I’m delighted to announce that the winner of last week’s special giveaway, a brand new copy of LITTLE MOLE’S CHRISTMAS GIFT is…
Melissa D!!
Congratulations! I will be in touch with you today so we can get the book to you.
Thank everyone who took the time to comment. And thank you to Glenys for writing the book and to Beaming Books for publishing it and providing today’s winning copy. Happy reading and writing, and remember that signs of hope are everywhere. Blessings all!
I’m delighted to announce that the winner of this week’s special giveaway, a signed copy of HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE PURPOSE: THE SIX-STEP JOURNEY TO GOD’ BEST by Rev. Noelle Kirchner, M. Div. is…
Ginny N.!!!
Congratulations! I will be in touch with you today so Noelle can get the book to you.
Thank you, Noelle for writing this thoughtful study in the first place, and for providing the winning copy!
Happy reading all!
I’m delighted to announce that the winner of last week’s special giveaway, a brand new copy of EL AMOR ES BONDADOSO (Vida Editorial, 2019) written by Laura Sassi and illustrated by Lison Chaperon is…
Pamela H!!
Congratulations! I will be in touch with you shortly so we can get the book to you.
Thank everyone who took the time to comment. Happy reading and writing, and keep spreading love and kindness!
I’m delighted to announce that the winner of last week’s special giveaway, a brand new copy of LITTLE MOLE FINDS HOPE is…
Debbie A!!
Congratulations! I will be in touch with you today so we can get the book to you.
Thank everyone who took the time to comment. And thank you to Glenys for writing the book and to Beaming Books for publishing it and providing today’s winning copy. Happy reading and writing, and remember that signs of hope are everywhere. Blessings all!
I’m delighted to announce that the winner of last week’s special giveaway, a brand new copy of Amy Hout’s picture book, GOD’S PROTECTION COVERS ME, published by Beaming Books, and illustrated by David Creighton-Pester is…
Annette!!!!!
Congratulations! I will be in touch with you so we can get the book to you.
Thanks again, Amy, for stopping by to chat about the book and for providing the winning copy. Happy reading, all!
Oh, and there’s a GIVEAWAY for one brand new copy of LOVE IS KIND!
I’m delighted to announce that the winner of last week’s special giveaway, a fresh off the press two-book bundle of Glenys Nellist’s adorable new board books, GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL and GOD MADE DADDY SPECIAL, illustrated by Estelle Corke and published by Zonderkidz, is…
Jennifer S.!!!!!
Congratulations! I will be in touch with you today so we can get the book to you.
Thanks again, Glenys, for sharing your five fun facts about your newest books. I’d also like to thank Zonderkidz for providing the winning book bundle. Happy Friday, all!
Today I’m delighted to feature the wonderful Glenys Nellist as my guest. Glenys is the author 12 fabulous books – including her best-selling LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD series with five books out and more on the way. She’s also the author of the adorable SNUGGLE TIME series. Last December, she was here for an interview to celebrate the release of her clever and gorgeous ‘TWAS THE EVENING OF CHRISTMAS, a heart-warming Christmas tale told to the cadence of Clement C. Moore’s famous poem. And today we’re here to celebrate the release of two darling rhyming board books that celebrate the special bonds between and mothers/children and fathers/children. With simple rhyming text and sweet illustrations, these are sure to be a perennial hit. And now, as a fun way of introducing the books, here’s Glenys with FIVE FUN FACTS about the books. (And be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!) Take it away, Glenys!
FIVE Fun Facts About GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL & GOD MADE DADDY SPECIAL
by Glenys Nellist
FUN FACT #1: They Weren’t my Idea!
That’s right—you did read that correctly… GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL and GOD MADE DADDY SPECIAL were not my idea! Almost three years ago I pitched a new children’s book manuscript to my editor and anxiously awaited her response. When it came, it went something like this:
Hi Glenys, thanks for submitting your new book proposal. Unfortunately, it’s not a good fit for us at the moment. However… I am looking for new titles featuring mommies & daddies. If you have any ideas for those sorts of books, I’ll be happy to take a look.
