Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Rose McCauley

Rose, please email me if you'd like to receive Pam Halter's book, Beatrice Loses Her Doll.



Written by Pam Halter
Illustrated by Kim Sponaugle

Christianbook.com Price: $5.49

Concordia Publishing House
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 32
Publication Date: 2001
ISBN: 0570071178
ISBN-13: 9780570071174

Synopsis:

The Adventures of Beatrice teaches little girls to see God in life's difficulties. Let's see what happens to her today. Beatrice has looked everywhere! Under her bed. In the closet. In the toy box. Dolly is missing! Where could Dolly be? As Beatrice searches, she remembers how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves and protects her. Beatice has a special message at the end of this book about Jesus. Watch for it!



crystal.mrsinewa[at]gmail[dot]com

Kids Who Grew Up to Write for Big Kids (Teens)...Sarah Anne Sumpolec

When I Was Just a Kid...




Sarah Anne Sumpolec


This photo of Sarah sitting on the windowsill watching "blue gays" was snapped at Nana and Big Buddy's house. Right there you know that Sarah had an interesting childhood if she called her grandparents, Nana and Big Buddy (not to mention the blue jays.), She spent a lot of time with these grandparents when she was little. They were her "center" and the stable forces with a quiet faith that eventually impacted Sarah forever. They were the only ones in Sarah's family and life who loved God. Her life is a testimony for grandparents everywhere who fear that they have no influence on their grandchildren.




These days Sarah is centered with a Mighty Force (Jesus,)


influencing countless others, including her own three little girls. Whether she's appearing on the 700 Club and The Tyra Banks Show talking about her experience with witches in high school,.
teaching at writers' conferences,being interviewed in writer magazines
discussing her books for teen girls, or working with her husband in counseling, Sarah can't be kept quiet. She's going to tell a story, and you better listen up. She is deep into a new writing project and knowing Sarah, it's going to be something we want to see.




Let's see what Sarah has to say about some of her memories of the days she spent growing up:


Childhood Ambition: A writer, a doctor and a Broadway Star. One out of three ain’t bad.

Fondest Memory (then): Probably third grade. I remember visiting an elderly neighbor with Elizabeth, a friend of mine. Her name was Mrs. Latham and she fed us cookies and lemonade long before you had to worry about such things as being poisoned or kidnapped. We rode our bikes all over town without fear and bought penny candy at the ice cream shop out of those big glass bowls stocked with all sorts of wonderful things. I was a kid who moved around all the time, and Elizabeth was one of my dearest friends. Those years in Connecticut were some of my favorite.

Proudest Moment ( then): Getting to be Alice in our elementary school production of Alice in Wonderland. I was too little to realize then that I likely got the part because of my long blonde hair, and not because I was talented in any way. But back then, I felt chosen, and talented, and very proud to have gotten the role.

Biggest Challenge as a child or teen: Moving. I grew up being moved around from town to town, and state to state. During second grade alone we moved three times, with a total of about 14 in all. I made friends but kept everyone at a distance. It was just safer that way since I never knew when we might up and leave. It profoundly changed me and I wonder sometimes what I would have been like if I grew up understanding long-term relationships. And it’s probably why I’ve lived in the same town for the last 17 years – I just can’t bear to pull up the roots that I have finally built.

My First Job: Working at my father’s video store, “The Video Store”, back when there was Beta and VHS. I was probably 14 or 15. I learned how to do basic repairs on VCR’s and videotapes and worked the counter with two chain-smoking women.

[Editor Crystal's note: Wow. Sarah not only knew how to program a VCR, but could fix them! She is awesome.]

Childhood indulgence: Stickers. I spent so much money on stickers. I had albums full of the things. It was a cultural phenomenon at the time, trading stickers with your friends, and I was smack in the center of the hype. I still have a couple of my E.T. stickers, some puffy Michael Jackson ones and a few of the jelly filled ones even survived. Their “stickiness” has long since worn off but the sight of them brings back fond memories.

Favorite Outfit as a Child: I had these awful brown corduroy knickers with argyle socks and a little jacket that rounded out the outfit. I loved that outfit. Though, now, I hardly know why.

Favorite Childhood Movie: Anne of Green Gables. I wore those tapes out. I also adored “Little House on the Prairie” and dreamed of going back in time to give them money or gum – two things I really felt they would have liked.

Favorite Childhood Book: The Shoe books from Noel Streatfeild. There were several; Circus Shoes, Dancing Shoes, Skating Shoes – I loved them all but I think Circus Shoes was my favorite of the group. What kid doesn’t dream of growing up in a circus? I also adored Someday, Angeline by Louis Sacher. I so identified with Angeline – feeling all out of place.


