Maplewood Man Wins Indie Publishing Honors For Children's Book

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — It takes a long time to write a book and get it right, especially if it tackles tough issues yet still has to entertain children.

Maplewood resident and special education teacher Corey Wolff has seen the rewards of such long writing efforts, as his book for kids, The Journey of An Acorn (2019, Transcendance Press), has earned four independent publishing honors since it was published last year.

The book, about an acorn that separates from an oak tree, is a parable about emotional abuse and eventually surviving and becoming independent.

Wolff grew up in Huntington, Long Island, and graduated from Huntington High School.

"I was not a great student back in those days," he said, "but I always enjoyed writing. I was kind of a dreamer, staring out the window and writing poetry during algebra class. I have always been, and still am a dreamer. I eventually realized the power of letting my imagination take me where it wants to go."

He studied English literature and philosophy at the University of Hartford and earned a teaching degree at Hofstra. He taught in East Flatbush and moved to Maplewood in 2006.

"I wanted to live in a town that valued diversity, and to find a place that was affordable," he said. "I am happy that my two children are growing up here. People know my kids, and they experience a wonderful sense of community."

The Journey of an Acorn has been named by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group as one of the best indie books of 2020. It was also a finalist of the young adult category in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world’s largest book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors.

Additionally, it is an honoree and grand prize finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, one of the largest international book awards for small academic and independent presses. Both awards are judged by leaders of the indie book publishing industry.

Many authors decide to self-publish or partly fund the publication of their book to have more control over it, and bypass what can be a lengthy publishing process. But getting the book to the public can be difficult without a mechanism in place, so awards help boost a book's profile.

The acorn and the tree

On its surface, the book is about an acorn that wants to separate from an oak tree — but the tree will not let the acorn go.

Rather than nurturing the acorn, the oak tree exploits its vulnerability, using it to satisfy its own needs. Although the acorn eventually breaks free of the oak tree’s hold, it faces many challenges from the trauma it experienced in early life. Despite its difficulties, it manages to persevere.

Wolff said he was inspired by Shel Silverstein's classic, the Giving Tree.

Wolff said, “So many people are walking around broken from abuse or neglect in their childhood, and this cycle is perpetuated through each generation. It is an epidemic ... People need to know that they have the power to stop it. I want my book to begin a dialogue, to have children ask questions about how adults should be treating them, so they can ask for help if they need it. It is difficult for someone outside of the family to know if a child is experiencing emotional abuse."

Wolff said, "When I dedicated the book to 'my little acorns' that was meant for my children. I want them to look at the book, and in times when they doubt themselves, they can remember that they have something special inside of them."

He said, “The book took me over 10 years to complete. ... After having more life experience, particularly as a father, it came together. I was able to give it the ending it needed and deserved. I don’t mind that it took 10 years; it was worth it!”

The book can be found on Amazon, in print or Kindle editions, here.

For more information, see coreyswolff.wordpress.com or contact corey.s.wolff@gmail.com.

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