Chenoa Franz has been writing and publishing under a pseudonym until recently, when her daughter asked her to write a book for young adults and to publish it under her own name.  Together, they began discussing possible storylines.  Struck by inspiration and her daughter’s persistence, the story of Visualized Reality began to take form.  

        In the vein of Bradbury and others, the author initially wanted to address the growing concern of a nation of non-readers.  As a child, one of the greatest gifts of reading was the power of her own imagination.  No movies ever measured up to the stories that she visualized while reading the authors’ words.  And it is now a real tragedy that we have failed to fully teach the joy of reading—the gift of reading—to today’s youth.

        Undeniably, reading fuels creativity and critical thought.  But it also can provide an escape from boredom, stress, and reality.  Now more than ever, our children need healthy tools and resources to help them endure the challenges that our world presents them day after day.

        Equally important, we need to teach them to evaluate the world and think critically. But with the emphasis on standardized tests, we have seen a gradual depletion in these more crucial skills. Critical thought and creativity have fallen by the wayside.  And this creative thought drives the film industry, the publishing industry, and education.  So when we, as a society, fail to value creativity and the arts, what is left? This question was a central focus while developing Visualized Reality.