What We Need, What You Will Get & The Story:

My name is Marissa Klein and I need your help to plant the "seed money" for my children's book series, The Dream Big Academy.  To create the brand. To educate.  To inspire.  I feel strongly that Rosie Wants to be a Fireman, the first book in the series, is just scratching the surface of what I could do with The Dream Big Academy.  Indiegogo funds can help me print, market, and write additional storylines.  Thank you in advance for your interest and TLC.

         xoxo, Marissa*

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a writer. That was my inner most dream.  What did you want to be? This simple question stops people.  It makes them think.  It stirs up emotion.  Thought.  Memory.  Passion. Disappointment.  Acceptance.

For the last 8 years, I have helped people to find dream jobs in the NYC fashion & media world.  I listen, coach, critique, and support.   I help people chase their dreams and embrace reality at the same time. I can relate as I had a career in fashion after trying to work in beauty. I wanted to be a newscaster.  I wanted to be a billion things.  And here I am, a recruiter.  

Its not always easy.  When the economy was tough,  I heard so many stories.  I didn't want my candidates to give up just because the professional world had come to a pause.  I didn't want to give up because I had a little girl at home who missed me when I went to work.  The juxtaposition of going to work every day and struggling to help people and coming home and looking into those hopeful and bright eyes brought my pen to paper.  How could I explain what I do to my daughter?  How could I teach her to never give up?  How could I encourage her to chase her dreams? My gut instinct reminded me that I was far from the only parent wanting to explain "work and choice and perserverance" to my child. 

Memorial Day Weekend 2011-I was delayed at O'Hare airport for literally 8 hours and I sat down and wrote about Rosie wanting to be a fireman.  In the 2 years since I wrote a simple but meaningful story while waiting for my flight to Newark:  I had a second daughter, watched my beautiful mother beat breast cancer, became an Aunt, and grew my division of our family's staffing firm (Choice Fashion) tremendously.  Busy was putting it kindly.   Yet, I never gave up on the dream of getting this book out there and into the hands of my peers...my fellow parents who want to read something super relevant at bedtime.

By supporting my efforts,  I hope to publish not only this book, but a series of books all about different careers.  Why not?  It just makes so much sense- as "they" say, I can write what I know and help others while doing it. I have charities I would love to give back to, big plans, big dreams.  

I hope that you too can use Rosie to teach a great lesson in your own home.  She will start a dialogue.  One that is ageless.  And timeless.  Because you know what?  Even though I am a mom and run a business and have all of this serious day to day grown up stuff to swallow...I always wanted to be a writer.  And now, I can add that title to my resume.  Writing Rosie proves that I practice what I preach day in and day out. Dreaming big is not always easy, but it is certainly always worth it.  

My staff knows my "Marissa'isms" inside and out.  One of my favorites applies to Rosie and I expect to happen once I click "upload" to this Indiegogo profile (eek!)- Success redefines itself every single day.  What feels right today, may not feel right tomorrow and visa versa.  Rosie can be the next Must HAVE book for anyone who is anyone under the age of 6 or Rosie may just be a beautiful little story that I wrote for my daughter and for your daughters/sons.  I love either storyline, however you define it.  

To learn more about my day job, please visit www.choicecofashion.com. To learn more about my incredibly talented illustrator, Brooke Hagel, please check out her www.fabulousdoodles.blogspot.com. Without Brooke, I would not have been able to get my words to come alive.  She is a dreamer & I am honored to have her creating by my side.  Please share this with friends... and pay it forward for Rosie.  Much love and thanks...  DREAM BIG.  Marissa Klein