Childhood Hero: The fictional girls in my books were my heroes so I had many – whatever I was reading at the time. I wanted to be Harriet the Spy or become a writer like Anne. I dreamed of spending the night in a museum or reading smelly books with Angeline. I know it’s so cliché for an author to love books, but it’s who I was. Books kept me grounded while the world underneath me shifted.

I would probably consider my childhood “hard” but I cannot deny that it shaped who I was in profound and lasting ways. And that’s not a bad thing. While it’s easy to say “Oh, I wish things had been better while I was growing up”, I’m grateful for almost every experience I’ve had. My imagination helped me to get through those years, and it’s my imagination that helps me fulfill the calling I have now. I wouldn’t trade my difficult childhood for an idyllic one – because then I wouldn’t be who I am today.

You can find Sarah at all sorts of places online so try checking her out:

ShoutLife – A Christian community. She hosts two group message boards there:
Girls & God (listed under Society/Teen Life)
Totally Unfamous Thoughts (listed under Society/Teen Life) Home page there is www.shoutlife.com/girlsandgod


Girls, God & The Good Life – A live daily blog featuring eleven YA authors who happen to care about teens and twenty-somethings. Don’t miss your daily dose!
http://www.girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com/
MySpace – While Sarah mostly interacts over at ShoutLife, she also has a MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/girlsandgod

Don't forget to look at her web site and her blog where she talks about her life and books and ministries:
web site http://www.sarahannesumpolec.com/,

Blog: http://www.girlsandgod.blogspot.com/

And if you have teen girls send them to:

For Teen girls: http://www.girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com/

NOW, here's something different and FUN:

Read Sarah's online story of Lucy Madison here.

What is TOTALLY UNFAMOUS?
a) An experiment b) A one-of-a-kind book c) a story told in blog form d) a story told in poetry e) all of the above

Answer? E) All of the ABOVE!

From the Totally Unfamous blog:
"Totally Unfamous came about because of…you! I was receiving so many letters from fans of the Becoming Beka series begging for more books that I just had to think of something! I wasn’t ready to write the rest of Beka’s story yet, so I decided to embark on a spin-off. I started thinking about telling Lucy’s story but “she” kept wanting me to tell it through poems. I loved the idea and fell in love with this type of story-telling. I hope you will love it, too. This is a way for my fabulous fans to have a new story without waiting forever. No worries, I’m still at work on projects that will become actual books, but for now, I hope you grow to love Lucy as much as I have.


In “Totally Unfamous” you will find Lucy at seventeen years old, a little more than two years after the Beka series ends with The Encore. Every day (with permission to beg off a day here and there) I will post several new pages of the story. You can read along as I post or you can wait until it’s all online and read it from beginning to end. Whatever you’d like!"

Books by Sarah Anne Sumpolec:



Becoming Beka, a young adult series from Moody Publishers
1. The Masquerade
2. The Alliance
3. The Passage
4. The Reveal
5. The Encore




Monday, December 10, 2007

Pam Halter: A Kid Who Grew Up to Write for Kids

Pam015Fixed

Pam with her dad and the "huge, smelly" flounder he caught.

(Her Dad was a SCUBA diver and would catch both flounder and lobster)

 Pam Halter was born on February 14 and her mom often said she was the best Valentine she ever received. Growing up in South Jersey was good. They had plenty of fresh fruits and veggies to choose from every summer, and lots of snow to play in during the winter.

Her neighborhood consisted of mostly boys, and she grew up as one of them. They made up games, built forts and filmed their own movies. It was a creative kid’s paradise. Pam says, "Little wonder I wanted to be a writer."

Like most writers as kids, she read under her covers with a flashlight so she could keep reading after bedtime.

Pam is a mom and grandmother and is busy with family and manuscripts, reading, cooking, sewing, baking, playing piano for church and local summer children's theater and tap dancing! Even though her peers awarded her with Miss Congeniality way back when, she still holds this title, as she's purty nice, if you ask me!

Grandmom and Kendall
Her favorite place to be is the Jersey shore.

Let's find out about Pam and what turned her into the writer who she is today:

 

Childhood Ambition: 

To be a writer and a mom, but I also entertained thoughts of tap dancing and acting in horror movies.  Quite the combination!
Today, I am a writer and a mom  ... and I'm starting my third year of tap dance lessons. I've given up the horror movies.


Fondest Memory (then): 

When the Halloween skit I wrote for Girl Scouts went exactly as planned.  I had arranged special effects, costumes and make up.We were out in the woods, so no electricity. We did, however, have flashlights aplenty, costumes and make up.  The play started, and everyone did their part. When I came through the woods with the flashlight under the chin, etc, the younger girls cried. I have to confess, when I was young, I enjoyed scary movies and writing scary plays. My goal was to make the little kids cry, and I was successful every time. I feel bad about that now and am thankful God didn't leave me there, but matured me and grew me into a writer that wants to encourage and entertain kids.  It's a great feeling when what you see in your head works
out just the way you planned.  That's true of a book as well as a play.


Proudest Moment (then):  

This has nothing to do with writing.  I won the Miss Congeniality title for our town's first Miss Septemberfest Pageant in 1978.  For me, it was better than winning the title and crown because the girls in the pageant voted for me - not the judges who didn't know me.


Biggest Challenge as a Child or Teen:

Hmmmmmm, either math or gym. Oh, and
controlling my temper.


My First Job(volunteering counts):  

I did a lot of volunteer activities
with Girl Scouts, but my first paying job was a short-order cook.  Talk about juggling a lot details!  Give me a plot and characters any time.


Childhood Indulgence:   Reading.

Pam015Fixed

Pam in her favorite watermelon outfit


Favorite Outfit as a Child: 

I had a salmon-colored pair of pedal pushers and white top with fruit on it.  I loved it because it had a watermelon on it.  I'm wearing it in the picture with my dad and the flounder.


Favorite Childhood Movie and/or TV show: 

  Saturday afternoon, 2:00pm, Dr.Shock hosted classic horror movies. Ah, Boris Karloff, Vincent Price and Lon Chaney!  I never missed it.  As a youngster, my favorite TV show was Batman,
and I wrote many-a episode for the neighborhood kids to act out.  With costumes, of course. (I played Robin.) As a teen, I enjoyed Dark Shadows
reruns and Monty Python.  Laugh-In was a regular, as well as The Carol Burnett Show. And I watched Laurence Welk with my grandmother.  Yep, I was
an eclectic kid.


Favorite Childhood Book:  

Miss Osbourne, the Mop.  I found a copy of it at alibris.com a couple of years ago.  It was still as wonderful as I remembered it.

 


Favorite Childhood Activity/Pastime:   

Reading or hanging out with the guys. My neighborhood consisted of almost all boys, and for years, I believed I was a boy. Well, not really, I just wished I was a boy. They had all the great toys. And anything they could do, I could do. I still believe I grew up in the best neighborhood in the world.


Childhood Hero:  

My next door neighbor, Todd Waddington.  He was one of my best friends and the most creative person I knew. Todd created really cool games, like "A Hand in the Dark." Very scary, of course. His 8mm movies were great fun to film and even more fun to watch. He introduced me to Alfred Hitchcock, Judy Garland, Janice Joplin and Bette Davis.  We baked cookies and did chemistry homework. We laughed ourselves silly. Todd was never afraid to be himself.  He was always there for me. I will never forget his rendition of "Mama, Look Sharp" from the musical, 1776.


    

Headshot_for_site

Pam, Mrs. Congeniality

Anything else you want to share with your readers/parents about your childhood and how it relates to the type of writing you do now?

I don't really write the stuff I enjoyed as a kid.  But everything I did prepared me for writing.  Before I could write stuff down on paper, I was
making up stories for my little sister.  I wrote most of the skits for our Girl Scout troop and church youth group.  When I couldn't find a Christmas
pageant for our small church, I began writing them. My favorite subject in school was English. Looking back, God was grooming me for a writing career.


Life interrupted my writing dreams for a while, and I took the long way to get here, but God doesn't waste anything.


If I may address parents who are reading:

"Please don't ever discourage your child's dreams no matter how far out they may seem. Most of us will grow out of "childish" goals, but you never know what God has planned.  His plans and purpose will stand regardless, but the best thing you can give your children is encouragement. I tell my daughter, if you don't dream big, nothing big will ever happen to you."

Check out Pam's books and see the blog of the illustrator of her book, Kim Sponaugle:

doll

Written by Pam Halter
Illustrated by Kim Sponaugle

Christianbook.com Price: $5.49

Concordia Publishing House
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 32
Publication Date: 2001
ISBN-10: 057007116X
13: 978-0570071167

Synopsis:

The Adventures of Beatrice teaches little girls to see God in life's difficulties. Let's see what happens to her today! Beatrice is sad. The children at school laughed at her, and it hurts. God takes care of her every need, just like the lilies in the field. But her mother has a surprise to help Beatrice. Beatrice has a special message at the end of this book about Jesus. Watch for it!

PURCHASE ONLINE NOW

The Adventures of Beatrice: Beatrice Loses Her Doll

Want to have a chance to win THIS BOOK? Pam has generously donated an autographed copy of this book, Beatrice Loses Her Doll. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment below for Pam by naming ONE challenge she had as a child. I'll draw a winner on Saturday, Dec. 15th!


Written by Pam Halter
Illustrated by Kim Sponaugle

Christianbook.com Price: $5.49

Concordia Publishing House
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 32
Publication Date: 2001
ISBN: 0570071178
ISBN-13: 9780570071174

Synopsis:

The Adventures of Beatrice teaches little girls to see God in life's difficulties. Let's see what happens to her today. Beatrice has looked everywhere! Under her bed. In the closet. In the toy box. Dolly is missing! Where could Dolly be? As Beatrice searches, she remembers how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves and protects her. Beatice has a special message at the end of this book about Jesus. Watch for it!

PURCHASE ONLINE NOW

Extension on the Successful Small Groups book drawing!



A few of you left comments on Teena Stewart's Kid Interview to have a chance to win her free book. Well! She decided to "sweeten the pot," due to getting ready to leave for a new adventure in missions soon.

Not only will you win a free book, but also free coffee and a mug! See, Teena and her husband, Jeff, are selling out in California and moving across the country to open a coffee house ministry. What if you could minister to those who might never take a chance to walk inside a church, but would go to a coffee shop to talk about Jesus?




Jeff and Teena wanted to do this and have years of experience as pastors and in ministry (thus, Teena's book on Small Groups) and now have taken a huge leap of faith to do this. You can help here, but Teena wants the winner to get the first cuppa coffee, thus throwing in the extra treat with her book.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Sign up for a chance at that book and the coffee and pass the word along. Click here to sign up--I've added a few more days and won't draw a winner until Friday.




Successful Small Groups: From Concept to Practice(Beacon Hill) on small groups in stores and available right now.


Teena's latest book is for leading small groups in church and ministry:

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Book Drawing Winner

Mona Hodgson's BOOK DRAWING Winner!!

How Did Bible Heroes Pray?

bibleHeroes



Congratulations to--
Kyndra, who has won the autographed hardcover copy of How Did Bible Heroes Pray? by Mona Hodgson.

Don't forget to leave a comment on Teena M. Stewart's interview because you have two more days to win her book, Successful Small Groups From Concept to Practice.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Teena Stewart...A Kid Who Grew Up to Write and Be a Small Groups Expert

This photo shows Teena with her siblings before her baby sister entered the scene. She's the skinny kid in the dress.

Teena remembers about the photo: "We had a neighborhood 4th of July parade and there was a contest for best theme. My dad chose To Market, To Market to Buy a Fat Pig or something about a farmer taking pigs to market. I was the farmer's wife and my older sister, Vicki, was the farmer. I really didn't wear glasses. I think those were an old pair of sunglasses. Dad made pigs out of Clorox bottles and stuck them on my brother's and sister's heads.

When Teena Stewart was growing up in Virginia, she never expected she would ever leave. But one day she met an exciting American-Scotsman and married him, and it was off on adventures with her pastor-husband from Virginia to Pennsylvania to Colorado to California to Scotland, and who knows where next? Moss doesn't grow under the Stewarts' feet, and certainly not under Teena's. No matter how long she stays in one place, she is moving. Her next move? To head up a coffee shop ministry on the East Coast! She and husband Jeff are pulling up stakes in California to follow God's calling once again.

Today Teena, a writer who has penned over 1000 articles, as well as short stories, fiction and ezines, and then finds time to head up ministries from one ocean to the other, still finds occasions to dress up. If we could get her three grown-up kids to talk to us, they'd tell us of the many funny skits and "dress-up" occasions, like posing for the famous Stewart Christmas cards, to be much like what Teena's dad instigated in a Fourth of July parade.

But Teena is shy and humble about what she does--even though her lifetime of work thus far speaks volumes about her talents. She has a B.A. degree in fine arts and paints portraits of pets, furniture that would make Mary Englebreit feature her if she only knew about her work, and she designs anything--from logos that appear on blogs, to web designs and web sites--well, Teena is an artist, too.

So what can we find out about Teena Stewart as a child that molded a woman so extremely talented who has a new book out--Successful Small Groups from Concept to Practice ? She's still shy, even though she can speak in front of groups with boldness about the God she serves, and topics that drive her passions.

Childhood Ambition: To be a ballerina

Fondest Memory (then): Riding my pony

Proudest Moment (now): Becoming a mom

Biggest Challenge as a child or teen: Extremely shy + severe asthma

My First Job: Clerical worker for the Department of the Navy in Arlington, VA

Childhood indulgence: Moravian Sugar Cake

Recipe from Chef Rick site:

Moravian Sugar Cake
1 package dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1 cup hot, unseasoned mashed potatoes

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

5-6 cups sifted flour

Brown sugar

Butter

Cinnamon

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix together mashed potatoes, sugar, shortening, butter, and salt in a large bowl. Add yeast mixture and stir until blended. Cover mixing bowl and set aside to rise in a warm place until spongy. Stir in eggs and enough sifted flour to make a soft dough. Shape dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and allow to rise until double in bulk--about 2 hours.


Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Divide dough in half and spread out evenly in 2 greased baking pans, 13x9x2". Set aside to rise again. When double in bulk, use your fingers to make holes 1 1/2" to 2" apart all over the dough. Fill holes with brown sugar and generous pieces of butter. Sprinkle cinnamon over entire cake. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Because of the size of the cake, it is usually cut in halves to wrap for giving. Cakes can be frozen and reheated for serving. Makes 2 cakes, each 13x9".

Favorite Outfit as a child:Dress up clothes--my mom's open-toed black heels and white curtain sheers with red lipstick to match

[Crystal editor's note: Wish we had a photo of her in that! Scarlett O'Hara, move over!]

Favorite Childhood Movie: Pinocchio

Favorite Childhood Book: Little Black, a Pony

Childhood hero: My Dad

Childhood pastime: Playing Tin Can Hide



While growing up, I never expected to: move away from Virginia

Teena Stewart writes a monthly column for DreamBuilders Ministry in Motion's MIM Ezine, a place where those in ministry--whether pastor or other staff members in churches--can go to find solutions, support and materials and ideas and ministry resources. What she didn't include in her information for me is that she created and continues to develop this ministry, and she then was able to recruit others into keeping it going. Don't know what your spiritual gifts are? Teena has answers. If you need some help and support on raising your teen, Teena (alone and with her sometime co-author) covers that.

If you are interested in writing for Dreambuilders, check out the writers' guidelines.
She has published and written numerous suspenseful short stories and fiction, and started a blog covering the topic of suspense fiction called Whispers in the Darkness.


And look into Java Journey as Teena and husband, Jeff, are getting ready to embark on a coffee house ministry.


Whatever Teena turns her attention to, you can bet she will soon be an expert, and her blog explores the gamut on fiction books and within the genres of mystery and suspense. If you have an interest in this type of writing, check out this blog.

Here is just some of her work that is available in book form:

Soul Matters for Mothers

The World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Marriage and Moneywith Jeff Stewart and Larry Burkett

God's Way book series

Her publication credits also include but are not limited to: Discipleship Journal, Leadership Journal, Minister’s Family Magazine, Ministry Magazine, Woman Alive, Woman's Touch and many other publications.



Teena's passions have caused her to write so many articles, she seriously has lost track of the number, but now she is turning her writing to books and Successful Small Groups: From Concept to Practice(Beacon Hill) on small groups was released in November 2007.




Teena's latest book is for leading small groups in church and ministry:

Order this book now or leave a comment and enter a drawing for this book which I will draw on December 11th. The names will be drawn from this blog and also the Chat 'n' Chew Cafe' blog. Sorry, you must have a U.S. address.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Mona Hodgson...A Kid Who Grew Up to Write for Kids

Mona_Dad

Little Mona with her daddy, who was a California Highway Patrolman (CHiPs!)

Mona Hodgson has written beautiful children's picture books. You can see a long list of them at the end of this interview. I've given her books as gifts myself, and they are always wonderfully received.

She didn't plan on being a children's author when she was growing up--she just lived her life as a child, which gave her a firm foundation.Camping trips, mission trips, backyard Bible adventures and living with her three sisters and parents, Mona's curiosity about her world served her well when she finally answered the call to write books. Her parents, as you will see, gave her that foundation.

Her dad was a real "CHiP": California Highway Patrolman. Back in the '70s we watched the show, CHiPs on TV, and the life Mona's dad lived was worthy of being a hero, both on the highway and at home with his girls, or helping others learn about Jesus.

If you are looking for a beautiful picture book to give to a child this Christmas, you have some wonderful choices here. And look below to see which book Mona is giving away in a drawing here on this blog! 

What was Mona like as a child?

Childhood Ambition:     

I wanted to be a nurse like my Aunt Marian and my cousin Irene. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of hurting people. Then I met Bob, my husband of 35 years. My plans changed and I was 30 when a desire to be a writer surfaced. As a child, I'd enjoyed words and writing, but being a "writer" hadn't been an option, even a consideration.


Fondest Memory (then): 

Camping with my dad and my sisters at Lake Arrowhead, California and a family camping vacation at Lake Sabrina in California.


Proudest Moment (then):

When I caught my first fish while fishing at a lake with my dad. I never did get comfortable with skewering a worm on the hook, but  getting myself to wait for a fish to take the bait and then reel it in with my dad beaming beside me was a proud moment.


