OAK PARK, Ill. — DJ Corchin is not just a featured author at Dandelion Bookshop in Oak Park, IL; he’s also a frequent customer. Owner Jamie Ericson said he was the first local writer to come in and introduce himself when the store opened.
“I love talking with book sellers at local bookstores,” said Corchin, who lives in Oak Park. “I love supporting them in any way, shape, or form.”
Corchin and Illustrator Dan Dougherty were hosted at Dandelion Bookshop for an event promoting their new children’s book, “A Million Yes’s.” While the book is available online, Corchin is encouraging readers to purchase it at their neighborhood, independent bookstore.
“Its a great community business to rally around,” said Corchin. “Bookstores are fighting for their right to survive in todays day and age.”
A former band director and trombone performer, Corchin says his journey to becoming a children’s author may have begun with an early love of books by poet and cartoonist Shel Silverstein, who was serendipitously a high school classmate of his grandmother. In a chance conversation with Hollywood film producer and writer John Hughes, Corchin was encouraged to pursue writing as a career, even while he was still working at a retail job.
“It was a really impactful moment,” said Corchin. “That was the day I became a writer.”
Corchin self-published his first book, “Band Nerds: Poetry From The 13th Chair Trombone Player,” and more books followed. He soon got the attention of book publisher Sourcebooks, who published his colorful “I Feel” series.
“Those books are all about behaviors and recognizing behaviors when you’re feeling different emotions,” said Corchin. “These are lessons that I know I wish I would have learned when I was younger, so I wanted to bring them to younger audiences.”
The “I Feel..” series included the book “I Feel… Angry,” made famous in the 2022 movie, “A Man Called Otto.” Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks can be seen cradling the book in one scene.
“That was a really cool moment to see; one of my books on the big screen with one of the biggest actors in the world,” said Corchin. “And if you know anything about the movie, you know it makes total sense he would be reading that book.”
Corchins newest book “A Million Yes’s” is available online and wherever books are sold. For more information about DJ Corchin, visit his website djcorchin.com
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