Any author would be crazy not to give their editor what they are looking for… and the books were born! Now, whenever my editor and I meet for lunch, I always ask her this five-word question: What are you looking for? Then I come home and try to write it.
FUN FACT #2: Why the Mommy Cover Has a Heart-Shaped ‘O’…
Take a peek at the cover of GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL…
Can you guess why the ‘O’ is heart-shaped? It’s because in England, where I’m from, and where I’ll shortly be marketing the book, we don’t say Mom. Instead, we say Mum. So the marketing team at Zonderkidz decided to shape the ‘O’ so that it could also be seen as a ‘U’. Aren’t they clever?
FUN FACT #3: The Books Can Be Used in a Fun Guessing Game
One of my favorite things to do as an author is to visit schools and read to children. With these books, I’ve found a wonderful guessing game that children LOVE to participate in. Before showing them the pictures, I read each poem and they have to guess the animal. Listen carefully, I tell them. The clues are in the words.
Try it with your little one. Read this poem and have them guess the daddy animal. (Answer below)
Come and meet my daddy
He stands up nice and tall.
And even though he’s on one leg,
I’ve never see him fall.
Every time I wobble,
He helps me stand up straight.
God made Daddy special—
He’s really, really great!
FUN FACT #4: The Illustrations are Better Than I Imagined
It’s a very scary thing for an author to hand their manuscript over and trust that the illustrator will be a good fit. I needn’t have worried at all with these books! Estelle Corke did a FABULOUS job, especially with Daddy Skunk, which is my favorite part of the daddy book! 
FUN FACT #5: There Might Be a Grandma and Grandpa Version in the Wings…
Sshh… don’t tell anyone, but I already have GOD MADE GRANDMA SPECIAL and GOD MADE GRANDPA SPECIAL written in my head! Depending on sales of the mommy and daddy books, then I’m hoping that Grandma and Grandpa will be joining them on the shelves… fingers crossed for that!
Thank you, Glenys, for those five fun facts. And best wishes for your continued success!
BIO: Coordinator of Children’s Ministry for the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. Zondervan children’s book author of twelve titles, including two popular series: Love Letters from God and Snuggle Time. Glenys is a writer with a passion for God, her family, and children’s ministry. Find out more about Glenys and her books here:
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!!
If you’d like a chance to win a FREE two-book bundle that includes one copy each of GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL and GOD MADE DADDY SPECIAL both written by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Estelle Corke, let me know in a comment below. (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident with a street address (as opposed to a P.O. Box and at least 18 years old to enter.) The giveaway ends Monday, 5/21/18 at 12:01 am EST. The winner will be announced that day!
Finally… the answer to the poem in FUN FACT #3 is: Daddy Flamingo!
To celebrate the upcoming release of DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE, Sterling Children’s Books is giving away FIVE copies in a pre-release Goodreads Giveaway!
Here’s the scoop: Written by Laura Sassi and illustrated by Rebecca Gerlings, DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE tells the story of a new diva and the little mouse who wants to help her, but thinks she deserves BIGGER help than a mouse! Celebrating artistic collaboration and the importance of even the smallest helping hands, it makes a lovely addition to any home, school, or library collection.
Giveaway ends Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – release day! Click here to get to the GOODREADS GIVEAWAY page. And if you’re not on Goodreads yet, sign up! It’s loads of fun. US residents only for giveaway, per Goodreads rules.
Tell all your friends. Good luck!
I’m delighted to announce that the winner of this week’s special giveaway, a brand new copy of Glenys Nellist’s and Elena Selivanova’s beautiful picture book ‘TWAS THE EVENING OF CHRISTMAS, published by Zonderkidz, is…
AMY!!!!!
Congratulations! I will be in touch with you today so we can get the book to you.
Thanks again, Glenys and Elena, for sharing your thoughts with us in this week’s interview. I’d also like to thank everyone who took the time to comment and to my daughter, once again, for lending me one of her snazzy hats for the drawing.