Biggest Challenge as a Child or Teen:  

Besides living through the 8th grade? The biggest challenge as a child and into my adulthood was reconciling the doctrine of "appearances" and "performance" with freedom in Christ. Living in the freedom I have in Jesus Christ through His grace and God's mercy remains a challenge that requires intentionality. It's not natural to live and breathe in the belief that you can't and don't have to earn God's favor; that it truly is a free gift because of Jesus' sacrificial death on the Cross and His victorious resurrection.


My First Job:

When I was 16, I waitressed at Diane's Cafe in Temecula, California, a small diner where my dad ocassionally took his lunch breaks.


Childhood Indulgence:

Wearing red nail polish with my Granny.


Favorite Outfit as a Child:

A red and black print sundress my mom made for me, and matching ones for my sisters.


Favorite Childhood Movie: 

I remember piling in the back of our pickup truck at a drive-in theater once, maybe twice, but that was the extent of my movie going until after I left home. "Dr. Kildaire" was my favorite TV show. Knowing what I know of myself in my early teen years, I'm guessing that his image is what really cemented my ambition to be a nurse. =-O It's probably a good thing that my plans changed.


Favorite Childhood Book: 

Clip Clop by  by Nancy Hoag was one of my favorite books as a child. My sisters and I had a stack of picture books we read over and over again. As a teenager, I devoured Grace Livingston Hill novels.


Favorite Childhood Activity:

I loved to roller skate and ride my bicycle. On rainy days, reading was my favorite pastime.


Childhood Hero:

Dad was a California Highway Patrolman, working to make the world safe.


Did you have a favorite childhood Bible story?

Esther. Her story is one of displacement, loss, beauty, intrigue, courage, and obedience. Her story showed me that God provides and He does have a plan for redemption.


Anything else as a child that affected the author you became? Any special memories that contributed to today's work as a children's author?

My mom and dad had hearts for children. Not just for their own four, but for children throughout our communities and throughout the world. I participated in many children's camps where Dad was the camp director and Mom was the Bible teacher. My mom held Good News Clubs in our home from the time I was in elementary school.

In my teens, I became involved as a leader in children's ministries--Sunday School teacher, a camp counselor, and a Backyard Bible Club leader. My parents took our family to visit orphanages in Tecate, Mexico and I went on a couple of  short term missions trips with my dad. My parents encouraged me and my sisters to step out of our little world and into the bigger picture of God's Kingdom.

monahodgson2

Books available by Mona Hodgson:


Real Girls of the Bible: A Devotional (Zonderkidz, Feb 2008) 

(Notice that this book is releasing in February 2008, so look for it then!)

real_girls_cover
Bedtime in the Southwest



I Wonder Who Hung the Moon in the Sky

moon

I Wonder Who Stretched the Giraffe’s Neck

giraffe           
I Wonder How Fish Sleep

fish
I Wonder How God Made Me

made


I Wonder How God Hears Me

hears
I Wonder What I Can Give God

give
Hide & Seek: A Devotional

hideseek

Desert Critter Friends Series

Friendly Differences

diff
Thorny Treasures
Sour Snacks
Smelly Tales

smelly

Clubhouse Surprises
Desert Detectives

detect
Jumping Jokers

jokers


Campout Capers

campout
Sticky Statues
Goofy Glasses

file000
Crabby Critters

crabby
Spelling Bees

bees
Mona's books are available through www.monahodgson.com or at your favorite bookstore.


Mona says: It is my pleasure to schedule school visits each year and to speak at events for girls. With the anticipation of the February 2008 release of my newest book, Real Girls of the Bible: A Devotional, I'm already booking Real Girls Retreats -- a day of fun for girls and the women in their lives.

(Now that sounds like a lot of fun! Check out Mona's web site. These are events in Arizona.)

BOOK DRAWING!!

How Did Bible Heroes Pray?

bibleHeroes

Would you like to win this beautiful autographed hard cover edition of  Mona's books? Leave a comment and tell us what Mona's favorite Bible story was as a child--and your favorite Bible story as a child, if you had one. PLEASE leave your email address in this form Name[at]yourISP[dot]com and I'll email the winner whom I will draw on December 8, Saturday. (U.S. addresses only, sorry.)

Feel free to leave Mona a comment, even if you are not entering the drawing, too!

Winners of Lori Z. Scott's Books

The winners of Meghan Rose on Stage are Anonymous MopsMomof4 and Karina Fabian.

I have emailed Anonymous MopsMom, but do not have contact info for Karina Fabian. You have 24 hours, Karina, to email me with your contact info at
crystal.mrsinewa[at]gmail[dot]com to claim your book.

