MEET THE AUTHOR
Cheryl Chase
Cheryl was born in a small, modest town Manville, New Jersey. Her loving parents were Emil and Stella Hudock. Emil was a handsome, lively trombone player in a popular swing orchestra while Stella was a beautiful, young, junior model that appeared in the very first issue of SEVENTEEN Magazine. They were very supportive of their only child’s hopes and dreams.
As a young child, Cheryl loved playing with dolls and making people laugh. She loved mimicking different voices and putting on shows with her costumes from her dance classes.
Cheryl pursued acting in college at Brigham Young University and later in NYC at the Lee Strasburg Institute. Moving to Los Angeles, she decided to focus on a voice over career. She always had a unique young sounding voice. Cheryl has a wide vocal range allowing her to create little girls to little old ladies.
Being perseverant with many random voice jobs with the various animation studios in Hollywood, Cheryl managed to work her way up to become an award winning voice actress on the globally popular animated show Rugrats. In 2006 she received a WIN Award for Best Comedic Actress In An Animated Show. The Women’s Image Network promotes dimensional female media images and applaud film and television that advances the value of women and girls.
Cheryl cherishes the fact of being a part of such a celebrated global cartoon franchise. She regards being Angelica as a privilege and golden opportunity to give joy to the children and families of the world. The cartoon show allowed Cheryl many exciting experiences such as Rugrats getting a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, her character, Angelica being a guest on The Rosie O’Donnell Show, attending Rugrat movie premieres and even a Rugrat Live Stage Show.
She has collected tons of Rugrat merchandise that she would donate to young cancer patients in the hospital with a charity she was involved with called Famous Fone Friends.
Enjoying the notoriety of being on such a celebrated Nickelodeon animated show, Cheryl had other aspirations. She always wanted to write a children’s picture book. During high school, she excelled at creative writing and in college Cheryl started writing in journals. Lots of them!
Cheryl’s favorite children’s picture book is Polar The Titanic Bear by Daisy Corning Stone Spedden. This captivating story is told through the eyes of a young boy’s toy bear. It describes an American family’s travels in the Edwardian Era, culminating with their voyage on the famous Titanic.
Having the story told through the toy bear’s perspective inspired Cheryl to write her debut children’s picture book with this same approach. Cheryl’s book is entitled That’s Coola Tallulah. It’s a love story about the true friendship between Stella Bella and her favorite doll, Tallulah and the magical relationship that bonds them together at the heart. The story is told through the eyes of Tallulah.
Stella Bella and her lively doll, Tallulah are inseparable playmates that get into all sorts of mischief. The instigator is, of course, Tallulah. Stella Bella is always up for adventure and goes along with her fun loving doll’s desires. In the middle of the pair’s shenanigans, though, Stella Bella’s conscience always leads her the right way until its tea time and the cookie jar gets broken. When Mommy discovers the mess, uh oh, the two are separated. Will they ever be able to play together again?
Award winning voice actress Cheryl Chase gives life to the animated character, Angelica on Rugrats. Her debut children’s picture book, That’s Coola, Talulah! is adorable as it is mischievous. This whimsical, wee tale of true friendship comes to dazzling life in Giulia Iacopini’s enchanting illustrations.
Watch an Interview With Cheryl
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
1. You’re a voice actress. What made you start writing a children’s book?
My mother. A few years ago I was telling her about my story about the friendship between a little girl and her doll. She got so excited about it that she said you should write a book about it and dedicate it to me. I remember what she said scared me, because she had health issues at the time and I was afraid that she was going to die. As a result, she did pass away. It devastated me, but it only made me more determined to do my book project. That’s Coola Tallulah was born. I did dedicate the book to her.
2. Is it difficult to write a children’s book?
Well, yes, actually. For children’s books you only have a small amount of words to tell the story. My book is for very young children between the ages of three to six years old. The word count for children that young should be in the range of five to six hundred words. You must make every word count.
3. Why did you decide to self-publish as opposed to going the traditional route of using one of the big publishing houses?
I wanted to have total creative control over my book. One thing in particular, when you go the traditional route you don’t have any say in which illustrator to use. If you self-publish, you get to choose which artist you want to work with. I really wanted to pick out the perfect artist for my book. When you go the traditional route, you must wait for at least two years before your “baby” is ready for release to the public. If you self-publish, you can determine when you want to have your book released.
4. What is your favorite type of book?
Besides picture books, I love to collect antique books. They provide a different perspective from another day and time.
5. Why do you like to write children’s picture books?
A children’s picture book is a work of art from the imaginative text to the enchanting illustrations. When read aloud, they bring joy to children and their parents. I am a very creative person and I love to write. Writing children’s books is a way for me to express myself and to hopefully create something that will give families a bonding experience. I remember when my parents used to read to me story books and how I loved it. I would feel honored if I can bring those loving relaxing times between parents and their children of today.
6. When and where do you write?
I like to write early in the morning when my mind is fresh. Listening to the birds chirp outside my office and seeing the mountains in the distance is very soothing and inspiring.
7. What’s the one rule of thumb in writing a children’s picture book?
Show don’t tell. That means you have to make sure your text does not explain too much. You must allow the illustrator to do their job of creating dazzling illustrations to show visually what the story is about.
8. How long does it take you to write a children’s picture book?
It all depends. My first book, That’s Coola Tallulah took me a year for me to get it right. My second book in the Stella Bella and Tallulah book series, Prince Robbie Bobbie which is in production took only four months.
9. Where do you get your ideas from?
I get my ideas for the Stella Bella and Tallulah book series when I picture myself going inside the mind of my two main characters, Stella Bella and Tallulah. It’s all in Stella Bella’s imagination. What would she like to play today? Where would she like to go? Traveling through space with friendly martians, swimming under the ocean with mermaids, riding a flying carpet across the desert, there’s no telling what adventures Stella Bella and Tallulah can get into all within the walls of her magical play room.
10. What do you like best about writing children’s picture books?
It’s a fun creative outlet for me. I don’t have children of my own so this is a way for me to, at least, bring joy to children and their parents. Reading my books would give families some much needed quiet, cuddling time and that make me feel good.
Hello
Want to know when Cheryl has news?
Sign up for the Mailing List: