MONDAY JOY! I have a new Tender Heart book releasing with Paraclete Press October 1, 2024 and the cover is just starting to pop up on the web, so I thought I’d share it here too. The third in the My Tender Heart series, the book is called MY TENDER HEART DEVOTIONS and it’s something I was working on last winter and spring. Teaching our children that they can connect with God by turning to Him daily through prayer and Bible time is so important, and something that has been on my heart for a long time. Hasn’t illustrator, Sandra Eide, done a terrific job on the cover capturing the joy of those three young tender hearts as they snuggle in to read God’s Word? Here’s the scoop from Paraclete Press: My Tender Heart Devotions offers 52 age-appropriate meditations for toddlers and preschoolers, including Bible verses and prayer. Using concrete, everyday experiences or objects that little ones can relate to, each weekly reflection is easy to understand and prompts conversation about God’s goodness and love. Written in catchy rhyme, an opening poem is followed by a short devotional that includes a Bible passage, a playful “Heart Moment” activity, and a prayer. Here are two easy ways you can help let others know about the book (and make this author’s heart overflow with gratitude.)
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Do you like to read book dedications? They are typically found on the page just before or just after the title page. It’s something I like to do for every book I read because dedications often provide a window into the heart of the author or illustrator. That is especially the case for the book I’m sharing today.
GOD, I FEEL SCARED (Zonderkidz, 2023) is the second in a series written by Michelle Nietert, LPC-S and Tama Fortner and illustrated by Nomar Perez. Like their first collaboration GOD, I FEEL SAD, this book is a kid-friendly exploration of feelings and how kids can work through those emotions in a healthy, God-centered way.
Here’s the blurb from the back cover:
“Kids have big feelings, but none of their feelings are too big for God. Through kid-friendly text and bright illustrations, children can safely explore what it means to feel scared, discover healthy ways to process their emotions, and learn that feeling scared is something they can face, especially with the help of God and those around them.”
I’m a big fan of GOD, I FEEL SCARED and was so touched by what each wrote in their dedications that I reached out to see if they’d be willing to share the back story behind the dedications. And what was the answer? Yes!
So now, without further fuss, here’s author Tama Fortner with the story behind the dedications. Take it away, Tama!
The Stories Behind the Stories: God, I Feel Scared
By Tama Fortner
They say there’s a little bit of every author’s story tucked into the books they write. And for picture books, I would add there’s a bit of the illustrator shining through too.
But I’ll let you in on a little secret: if you want a glimpse of the stories behind the stories, take a peek at the dedications. They’re easy to miss. In God, I Feel Scared, they’re tucked away on the copyright page. But those few little words reveal a lot about Michelle, Nomar, and me.
Here’s an excerpt from Michelle’s dedication:
To Tama, my co-author and now friend. I’m so glad you found that email in your spam folder.
Yes, you read that right! This is the story of how Michelle and I first met—when her email landed in my spam folder and stayed there for weeks before I found it. To me, it’s beautiful proof of how God uses all things for the good of His people. Even “junk” emails.
Now, check out Nomar’s dedication:
To God, for allowing me to use my talents and skills to bring this timely message to light and make a difference in the lives of those who have put their trust in Him.
Without a doubt, Nomar will tell you, it is God who has ordered his steps and enabled him to write and illustrate stories that contribute to God’s kingdom. He is beyond grateful to be able to use his gifts to point littles ones (and their bigs) to the Lord.
And my own dedication? It’s a simple one:
To the One who brightens the darkness around me (Psalm 18:28).
I stumbled across this verse a few years ago while working on another picture book, God Is Always Good. And it’s been tucked away in my heart ever since. Because there’s just so much darkness in this world, isn’t there? So many things to worry about and to fear.
But God.
Two of the best words ever, right? God shines the light of His love into my life and chases away that darkness. And more than that, He helps me to shine, to reflect His light through the books I am so blessed to write. I can’t imagine walking through this world’s darkness without His light and love to guide my way—and I thank God that I never have to.
And neither do you.
Much love,
Tama
TAMA FORTNER is an ECPA award-winning author with more than sixty titles to her credit, including Simply Christmas: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays. Tama has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for all ages. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, where she lives with her family and a feisty little pup who is convinced he’s people too. To learn more, visit www.TamaFortner.com.
MICHELLE NIETERT has been a licensed professional counselor for over 25 years and the coauthor of the award-winning book Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls, along with God, I Feel Sad, Managing Your Emojis, and Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life, as well as the soon to be released God, I Feel Scared. To learn more about Michelle, visit www.MichelleNietert.com.