Thanks for the comments! Look for two more children's books when I post the interview with Mona Hodgson!

Meghan Rose on Stage! 

stagecover

  • Details of Meghan Rose on Stage!
  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Paperback: 79 pages
  • Publisher: Standard Publishing Company (July 2, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0784721033
  • ISBN-13: 978-0784721032
  • Finally, Winners of Susan K. Marlow's Books



    Above: Susan and a horse friend


    "Courage is being scared to death--but saddling up anyway."


    We finally got replies from two in the drawing for Susan K. Marlow's books, The Long Ride Home and Dangerous Decision.

    Congrats to Karen and Holly K.! They will each receive one autographed book.

    Thanks for participating!

    Thursday, November 29, 2007

    Lori Z. Scott...Kids Who Grew Up to Write for Kids

    A Kid Who Grew Up to Write for Kids: Lori Z. Scott

    Lori's_Birthdays0005

    Happy Birthday, Lori! (Way back when) 

    Lori Scott achieved two of her childhood ambitions--to be a teacher and a writer.  Her illustrator for her book, a guy named Stacy Curtis, at least got Lori's  Meghan Rose into the form of a cartoon character, so the characters she wrote about are in cartoon-form (she wanted to be a cartoonist, too.)

    The first book was released in July of 2007 from Standard Publishing (ages 4-8) with several more coming out this next year. While Lori now has books for the children, she also has written tons of devotionals for moms and writes articles, too.

    Lori's books are delightful and she has sent TWO copies of Meghan Rose on Stage! for a drawing. I will select two winners (from the U.S. only) from comments left here. Be sure to include in your comment what Lori's favorite indulgences are. Some early reader will love this book.

    Let's find out about Lori as a child:

     

    Childhood Ambition:

    Growing up, I wanted to be a teacher (classroom or music), an artist (specifically a cartoonist), or maybe a writer.

    Fondest Memory:

    I have so many fond memories, but I’ll narrow it down!

    First, I remember laughter. After dinner, our family used to sit around the table telling jokes. My dad’s a hoot, so we had a grand time! My sisters and I also put on performances (music or skits) peppered with a large dose of humor. (Part of our living room was upraised, and it served as our stage.)

    Second, I remember playing. I played Scrabble for hours with my grandparents, card games with relatives, volleyball with my dad, and space monsters on the monkey bars with my friends.

    Finally, I remember love. My parents always supported and encouraged me to follow my interests and dreams AND they always made me feel unique and wonderful. As one singer put it, love was in our house, and our house was full.

    Proudest Moment:

    As an adult, my proudest moment was giving birth to my children. As a child, my proudest moment would have to be…hmmm…being born. No, honestly, I have had so many blessings in my life, it would take too long to list them all.

    Wedding_with_Jim

    Lori as the Bride

    Biggest Challenge as a Child or Teen:

    You’ll probably find this hard to believe, but I don’t view challenges in a negative light. For me, most challenges came in the form of music or sports competition, and those, of course, I embraced with fierce determination. Whenever I stepped on the court or picked up my instrument, I did so with the conviction that I was the best player in the room…whether or not I actually was! LOL. Even the intense training helped me become a highly disciplined person.

    I suppose I faced my biggest challenge when I was almost out of the teen years. I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. But, as I said, even the challenge of living with a chronic disease proved to be a blessing. I faced the disease with the same fierce determination and discipline I developed growing up. Because of that, diabetes helped me develop compassion, understanding, and a healthy dose of humility.

    My First Job:

    In college, I worked in the college post office. My first out of college job was as an elementary teacher.

    Childhood Indulgence:

    I LOVED ice cream and reading comic books.

    Favorite Outfit as a Child:

    In Kindergarten I owned a pair of bell-bottomed Raggedy Ann jeans. I loved them because they could stand up on their own, which reminded me of the Dr. Seuss story, “What Was I Scared Of?” about a pair of scary, pale blue pants with nobody inside them.

    Favorite Childhood Movie:

    The Aristocats. I still remember watching it in the movie theater.

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    Yep, I caught that fish all by myself!

    Favorite Childhood Book:

    Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

    Favorite Chapter Books of Childhood:

    Nancy Drew mysteries (my dad used to deliver newspapers to the author when he was a kid—just thought I’d throw that tidbit in there…) and, later on, The Hobbit

    Favorite Childhood Teacher Who Inspired You:

    Besides my mom and dad, who were both teachers? Probably Mr. Debes. He was my band director, and he rocked. His passion motivated him to work hard…and inspired his students to follow suit.

