Meet Annette Czech Kopp

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Annette Czech Kopp a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Annette, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Actually, I didn’t realize that the Miso Mice had chosen me to chronicle their adventures until recently. ”Coincidence – something happened – maybe small, maybe big, or even a dream, but it made you take notice. It was significant to you and held a feeling of timelessness. Stop and catch that feeling outside of time.” Very similar to a fortune written on a slip of paper within a cookie, my purpose began to become clear to me through a series of coincidences that started with this answer when I asked “What am I supposed to be doing?”…..

One of 5 sisters living in different geographic locations across the United States, in March 2020 (think pandemic), we began zooming together every week and determined that we needed a name for our sessions, and of course a website to document these occurrences. IdleChatter5, “cheaper than therapy”, was born! Many of the topics we discussed were about what we termed “The Self Project” – creating our own future selves. We literally spend (as we continue to zoom even now) up to 3 hours almost every week chattering. Conversations range from the exchange of what each sister is doing this week, health information and recipes, to discussing time travel, the multiverse, and questions such as “Why are we here?” and “What are we doing here?” (here meaning Earth).

The conversations about creating our own future selves resonated with me very much and my answer to “What am I supposed to be doing?” became more and more clear to me. I changed my way of thinking about everything – realizing that I can (as the Miso Mice say – “choose’ndo” associated with Universe rule #1: everything gets to choose). This attitude and awareness, that everything is my choice, totally transformed my life both physically and mentally. I lost 40 lbs; lowered my blood pressure; am now consciously aware of what I eat; and swim and walk daily. I choose to be and am happy!

I wanted to share this information with others – that you can create your own future self, if you want – as it has brought me great joy, but many of the concepts we discussed were very academic (and to my mind boring) in nature, although I knew that they were important, as they changed my life. Who wants lectures, and isn’t the whole “self-help/metaphysical” concept overdone? Wouldn’t it be great if I could share this information via a story – no lecturing, no homework, no “don’t do this”? My mind began to whirl with the idea of a fun, happy story with wit and sparkle that included whimsical characters, galactic adventures, treasure, time travel, energy tools, experiential exercises, and much more that would help “those who are interested” in doing what I did – creating their own future selves! I needed to write a story about our IdleChatter5 “Self Project” discussions – but how? And then I remembered the Miso Mice! Voila – enter the metaphysical fantasy world in the “🐭 Adventures of the Miso Mice” series via the playful, whimsical stories of five very curious fantastical Miso Mice as they embark on their exciting quests, travelling the Universe and learning how to create their own future selves! Although the themes are what some may think more complex in nature, they are presented in a fun, fantastical manner with language and pictures that can be understood on many levels by all ages.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a dreamer, avid sea shell seeker and beach explorer who is honored and humbled to be chosen by the Miso Mice for this once in a Universe opportunity. Born and raised in Parma Hts., OH I wrote and produced plays with my neighborhood elementary school friends using garages as stages and charging only 5 cents for attendance (popcorn was free). Although the play and story writing continued, productions were halted as the actors were lax in putting away everything they had lugged out of houses. My love of making up stories continued in life, ultimately shared with my 2 sons as they created the Miso Mice in the 1990’s and imbued them with superpowers, and as Pokémon was very popular at that time, individual trading cards. I knew then that the Miso Mice were something very, very special but didn’t quite know how or why.

Professionally I’m a graduate of Northwestern University, a Principal Consultant for Kopp Company, and author of “Modernizing Your Personnel Management System”. I am also the editor of the Kopp Chronicles series of Amazon & Goodreads 5-Star novels which have been nominated for Reader’s Choice Awards, Goodreads Choice Awards, and numerous “Cover of the Month” & “Book of the Day” Honors. The novels also have received a glowing review and featured “First Lines” in “Publishers Weekly”.

The Miso Mice clamored to have their stories chronicled and published and the “🐭 Adventures of the Miso Mice” is the first novel in the series and introduces the reader to 5 very curious fantastical Miso Mice on their quest to find The Answer Book, given to them by a magical button found floating out of a treasure chest! Books 1 – 5 are published and continue the Miso Mice’s adventures. Book 6 “Higher Selves”, a new release, was published just this month. Book 7 is written but not yet published. (I am actually seeking representation at this time.) I am humbled at some of the honors the books have received: Amazon and Goodreads 5-star reviews; a featured “Book of the Day”; nominated for AllAuthor’s “Cover of the Month” and featured “First Lines” in “Publishers Weekly”.

And I can’t believe that the published books are already in libraries across the world!!!! Patrons of California public library systems including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and many more libraries can request “Adventures of the Miso Mice” books via Hoopla digital or Overdrive/Libby in English, French, and Spanish. All of the books are also now available in digital and/or paperback versions from bookstores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Hudson Booksellers, Books-A-Million, LA’s The Last Bookstore, and many more independent bookstores through Bookshop.org; and in audio via Apple Audiobooks.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Follow your passion and your dreams! “…..Rumor has it that it all started up in the Universe, but that’s not a rumor at all – it’s actually true! Thinking about it, anyone can see how it became a rumor as lots is going on up there and it’s very possible that no one actually noticed the beginning, much less documented it. Choices are constantly being made by every THING. That’s Universe Rule #1: every THING always gets to choose! The choices being made are creating all kinds of wonderful and amazing things. Some of those things that are being created are sparks of light energy that the Universe has nicknamed “sprites” and they are moving around the Universe all the time, as one of of the Universe’s favorite pasttimes is creating sprites, and experiencing the sprites’ creations. You are one of those sprites! Fill yourself with bright light. Become consciously aware of the timeless energy that is you – choose and create!” But how? Via whimsical stories of curious fantastical Miso Mice embarking on their exciting quests experiencing how to create their own future selves in the series: 🐭 “Adventures of the Miso Mice”

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Always happy to collaborate, support, and encourage each other in regard to our dreams and passions. You see, Kat, the fashionista of the Miso Mice already has 4 dress options for the Oscars as Shelly (another of the Miso Mice) has told them that she just knows that the Miso Mice stories will become a full-length motion picture and win the Oscar for best animated film (or a TV series or mini series or just go viral). That written, anyone (including agents, producers, directors, etc., etc.) interested in pursuing these types of ideas with me and the Miso Mice is welcome to contact me at www.Kopp-Company.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kopp-company.com/adventures-of-the-miso-mice.html
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/annette_koppco
• Other: Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16152705.Annette_Czech_Kopp
  Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BN6XCSQK/about
  Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/series?id=ecIvGwAAABBX2M
  Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/annette%20czech%20kopp