NOMAR PEREZ was born on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, in the city of Ponce, and moved with his parents and five siblings to Ohio when he was ten. Nomar is heavily influenced by all types of media, especially animation, puppetry, and computer art. He studied computer animation and painting and has illustrated numerous children’s board books and school publishing books. He is the author-illustrator of Coqui in the City. Learn more at www.NomarPerez.com.
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When my son was born at 24-weeks, he was already a little person – a precious gift from God. Weighing in at 1 lb 9oz, he was tiny, to be sure, but he had all his body parts and, as we soon, discovered, a feisty disposition. He was also very sick, so the night he was born he was whisked away to another hospital with a higher level NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and I didn’t get to see him for four long days.
I’ll never forget the moment we were reunited. The minute he heard my voice, he turned his head towards me and when I gently placed my hand in the incubator, he held on to my finger! He knew I was his mama because he’d been right there with me in my belly listening to my voice and hanging out with from the inside. He was himself – even before he was born!
Because this experience so much a part of me, when I read Courtney Siebring’s debut picture book, Little Spark of Life, I got goosebumps. Though it’s not a preemie story, it beautifully celebrates the miracle of life. Told through the lens of a mother conversing with her pre-school aged child as they expectantly await the birth of a new baby, the book is a beautiful introduction to the wonder and miracle of conception through birth. It’s a book I would have a read with my son over and over. Thank you, Courtney, for writing it!
And now, friends, enjoy the book trailer followed by an interview with Courtney with my questions bolded.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey into picture book writing.
I’ve always written, since I was a child. In school I majored in Theatre and English, and in my twenties I wrote and toured a few solo performances on the Fringe Circuit. Little Spark of Life is my first picture book and I attribute much of this venture to parenthood.
What inspired you to write Little Spark of Life?
The inspiration for Little Spark of Life came from a few places. It’s written in verse, so my long time practice of writing poetry heavily influenced the style. But in terms of where the actual idea came from, it’s a mashup of my then preschool aged daughter’s obsession with all things pregnancy and childbirth and the journey that my husband and I were delving into with the Pro-Life movement. I was simultaneously looking for age-appropriate books for my daughter about “where babies come from” and binging on content from organizations like Live Action and Students for Life. The poem that I wrote (that later became Little Spark of Life) was to my daughter, but also a response to all that I was learning in my research.
As one rhymer to another, do you find yourself thinking or talking in rhyme in everyday life? How has this shaped your writing, or hasn’t it?
What a great question! I don’t know that I’ve ever stopped to think about it before. Rhyme is something that I enjoy and especially finding rhymes and rhythms that aren’t “easy” or “obvious,” but I can’t say that I think in rhyme. A lot of the poetry I write, most of it in fact, is free verse, so there is an emphasis on phrasing and cadence, but not rhyme. I am also a voice actor, so phrasing and the “music” of a sentence is something that has become second nature to me.
Can you tell us about the illustrator? What was it like seeing your text come to full color with illustrations? Do you have a favorite spread?
I was introduced to Camila Carrossine through this project. It’s so amazing to me that someone in Colorado Springs and someone in Sao Paulo can collaborate in this way. I think Camila did a fantastic job taking the art direction (which I had so much fun detailing!) and bringing it to life. I had my daughter’s help in choosing the illustrator, which was a highlight for both of us in this process. I love the spread of mom and son cuddled up on the bed, him imagining a marching band drumming to the beat of his sister’s tiny heart.
What would you like readers to take away from this story?
I would love readers to know how purposeful their lives are and what a miracle it was that they came to be. It’s important for parents to encourage their children’s natural awe and wonder for things that are awe-inspiring and truly wonderful. I also want to preserve language that is presently under attack and being redefined – baby, boy, girl – by using such words in their proper context.
Finally, are there any special resources that go along with the book that readers might enjoy?
Yes, Paraclete has done an amazing job of putting together resources specifically related to Little Spark of Life – a growth chart, coloring pages, Bible Verse cards, and a guide from me encouraging parents and caregivers to use this book as a jumping off point for some meaningful conversations in their homes. Learn more here: https://littlesparkoflifebook.com
Thank you so much for joining me here on the blog. Best wishes for a fabulous book launch!
About the Author: Courtney Siebring is a creative artist currently living in Colorado Springs, CO, with her husband and daughter. Her devotion to Christ, background in theatre making, current work as a voiceover artist, and long time practice of writing poetry informs the way she sees and interacts with the world. Her children’s book, Little Spark of Life, is fueled by her passion for the unborn and their mamas as well as her experience as a foster and adoptive parent.