    Favorite Childhood Activity:

    Drawing. Though I never took formal art lessons, I devoured those “How to Draw” books. I still love to doodle. In fact, I can draw with both hands at the same time! (It’s a cool trick kids love.)

    Lori_slides0014

    These are my babies now, but when I grow up they will be real!

    Childhood Hero:

    Batman (I loved that show! POW! CRASH!) My real life heroes would be my parents, and I always held a special fondness for my Grandma Wright.

    Any other Childhood Tidbits:

    • I grew up with three sisters. Our television only got two channels—maybe three on a good day—so we spent a lot of time playing together. They are still my favorite people, and I used the names of their children for characters in the Meghan Rose books.
    • My mom said I had an imaginary dog that sat on top of the refrigerator, although I don’t remember it. However, my own daughter has a roomful of imaginary friends, so it’s possible! My character Meghan Rose carries that same strong imagination with her.
    • In second grade, I colored the entire surface of my desk at school. My teacher didn’t appreciate my stunning artwork and made me clean all the desks in the room. That’s just the type of thing my character Meghan Rose might do…and the exact thing Mrs. Arnold (Meghan Rose’s teacher) would do.
    • In high school, I wrote “The Adventures of Super Cat” cartoon up and down the margins of my science notebook. Super Cat still inspires me…he turned up in my winning MOPS entry, in my first children’s short story publication, and in the Meghan Rose series. Maybe someday my illustrator, Stacy Curtis, will make Super Cat (and the villainous Poultry Gang) into a comic book series! Wouldn’t that be something?
    • As a kid, I was always making up lame jokes. In the Meghan Rose series, my character Ryan reflects that joking side of me. I also make up the jokes on my web site and explain to kids how they can make up their own jokes.
    • I love fun words! My dad used to recite “Jabberwocky” to us, as well as other crazy songs and rhymes. You see some of that word play reflected in the jump rope chants Meghan Rose makes up.

    How the books came to be:

    I taught in the public schools for nine years, then retired so I could stay at home and raise my kids. It was during my time off of teaching that I came across an amateur science fiction/fantasy writing contest. I decided to enter.

    It’s hard to describe how creating that first story felt. I suppose it mirrored how Alice felt in Wonderland after chasing the rabbit into a hole and falling into an enchanted world. It’s amazing to me that simple words, woven together in just the right way, can capture and hold a certain kind of magic.
    At any rate, my story won second place. Encouraged by my success, I entered a MOPS International story writing contest…and WON! After that, I joined a writer’s group, started learning more about the publishing industry, and eventually landed a contract from Standard Publishing for my new children’s fiction series.

    The Meghan Rose series is especially unique because I didn’t write the books with publication in mind. I wrote the books because my daughter asked me to write them. (When she was in first grade, we wanted an entertaining chapter book and a main character she could relate to. I also wanted God to figure into the equation. When I couldn’t find a book like that, my daughter told me to write it myself. So I did!)

    Later, through various conversations with bookstore owners, other mothers, and editors, I found out there were a lot of mothers like me out there looking for a book like Meghan Rose on Stage. I took the next logical step and pitched the book series to editors at a writer’s conference.

    And now the first two titles in that series—MEGHAN ROSE ON STAGE and MEGHAN ROSE HAS ANTS IN HER PANTS—are on the bookshelves. Two more are on the way later this year! The books are funny (I figure, if it doesn’t amuse me, why write it?) and bursting with energy. The main character, Meghan Rose, is a strong, out-spoken first grader. Her bubble-gum blowing, best buddy Ryan and silly, duck-loving pal Kayla help round out the cast.

    So far, I’ve found that even though the stories are chapter books, most kids read them in one sitting because they just can’t stop!

     

    Article by Lori Z. Scott online:

    Shape Up Your Career: Nine Success Qualities

    Other books and things about Lori:

    Lori Z. Scott, author of Busy Moms’ Devotions To Go, has contributed to over a dozen books, including Real Moms and 2007 Eppie Award winning science fiction book, Infinite Space, Infinite God. A freelance writer and former first grade teacher, Lori has also published thirty-plus devotions, short stories, poems, articles, and puzzles for children, teens, and adults.

     

     

    Lori_Indian_River0050

    Lori talking to a group of kids

     

    Lori Z. Scott's Books:

    Meghan Rose Has Ants in Her Pants 

    antscover

    Meghan Rose on Stage! 

    stagecover

  • Details of Meghan Rose on Stage!
  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Paperback: 79 pages
  • Publisher: Standard Publishing Company (July 2, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0784721033
  • ISBN-13: 978-0784721032
  • To win a copy (one of two) of Meghan Rose on Stage! leave a comment telling us what Lori's favorite indulgences as a child were (and name one of yours!) Check back here on Saturday for the winners.