, down the street, like it just ran off with all of our favorite things. The strain of this evasive nature can leave us with a sense that joy, or the pursuit of it, is something too complex to obtain. But what if the key to decoding joy was actually quite simple?
Decoding Joy, is a small but mighty addition to the current roster of books that serve to teach us more about joy; what it is, how it works, and how to make it work for you. Through a heartfelt analysis of the author's experiences, this title guides you through the process of creating an inviting space for joy to live and thrive in abundance.
FOR GROWN UPS
FICTION
I thought I was a children's book author. I quickly learned to remove my own limitations when I finished the first draft of a Romance novel in 14 days. Now, 5 books into the series, I just stay open to the stories that are ready to flow through me. Pssst...there's another genre brewing that I also didn't see coming.
THE SUGARPLUM TRILOGY
Follow the story of Dr. Chris and Charlie as they meet (A Spoonful of Sugarplums), fall in love (Where Sugarplums Shimmer), and decipher how to let love lead (A Sugarplum Promise). These two have a lot to say about love and so do their friends.
THE SUGARPLUM UNIVERSE
Who doesn't love a good spinoff? Those friends of Dr. Chris and Charlie all have a story to share as well. There's a coming of age story (Sugarplum Sweethearts) and one of redeeming love (Sugarplums on the Side), with more on the way!
WHAT'S NEXT?
What's the next genre on the horizon? Keep an eye on this section to see what's on the way. I've written everything from picture books to romance novels, from a memoir to a book on joy, and a book to help you document your family's stories. It could be literally anything!