tascocita resident and author Deborah Elum released her first children’s book ‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’ however, the story is enjoyable for the entire family, she said.

The book focuses on a cat named Tommy — who was recently adopted by the Brown family — and his adventures and mishaps with 8-year-old Marcus Brown.

Atascocita resident releases first children’s book ‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’ this summer

By Kaila Contreras

Updated 2:30 pm CDT, Thursday, June 21, 2018

Photo: Kaila Contreras

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Deborah Elum's book 'Tommy Brown Misbehaving' can be found on Amazon.

Atascocita resident and author Deborah Elum released her first children’s book ‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’ however, the story is enjoyable for the entire family, she said.

The book focuses on a cat named Tommy — who was recently adopted by the Brown family — and his adventures and mishaps with 8-year-old Marcus Brown.

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Elum said she was inspired to write this book by learning of all the household accidents children get into by not following the rules or listening to their parents.

“I’ve been to the grocery store and I’ve seen kids do stuff. I’ve caught kids falling out of baskets, shopping carts … I saw this little girl and she had really long hair and she was at the bottom of the basket and her head and the (wheels) were getting closer to her hair,” Elum said.

Elum worked on the book for three years and it is now available on Amazon.

While writing ‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’ Elum was also working on other books, screen plays and her sitcoms, such as ‘Wake Up and Smell the Coffee’ and ‘A Church with Spots and Wrinkles.’

‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’ was released in May and is Elum’s fifth book. She has written four other titles which include the aformened titles ‘Wake Up and Smell the Coffee’ and ‘A Church with Spots and Wrinkles’ in addition to ‘Doors to the Real You’ and ‘Seven Realms of the Spirit’

Unlike Elum’s other books that were based off of experiences and people she knows, the main human character Marcus Brown is based off several children she has encountered.

“It’s really not one particular child. Marcus is a combination of a bunch of 8-year-olds; their personality, how they act and how they are in public,’ Elum said. “They’re very outspoken, they believe in speaking in what they believe. That’s what I enjoy about writing children’s books because from a view point of a child they’re very honest and they tell how they see things and they’re very intelligent.”

Elum is currently working on the sequel to ‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’ and a picture book titled ‘Miss McDoogle Has the Giggles.’

Elum will have a book reading and signing for ‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’ on July 27 at noon at Chuck E. Cheese on FM 1960 in Humble.

“(‘Tommy Brown Misbehaving’) is a fun book to read. It’s very entertaining and a lot of lessons are within the story,” Elum said. “Not just about rules but it’s also about keeping your word … and it’s about family; to enjoy our times with our family and see the humor in things.”

kaila.contreras@chron.com