Author Interview with Mike J Masse, Andy Gets Angry

Children can develop the ability to respond to their emotions in a healthy way through the practice of mindfulness.

Welcome to the February 2nd stop on the blog tour for Andy Gets Angry by Mike J Masse with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, author guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Interview

What would you name your boat if you had one?
That’s an easy one The Stugots, based off my fav show of all time, The Sopranos. 

What’s the most useless talent you have?
No question it is my ability to remember where I was when I saw any movie for the first time. It happens all the time with my wife Jenn. A movie will come on, or we will talk about a movie and I’ll say “oh remember when we say that at _________ and we sat _______” she 99% of the time will replay with “ah no, and of course you remember that” 

What would be on the gag reel of your life?
First off I see a bunch of crazy stuff that us boys do at my house, that my poor wife tolerates. Lots of moments with me slipping up and using choice words in situations where those words are probably not the best option. As full time public speaker for the last 10 years I have had many, many slip ups on stage over the years. I often think (and laugh) about the things that the little humans say when I am working with them in a school setting.  BUT to be honest the first thing I think about is when I was in University, I had a placement at a grade school, at that time I was considering becoming a teacher. It was my first week in this new school I am 19 or 20 year old in the staff lounge, full of teachers and educational assistances. Someone asked me “hey Mike what’s that?” Referring to my homemade Reese Pieces peanut butter cup that my girlfriends (now wife) mother made. I said loudly “oh my girlfriends mother made me this Reese Penises………. cup” then it felt like everyone in that room looked at me like “did he just say penises cup”. I laughed it off and slowly said “Reese Pieces Cup” 

What’s the closest thing to real magic?
I’d have to say being present with difficult emotions. When I started to dive into a regular practice of self care via meditation, I learned that a lot of my suffering was coming from my mind and the added thoughts and emotions I was engaging with.  I would always have the intent (with the hope) to “figure it out”, sadly that repetitive process was actually adding more stress to my experience. Once I learned that all those emotions will pass, I was able to be more present, which then led to me being able to be here with those beautiful moments with my friends and families as well. 

When did you screw everything up, but no one ever found out it was you?
Back in the mid 95sh my grade 8 class was putting on a mock court trial, I was actually competing in the worlds for martial art (in Germany) that year, so my teacher suggest that instead of taking on a larger role, that I could film the court process for the class to watch. She was an amazing support, and looking back at it now it was a way for me to really focus on training. So filming was my only job, everyone else was practicing their lines and their roles for the court case. So my big day came, and I sat down and recorded the entire 2 hour trail. After school I took the tape home to watch it, and guess what, I didn’t record more then a second. I thought it was recording, but it wasn’t. It was like the entire thing never, ever happened. So I made a million excuses to not watch it, and we never did. 

What’s your favourite quote, and why?
“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them have never happened.” ― Mark Twain

When I first saw this, and I thought “Hey I am not the only one who is living in the future, and creating stories” 

Why did you write this book?
The idea for Andy Gets Angry came to me while I was working with a primary class during one of my mindfulness talks for students. While discussing the emotion of anger, I had the idea for the book with illustrations showing how all humans experience anger, with this idea that children could use a simple technique to help them respond to their emotions in a healthier way.

What do you do when you are not writing? 
I run my business mindfulmike.ca where I get to speak about my passion Mindfulness with a wide range of humans, from our healthcare providers to children in JK. When I am not working I LOVE to train in BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu). I find that training BJJ adds a Yang to my Yin lifestyle, it provides me a nice balance to my work and life. The entire Masse Clan trains BJJ. My wife Jenn, Sons Dexter (10) and Beau the Dozer (8) all have a passion for this beauty martial art that provides us with a wonderful way to stay fit, BJJ is actually where I met my amazing artist Emily! BJJ allows us to reduce stress while providing fantastic workout. I also love to play music, mainly piano and guitar, and LOVE playing and hanging with my fam jam in many ways. We all love to play board games, camp, video games (not Jenn), watch movies and crack jokes.

Readers now have an opportunity to download a free copy of Andy Gets Angry! Download your free copy between now and February 28^th here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/childrenfeb/kqi4akfqs3

About the Book

Andy Gets Angry
by Mike J Masse
Illustrated by Emily Corbett

Published 8 September 2021
Tellwell Talent

Genre: Children’s Fiction
Page Count: 36
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Children can develop the ability to respond to their emotions in a healthy way through the practice of mindfulness. Andy Gets Angry is a great introduction for children to learn a fun and simple breath technique to respond to their emotions. The beautifully hand-painted illustrations provide the perfect landscape to tell the story of Andy and his journey in learning the wonderful skill of mindfulness. Share the book with your loved ones, and help us all plant the seed to be present!

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | BD | B&N | Bookshop

Excerpt

Andy doesn’t like being angry, mad, or frustrated – he hates how it makes him feel. Sometimes he feels angry in his face. Sometimes he feels angry in his hands. Other times, he feels angry in his stomach and even in his mind.

Andy later feels bad about some of the things he said or did when he was angry. He felt bad after he yelled at Bobby, and he felt bad after he slammed the door on Sierra… and he felt bad after the one time he told his dad that he didn’t like him anymore. And that didn’t just make Andy angry. It also made him feel sad.

About the Author

Mike Masse is a mindfulness consultant and public speaker who specializes in mindfulness-based stress reduction. For over a decade, he has been teaching adults, youth, and children mindfulness skills to help reduce their levels of stress and anxiety. A highly sought-after trainer, Mike facilitates workshops with educators, first responders, health care providers, and others who work in high-stress environments. Mike lives in Stratford, Ontario with his two sons and his wife.

Website | Instagram

Giveaway Alert!

Mike J Masse will be awarding $15 Amazon or B&N gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.