Mornings have always been my favorite time of day. The chirping birds and the rising sun beckon, filling my heart with hope and joy. And for all of my adult life, my favorite way to start each morning has been to rise early, do some stretches, fix myself a cup of tea, and settle in on my sofa for precious Bible, prayer and journal time. This was true even when my kids were teeny. The only difference was that, back then, those sessions were a little shorter because, very soon, my children would come padding down in their footed pajamas to greet the day (and me) as well. And how did we start that day together? By reading!
So when I saw that the talented mother-daughter team, Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley have a new book out, my heart quickened because it’s about greeting the morning (and GOD!) with your children. Published by Tyndale House Publishers with text by Crystal and Teri and illustrations by Anita Schmidt, Good Morning, God Loves Youis a rhyming ode to the new day and God’s love. Catchy rhyming verses are punctuated by the recurring refrain “Good morning, God loves you!” Across each spread different parent-child duos explore God’s beautiful creation and the new day. The very last line is my favorite but I won’t share it because I don’t want to spoil it for you. Let’s just say it’s the perfect response to God’s love. Well done, Crystal and Teri!
And now, I’m delighted to have Crystal and Teri here for an interview. So, without further ado, let’s get started with my questions bolded.
What inspired you to write Good Morning, God Loves You?
Teri: When my kids were little and they first woke up in the morning, I would get them out of the crib and say, “Good morning, I love you!” It was such a sweet way to start the day with them, and it made us think of how God greets us the same way every morning. We thought it would be a blessing to share that message with young children and their parents.
What a lovely way to start the day with your children and God! And the writer and mama in me loves how you took that memory and transformed it into a lovely book.
Were there any challenges along the publishing journey for this story?
Crystal: In our first draft we started the story with the morning but then followed the child throughout the day and ended with the next morning. Our editor at Tyndale thought it would be stronger to make the entire book about the morning and she was right. We love how the characters visit so many different places and in each location they sense creation saying, “Good morning, God loves you!”
I agree. Focusing on just the morning makes the story sing!
Tell us a little bit about the illustrator. Do you have a favorite spread?
Teri: Anita Schmidt is a German illustrator and she was also selected to illustrate another one of our books (not related to Good Morning, God Loves You) after this. It seems like we were meant to work together! We love the warmth of her art, the way she captures expressions so beautifully and how she shows the parent–child relationship in such a sweet way. We also love her use of light in her artwork. My favorite spread is the one of the mom and kids on the beach collecting seashells.
I love that one too. And here’s another that your mom shared.
What do you hope little ones and their families will take away from this sweet book?
Crystal: The message of God’s love is so important for everyone, no matter how old or young we are. There is no better way to start each day than by acknowledging how much God loves us. It sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Amen!Finally, since this book focuses on mornings, do you each have a favorite spot where you meet God in the morning?
Teri: I have a tufted gray chair in the corner of my room where I read my Bible and pray in the mornings. It is such a beautiful time for me to be still in the quiet of the house before my family is awake and we get ready for school and work. It has become a beloved and sacred space for me.
Crystal: My favorite spot is outdoors in God’s creation–similar to the message of this book. I love nothing more than going for a brisk morning walk and talking to God the entire time. I feel so close to Him as I see the beauty that surrounds me.
Thank you, Crystal and Teri, for joining me this morning. I have a feeling this book will be a part of many, many morning reading times!
About the Authors
Teri McKinley is the bestselling, award-winning co-author of more than a dozen children’s books. She is the creator and co-author of Our Daily Bread for Kids, Our Daily Bread for Preschoolers, and Our Daily Bread for Little Hearts. Her newest releases are My Arms Will Hold You Tightand Good Morning, God Loves You, by Tyndale House Publishers. In addition to her love for writing, Teri enjoys playing tennis with her two boys and tackling home renovation projects with her husband.
Crystal Bowman is an award-winning bestselling author of more than 100 books for children and families. She also writes lyrics for children’s piano music, stories for Clubhouse Jr. magazine, and is a writing coach for children’s writers. Her greatest desire is to teach children that God loves and cares for them very much. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their married children and eight huggable grandkids. Learn more at https://crystalbowman.com.
MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK, published by Paraclete Press and delightfully illustrated by Sandra Eide ( who also illustrated MY TENDER HEART BIBLE) releases in just over one month which means it’s time for a book trailer reveal! I think Paraclete Press did a terrific job creating this short, sweet trailer which captures beautifully the essence of the book.
And now for a few thoughts from the author (that’s me!)
MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK is the second book in the My Tender Heart series. Teaching our children that they can connect with God through prayer is something that has been on my heart for a long time and this became last summer’s special project. The book contains 23 kid-friendly poetic prayers to take a child through the day. Prayer moments include getting dressed, eating breakfast, riding in the car, taking a bath and more. Hasn’t illustrator, Sandra Eide, done a terrific job on the cover capturing the joy of those three young tender hearts as they pray?
Here are two easy ways you can help let others know about the book (and make this author’s heart overflow with gratitude.)
ANOTHER GREAT OPTION: If you order directly from the publisher and use the code SASSI you will get 20% off! Here’s the link to order from Paraclete Press.
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With six weeks to go until MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK officially releases, I’ve been busy getting ready. In anticipation, here are just a few of the things I’ve had on my to-do list:
1. Choosing which of the poems I will enlarge to be printed on vinyl to bring to school visits.
2. Deciding when and where to share the lovely endorsements the book has received so far like this one (and the one above!). Thank you, kind endorsers!
3. Scheduling school, church, and bookstore events for the fall and winter. If you would like me to visit your school, church or bookstore, please reach out to me via my contact page. I’m also offering a handful of free 20-minute virtual visits, so reach out to me there as well if that is of interest. Check out the visits I have set up so far on my Upcoming Events page.
4. Setting up a small, but enthusiastic, book launch team to do things like share the book in their communities, recommend the book for purchase at their local schools and libraries, share about the book on social media etc.
5. Arranging and then preparing for a virtual book tour that includes stops at blogs, podcasts and more. Let me know if you’d like to be one of the stops.
6. Creating extension activities and crafts for teachers/parents to use after reading MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK. (I’m so excited for Paraclete to share these. I think they might be my favorite yet!!! Stay tuned.)
7. Being intentional about connecting and engaging daily on my various social media feeds. I hope you’ll join me there. There are buttons in the header and footer here for easy connecting.
8. Preserving daily time in the midst of all this to write new stories, poem, and picture books. (I have several in progress.)
9. Remembering to BREATHE and ENJOY the process…
ONE FINAL BIT OF FUN:
MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK was just reviewed by the team at CatholicMom.com. I’m honored! Here’s the link.
Will you pre-order your copy today from Amazon or the vendor of your choice?
Note: If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to my blog using the subscribe button in the footer or sidebar. I post once or twice weekly with book news, inspirational reflections, tips, interviews and more.
What do these two gorgeous books have in common? February 7th, 2023 is their book birthday. (That’s today!) In celebration, author Natalee Creech and I are doing a double interview. First, I’ll ask her a couple of questions and then she will ask me. So, grab some virtual birthday cake (whatever flavor you like) and join us. Let’s get started…
Laura: Thank you, Natalee, for celebrating our book birthdays together. Your newest book Something: One Small Thing Can Make a Difference, published by WorthyKids, looks absolutely precious. I love its premise of exploring themes of compassion and empathy, encouraging children to take positive action in a needy world. What inspired you to write this book?
Natalee: In this case, I actually started with the title because I had written a manuscript called Everything and was in the process of publishing Nothing with WorthyKids. I examined Bible verses that contained the word something and chose Matthew 25:35,36 to base the book on. Ultimately both books are both about love: Nothing is about how nothing can separate us from God’s love, while Something is about how we can love others.
Laura: What is your hope for this book as it makes its way into the world today?
Natalee: I hope that Something inspires us to open our eyes to opportunities to love like Jesus! I hope that it is a starting point for conversations about kindness and compassion but that it doesn’t stop at conversations – that it becomes a daily practice of being observant and acting when prompted by that feeling of compassion.
Laura: I think that it will be all that and more! Congratulations, Natalee. And now let’s switch things up and have you interview me.
Natalee: I’m so glad we get to celebrate our books together, Laura! I love that each story in My Tender Heart Bible has a heart moment that is a toddler-friendly prayer thanking God for something. In a short sentence, you naturally help kids connect the Bible story to their own lives and encourage gratitude. Writing a Bible for children seems like a big responsibility! Is this your first children’s Bible? How did you decide which stories to include?
Laura: Yes, this is my first collection of Bible stories for children and I agree that it is a big responsibility! I prayed over which stories to include because I really wanted them to fit together as a collection that individually, and as a whole, would show God’s redemptive love. I also wanted include stories about God’s beloved who were both girls and boys, men and women. That’s how I decided upon Esther’s story, for example. And I wanted six from the Old Testament and six from the New Testament so that the book would be balanced in that way and could be used as an introduction for littlest ones to the whole Bible. And, of course, I had to finish with the story of Jesus’ glorious resurrection!
Natalee: What inspired you to write this book and what is your hope for it as it makes its way into the world today?
