A recent e-book by Hoboken-based children’s author Daniel Errico is making waves online for its unconventional ending—the story features a prototypical dashing knight who decides to live happily ever after with the prince, not the princess.
“The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived” is not the first children’s book to deal with homosexuality, but according to Errico, it is the first story for children that centers on a gay hero.
“The Bravest Knight” focuses on Cedric, a courageous boy who lives with his parents on a pumpkin farm. After saving a carriage from robbers, Cedric is adopted by a knight as his personal squire, and eventually departs on his own quest to prove his worth. Cedric vanquishes a fire-breathing dragon, but turns down the hand of the princess he has rescued for her brother’s, saying “that isn’t how it ends.”
What makes “The Bravest Knight” even more notable is how little it actually dwells on Cedric’s sexual orientation at all—his ultimate decision to state his true desire is just one of a series of brave, fearless acts.
“He’s a multi-dimensional character who happens to be gay,” said Errico, who happens to be straight, “but the bulk of the story is him being heroic in other ways.”
“He’s a multi-dimensional character who happens to be gay.”—Daniel Errico
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Of course, not everyone was so complimentary.
Children’s books dealing with gay issues have been banned in the past, and some social conservatives have spoken out against Errico’s message. On My9NJ this past January, New Jersey Family Policy Council President Len Deo called Errico’s book “an assault on traditional family values.”
Errico says some of the online comments on the animated video of “The Bravest Knight” have been even worse, calling it perverse, sexual in nature, and gay propaganda. One person commented that anyone who was gay had been sexually abused as a child.
Opening up the conversation
Despite this, Errico said the vast majority of comments he has received are positive, and he is not letting the criticism faze him. Errico said he is committed to giving children who are gay an epic, heart-warming story in which that they can see themselves.
“Growing up, I’d always imagined that I’d get married,” said Errico, “and part of the reason of that is hearing all stories that ended with a happy ending involving marriage.”
In taking on a hot button issue like homosexuality, Errico was inspired by the tales of Dr. Seuss, and in particular “The Butter Battle Book.” The Cold War allegory published in 1984 focuses on the Yooks and the Zooks, two groups drawn into an escalating arms race over which side of bread their butter should be spread on. As the book ends, one Yook and one Zook stand on the wall that divides their lands, ready to set off a doomsday device that will destroy everything.
“Around the time that I decided I wanted to be a children’s book author,” said Errico, “I revisited [“The Butter Battle Book”] and thought, this is incredible. This book shaped my views on weapons of mass destruction and I didn’t even realize it.”
Errico credits Dr. Suess with revealing the “profound influence you can have on children” through books, a responsibility he had tried to take to heart.
While Errico’s earlier books contained messages about perseverance and believing in oneself, “The Bravest Knight” was his attempt to “do something with more meaning…an underrepresented message.”
One man startup
Errico’s path to success as a children’s author has taken its own unconventional twists and turns. Unsatisfied by careers in mechanical engineering and investment banking, Errico founded FreeChildrenStories.com, an online home for his e-books and videos, in 2007. He has since posted over one hundred stories, almost all of which remain free.
Though several of his books have been published in print through Sky Horse Press, the vast majority are available as e-books for Kindle, Nook, and iPad tablets.
“Like most people from my generation, I grew up with hardcover books and that tactile experience, so I have an affinity for it myself personally,” said Errico, “but I believe that my job as an author is to meet kids at their point of attention.”
“It’s a real advantage for parents and kids that they can have a whole library in one tablet,” he continued, “and I certainly want to encourage that because I think it encourages reading.”
In addition, Errico said he can price his e-books much lower than he could hardcover books. “Books shouldn’t be something that is cost-prohibitive for people,” he said.
Errico said he makes a point of bringing his books into classrooms for readings as much as possible. A musical version of his most successful book, “The Journey of the Noble Gnarble,” was performed in 2012 by the Hoboken Children’s Theatre.
Errico initially moved to Hoboken so he could be near his banking job in Midtown, but he says the city works well for his life as a self-employed writer. The publishing houses of New York are just a PATH ride away, and Hoboken offers ample settings for working outside the house (Café Bene is his favorite spot).
Errico said he’s already working on a sequel to “The Bravest Knight” starring a lesbian heroine.
For the time being, he will keep the two books in solely digital format so that he can also distribute them for free as animated videos. However, Errico said part of the proceeds from e-book sales of his forthcoming book will go towards an LGBT youth charity.
Carlo Davis may be reached at cdavis@hudsonreporter.com.