We had a lovely visit with author Julie Cantrell
last week during the Sycamore Bank sponsored Reading Round Table. We found her
perspective on writing Into the Free very interesting. Can you imagine
writing a book while raising two small children, feeding a husband, keeping a
household and teaching full time? She actually got up at 3:30 a.m. and wrote
until 6:30 a.m. five days a week!
After everyone left the book club and it was just
the two of us, I asked Julie if I could purchase her two children’s books. We
have an Early Childhood Development program and the students do story time with
our collection. She mentioned them during her talk and I was intrigued.
The family had recently moved to Mississippi from
Colorado and her small daughter was having nightmares. Julie told her that she
need not be afraid, “God is always with you.” The following week they made a
book together and the two would share it before bedtime.
Julie passed the book around to family and friends
once it was no longer needed at home. After sharing it at her church, someone
said she should publish it. She found Zonderkidz books and with stock photos
published God Is with Me Through the Night.
Many moons and stars drawn on blue sky greet readers
when the board page is opened. The title page contains a photograph of an adult
and juvenile owl. The story begins, “At night I play with my family.” Below the
sentence two polar bears covered in snow look to be playing patty-cake.
Through photographs of animals, Julie’s words come
alive. For instance, above these words, “But sometimes after Mama kisses me
goodnight,” an adorable picture of an adult seal touching noses with a pup
appears. “I start to feel afraid” and readers see a small white terrier shaking
in the dark. “I hear weird noises” features a tree frog with his head cocked to
one side.
At the end of the story a short Bible verse from
Isaiah 41:10 is included. “Do not fear for I am with you.” The picture on this
page is a mother lion lounging in the grass with her cub’s head resting atop
her own.
The companion book, God Is with Me Through the Day, is equal in quality to the first. I believe everyone in attendance will agree
with me, to hear Julie’s talk was a blessing that day. Oh, and she donated her
copies to the library.
2 comments:
This sounds great, but now I'm afraid I have no excuse for not writing. :P
Got to get up...early in the morning! Old Gap tune, Tiffany. You take your time with mini me. You can get in those early morning ruts when she is old enough to go to school. ;D
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