Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Annette Czech Kopp. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Annette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The idea actually was born many, many years ago. As a child, I wrote and produced plays with my neighborhood elementary school friends using garages as theaters and charging 5 cents for admission (popcorn was free). Although the play and story writing continued, productions were halted as the producer and actors were lax in putting away everything they had lugged out of houses and into garages! My love of making up stories continued in life, ultimately shared with my 2 sons as they created the Miso Mice eons ago when they were very young. We often spoke together about the Miso Mice – a group of mice that went on interstellar adventures experiencing wonderful things, learning about themselves, and sharing what they learned with others. Those mice of course had superpowers (as doesn’t everyone want a superpower?) and the mice, their friends, and foes were to be pictured on trading cards (similar to the Pokémon trading cards which were very popular at that time) and if time permitted, a game was to be created associated with the trading cards.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Actually, I didn’t realize that the Miso Mice had chosen me to chronicle their adventures until recently. I am one of 5 sisters. In March 2020 (think pandemic) one of my sisters began hosting a weekly zooming session for us which we ended up calling IdleChatter5 (cheaper than therapy!) and even creating a website summarizing all of our chatter! Many of the topics we discussed were about what we termed “The Self Project” – creating our own future selves. We would literally spend up to 3 hours almost every week (and continue to do so now) chattering with each other on our computers. Our conversations ranged from the exchange of what each sister was doing this week, health information and recipes, to discussing time travel, the multiverse, and the questions of “why are we here” and “what are we doing here” (here meaning Earth)?
These sessions changed my way of thinking about everything – realizing that I can (as my Miso Mice say) “choose’ndo” (associated with Universe rule #1: everything gets to choose). This attitude and awareness, that everything is my choice, has totally transformed my life both physically and mentally. I lost 40 lbs and am now at a healthy weight. I lowered my blood pressure by being consciously aware of what I’m eating, swimming and walking daily, and incorporating “me time” for reflection, awareness and gratitude every day. I choose to be and am happy, healthy and strong!
I wanted to share this information with others – that you can create your own future self, if you want – as it has brought me great joy, but many of the concepts we discussed were very academic (and to my mind boring) in nature, although I knew that they were important, as they changed my life. Who wants lectures, and isn’t the whole “self-help, life changing, reinvention, healthy lifestyle, metaphysical, etc.” concept overdone? Wouldn’t it be great if I could share this information via a story – no lecturing, no homework, no “don’t do this”? My mind began to whirl with the idea of a fun, happy story with wit and sparkle that included whimsical characters, galactic adventures, time travel, energy tools, experiential exercises and much more that would help “those who are interested” in doing what I did – creating their own future selves?! I needed to write a story about our IdleChatter5 “Self Project” discussions – but how? And then I remembered the Miso Mice! Voila – enter the fantasy world in the 🐭 Adventures of the Miso Mice series via the playful, whimsical stories of five very curious fantastical Miso Mice as they embark on their exciting galactic quests, travelling the Universe and learning how to create their own future selves! Although the themes are adult in nature, they are presented in a fun, fantastical manner with language and pictures that can be understood on many levels by all ages. Book 1: 🐭 Adventures of the Miso Mice and book 2: 💫The Quantum Entanglement Party are published and books #3 – #6 are written but not yet published. (I am actually seeking representation at this time.)
I am humbled at some of the honors the books have received: Amazon and Goodreads 5-star reviews; a featured “Book of the Day”; nominated for AllAuthor’s “Cover of the Month”; Booklife’s “First Lines”; cover of The Reader Zeen; author interview in Books and Bevies; and book excerpt in Lit eZine.
And I can’t believe that the published books are already in libraries across the world!!!! Patrons of California public library systems including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and many more libraries can request 🐭 Adventures of the Miso Mice via Hoopla digital or Overdrive/Libby in English, French, and Spanish and 💫The Quantum Entanglement Party in English via Overdrive/Libby. Both books are also available in digital and/or paperback versions from bookstores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Hudson Booksellers, Books-A-Million, LA’s The Last Bookstore, and many more independent bookstores through Bookshop.org.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, there is indeed a very specific and simple goal in regard to the 🐭 Adventures of the Miso Mice and that is to share the information that I learn with “those who are interested” in a simple, clearly understood, whimsical, fun and entertaining manner. And what is that information? To quote from the book: “Rumor has it that it all started up in the Universe, but that’s not a rumor at all – it’s actually true!…..Choices are constantly being made by every THING. That’s Universe Rule #1: every THING always gets to choose…..The choices being made are creating all kinds of wonderful and amazing things. Some of those things that are being created are sparks of light energy that the Universe has nicknamed “sprites” and they are moving around the Universe all the time, as one of of the Universe’s favorite pastimes is creating sprites, and experiencing the sprites’ creations. You are one of those sprites!” You are timeless energy with the ability to think, choose and create yourself. You too can “choose’ndo”. You are your own Self Project.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Social media marketing is a great way to grow your audience. Review, experiment with, and then decide on which groups and readers cater to your particular genre. Once decided, it helps a great deal if you actively interact with followers by not only liking posts, but sharing them, and participating in conversations. I have found the writing community on social media will embrace and support novice writers with open arms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kopp-company.com/adventures-of-the-miso-mice.html
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorykopp1/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/annette_koppco
- Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16152705.Annette_Czech_Kopp Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BN6XCSQK/about Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/series?id=ecIvGwAAABBX2M Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/annette%20czech%20kopp