Laura: The book is inspired by memories of sitting with my own children when they were little to read or re-tell Bible stories so they could grasp just how much God loved them. These readings sparked great conversations and ended with what I like to call a “Heart Moment” that connected God’s word to their experience. It is my hope that MY TENDER HEART BIBLE will be read with little ones in homes, churches and schools as a first introduction to the Bible and God’s love.
Natalee: Happy Book Birthday, Laura! May your My Tender Heart Bible be a blessing in the lives of many!
Laura: And the same to you, Natalee!
Learn more about Natalee Creech’s new book here and more about my new book here. All of our books are available wherever books are sold.
Note: If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to my blog using the subscribe button in the footer or sidebar. I post once or twice weekly with book news, inspirational reflections, tips, interviews and more.
With less than three weeks to go until MY TENDER HEART BIBLE officially releases, I’ve been busy getting ready. In anticipation, here are just a few of the things I’ve had on my to-do list:
1. Training Teddy, who has been my special bear since I was two, to be my storytime companion. He’s holding a tooth brush because the theme of our visits will be establishing cozy bedtime routines that include brushing teeth, getting in jammies, praying and snuggling up with a favorite stuffy to read books like MY TENDER HEART BIBLE!
2. Scheduling school, library, and bookstore events for the winter and spring. If you would like me to visit your school, library or bookstore, please reach out to me via my contact page. I’m also offering a handful of free 20-minute virtual visits, so reach out to me there as well if that is of interest. Check out the visits I have set up so far on my Upcoming Events page.
3. Setting up a small, but enthusiastic, book launch team to do things like share the book in their communities, recommend the book for purchase at their local schools and libraries, share about the book on social media etc.
4. Arranging and then preparing for a virtual book tour that includes stops at blogs, podcasts and more. Let me know if you’d like to be one of the stops.
5. Creating extension activities and crafts for teachers/parents to use after reading MY TENDER HEART BIBLE.
6. Being intentional about connecting and engaging daily on my various social media feeds. I hope you’ll join me there. There are buttons in the header and footer here for easy connecting.
7. Updating my author bio info on various book-related websites.
8. Preserving daily time in the midst of all this to write new stories, poem, and picture books. (I have several in progress.)
9. Remembering to BREATHE and ENJOY the process…
LEARN MORE about the book, including links for where to purchase, on my website’s dedicated MY TENDER HEART BIBLE book page.
Note: If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to my blog using the subscribe button in the footer or sidebar. I post once or twice weekly with book news, inspirational reflections, tips, interviews and more.
In her memoir A CIRCLE OF QUIET, Madeleine L’Engle writes, “Those of us who write are responsible for the effect of our books… Like it or not, we either add to the darkness… or we light a candle to see by.” As a writer for children, I take those words to heart and I hope my my newest board book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD, will do just that.
Inspired by a favorite Christmas verse from Luke 2:19 that describes Mary’s soul-filling wonder as she pondered the events surrounding the birth of Baby Jesus, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD offers littlest readers and their caregivers a chance to slow down and point and count and marvel on each and every page as they celebrate the birth of the Light of the World.
Here I am sharing that inspiration on my porch this summer:
Happy news! The process of updating this website is almost complete, and I think it’s time to welcome you back. I hope you enjoy perusing the fresh pages and soaking up the new look. Keep in mind that I’m still working on many details including adding social media links “above the fold”. Any guesses as to what that means? The books page and links are also still a work-in-progress, but I hope to have those complete by next week.
Now here’s a fun challenge for you. Remember how I said I wanted to somehow honor my mom – whose beautiful banner graced this blog for its first ten years? Well, I figured out a way to do just that. If you discover it, please let me know in the comments section.
Finally, it’s hard to believe, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS CHILD releases in FOUR days! The virtual blog/podcast tour kicked off this week with these two wonderful blog stops.
Tour Stop #1: Have you ever wondered about the journey a book takes from inspiration to publication? Find out HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD’s journey in this post over at Kathy Temean’s blog. And while you are there, be sure to enter her giveaway for a fresh-off-the-press copy of the book. All the details are on her blog. And only a handful have entered so far… just sayin’.
Tour Stop #2: Head over to Write2Ignite for a thoughtful review of HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD by Kathy O’Neill. Also included are thoughts on “7 Ways Happy Birthday, Christmas Child Helps Us Slow Down and Allow Little Hearts and Souls to Fill with the Wonder of Jesus’ Birth.”
MONDAY JOY! I have a new Tender Heart book releasing with Paraclete Press October 1, 2024 and the cover is just starting to pop up on the web, so I thought I’d share it here too. 
Laura Sassi Tales 