Published Picture Book
Big-Hearted Charlie Runs The Mile
Based on a true story. A small boy joins a track team, overcomes his size by hard work, becomes a champion in running and, later in life, a Navy SEAL.
Krista Keating-Joseph is a Gold Star Mom and track and field coach. The story is about her son, Charles Keating IV, who was a competitive runner in college, then a heroic Navy SEAL.
At the 2017 Royal Palm Literary Award Banquet, author Krista Keating-Joseph won First Place for her published picture book, Big-Hearted Charlie Runs the Mile. Each year at the RPLA Banquet, authors experience the joy of earning accolades for all the hard work that is often done in the privacy of the home with little to no recognition. We’re showcasing the best of the best with our First Place winners spotlight. Not only does RPLA recognize extraordinary talent, but we’re giving readers an opportunity to sample excerpts from the winning stories.
An interview with Krista Keating-Joseph
Q: Where do you get your story ideas?
A: From my son, Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV, who was Killed in Action May 3, 2016. He was in Iraq and saved a village and other SEALs and received the Navy Cross posthumously.
I have been writing true stories about his youth to share his experiences and values growing up.
Q: Anything in particular about your award-winning RPLA entry that you’d like to share?
A: My mother (Illustrator) and I wrote the book over 20 years ago when Charlie was on my track team, the Arizona Track Club. After he died, I felt motivated to keep his memory alive, especially to children who could be motivated and learn from his example.
Q: Who do you credit with inspiring your writing?
A: My husband, Ron, and son, Billy, and daughter, Adele, have pushed me to write about Charlie because I am throwing my grief into something positive for others.
Q: Any tips for new writers?
Don’t ever think you can’t do it! I hated writing in school but I have experienced a wonderful gift of faith and hope by helping others with the written word. A blank page doesn’t have to be scary……it can be fun to write anything that comes into your heart…..
Krista Keating-Joseph
www.Bigheartedcharlie.com
A message about supporting literacy in Florida:
If every member of FWA went to Smile.Amazon.com, chose Florida Writers Foundation, Inc. as their charity and, instead of logging into Amazon.com, logged into Smile.Amazon.com, FWF would receive 0.5% of the purchase funds. Every time.
We could significantly fund the literacy efforts of our organization. No money out of your pockets…just some invested time to set this up.
How easy for us to make a difference. To see all of our work, please read the pages of our website www.floridawritersfoundation.com. You’ll be proud.
Melody Dean Dimick,
President, FWF
