Embrace Your Differences in “Why Ball Wouldn’t Bounce”

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Interview with Author Ron Roecker

Ron Roecker is an award-winning writer, artist and photographer moonlighting as an award-winning Entertainment PR and brand marketing executive in Los Angeles. That’s what he does for a living. Ron, the person, is kind a kind and generous human who does whatever he can for the social good. He’s writing, illustrating and publishing a series of children’s books based on adages and idioms in a new context to put hopeful messages out into the world. His first, “Why Ball Wouldn’t Bounce,” is a heartwarming story about loving our “differences.”

Ron’s been working on his children’s books for almost 15 years: “The time is right to publish them now because of what they have to say and what they mean in the world today. The world needs to know Ball’s story…”

Tell us about Why Ball Wouldn’t Bounce.

This is a story about Ball, who is ashamed of his bounce and wants so desperately to bounce like everyone else. He tries everything to fit in but the others just laugh or don’t even give him the time. Hopeless, he decides to run away and hide his bounce, as well as his tears. But then Ball meets the unlikeliest of new best friends and gets a birds-eye view of what being different really means. Find out why ball wouldn’t bounce and whether he decides to hide his uniqueness or bounce his own bounce proudly.

What inspired you to write it?

As a kid, I always felt really different than everyone else; I always felt like a bit of an outsider always looking in. It wasn’t until I got older and realized how important my unique qualities were for my career and my relationships. It also made me more accepting of people and that is an important part of the book…accepting yourself and others.

Who’s your illustrator?

Even though I’m an artist, I’m not an illustrator and I had a very clear idea of what I wanted the imagery to be. I couldn’t find an artist for a long time and everyone kept telling me to go for it. So, I went for it and I’m very happy as I wanted to do the story and the characters justice.

Who is the ideal reader and how do you see the book being used?

Anyone who has ever felt different or left out, or like they couldn’t be who they were. It’s been such an amazing, enlightening journey with this book. I’ve shared it with people throughout the years in its various iterations. But it was when I started getting feedback from the autistic community who said how important the story was, especially because it applied to so many different types of people not just those with autism, that I started looking more broadly at the audience. It’s one of the reasons I decided to partner with various non-profits too – Geek Club Books, Discovery Arts, etc. – it’s all about feeling included and accepted and loved – regardless of how society tries to separate us.

What’s the message you want your readers to take away after reading the book?

You are the only one with your bounce in this world. Love everything about it. Bounce it, baby! Bounce it proudly. Bounce it loudly. Understand how important it is to share your bounce because it shouldn’t be about how we are similar or different, it should be about how we’re connected.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

A portion of the proceeds from all the books in the series is going to different organizations, including discoveryarts.org, geekclubbooks.com, and to causes that support anti-bullying, youth suicide prevention and saving the planet.

Do you have a proud moment you’d like to share?

I can’t get through this without getting choked up so you’re just going to have to deal with that. LOL. I got a call from a woman who said she read the book with her young daughter and at the very end her daughter had tears running down her cheeks. When she was asked why she was crying, she looked at her mom and said.” That’s about me, Mom. I’m Ball.” Oh, my gosh, are you kidding?! What a priceless, overwhelming gift that is to me.