Word & Mouth Blog

Where food, hospitality, branding, and human behavior all crash into each other. I write about restaurants, wine, placemaking, customer experience, and the small details that make people talk about a business long after they leave.

For even more snarky takes on marketing, pop culture, branding, and the internet, visit my Substack, Burnt Popcorn & Branding: Substack

New Book Out: Randall the Blue Spider Plays Pretend

Randall the Blue Spider and his friend Joey the Grasshopper want to try out for their school play. But Joey is worried that bullies will make fun of his stutter. Learn about this Children's Book on Bullying where Randall & friends discover how to overcome insecurities and handle adversity with kindness, love, and respect for themselves & others.


Written by mother and son duo, Ryeson & Shana Bull, Randall the Blue Spider Plays Pretend is a cute easy-to-read children's book that teaches young readers important social-emotional skills like coping with nervousness, overcoming bullying, and being good friends to others.

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Family Life, Pivotal Shana Bull Family Life, Pivotal Shana Bull

So, I'm Now a Published Author of a Children's Book

Randall the Blue Spider loves the ocean and the waves that go crash. Today, he wants to enter the surfing competition to win an ice cream prize, but he is nervous that he might fall in front of everybody watching him. With the help of his friend, Chester the Caterpillar, Randall learns how to cope with these difficult feelings and take his chances at winning.

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