Conferences are like going to summer camp all over again. Heading up to Ridgecrest, North Carolina, for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference filled my calendar at the end of May. I excitedly chose classes, received critiques on pieces, and scheduled appointments with industry professionals. But just as important were the worship services, the praise music and the keynotes. I also relished reconnecting and strategizing with my agent. Again and again, I was inspired to commit more deeply to my writing.
Building relationships with amazing authors
One favorite thing at the conference was chatting with people. Whether we waited in the cafeteria line, learned alongside each other in classes, or shared a table at the Nibble Nook, we were surrounded by others. And at a Christian conference, the sweet spirit flowed.
Although I tend to be an introvert, I challenged myself to truly engage with those around me. And I was delighted by the incredible ministries, impactful stories, and inspirational people I discovered.
Piles of TBR Books
After the last sweet service of commissioning, I left with a slew of business cards from my new friends—and books for my TBR (To Be Read) pile at home. My brain was jammed with amazing authors, their compelling backgrounds, and their current projects.
That feeling sort of reminds me of days with my kindergartners and first graders…
Looking Back (Just a Bit) to Our K/1 Author Studies
When I taught school, we read throughout the days. There, I
- Started our Morning Meetings with inspiring or funny books
- Used another book to launch our Reading Workshop
- Choral-read big books together
- Coached readers using their personal book boxes during their independent reading times
- Highlighted thoughtful writing strategies from books during our Writing Workshop minilessons
- Shared books that led into innovative math lessons
- Introduced new units of science or social studies with great nonfiction
- Read chapter books aloud. (Do you remember a favorite teacher reading E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web and Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?)
Books filled our days in delicious ways! It wasn’t unusual to read 12-15 books a week.
About Those Authors
Some authors just drew my students in. They couldn’t wait to find the next book in their series or previous books they had written. They thrilled in their memorable characters, funny plots, and heartwarming endings. Once we discovered a popular author camped out in a cave for six weeks. When she used that cave in a creepy mystery, the kids had to know more!
So, we delved deeper into authors’ lives—their birthdays, favorite foods, childhoods, first jobs, schools, families, and pets. (Note: I always pre-researched before researching again alongside my students. We have to be vigilant about things that might pop up on a website.)
The kids’ questions poured:
- Where did our authors get their ideas?
- Was that mean teacher in the story real?
- Is this book true—or pretend?(Even kindergartners these days learn “fiction” and “nonfiction.”)
They weren’t the only ones who had questions. My favorite things to learn were the stories behind their stories. I also loved hearing how real people inspired book characters. And who doesn’t love hearing about illustrators who hide things in their books? (Twenty-five years ago in her author project, a child shared that her author/illustrator painted moons in his books in honor of his mother. How could I forget that amazing fact?)
My Mentor Authors
As a children’s author these days, I’m still inspired by writers around me, too. I have rotating stacks of current books to understand the changing genre. I read to see how authors handle various situations (like the death of a pet or the sickness of someone they love). Since I’m not around as many children, I study to understand more children’s interests, hobbies, current struggles and pain points. I’m grateful for mentor authors who keep me learning and thinking about young children these days.
"What's your favorite Children's book?"
Before a Bible study recently, this icebreaker arose: “What’s your favorite children’s book?” My mind flooded with lots of classics, my grandson’s current favs, the ones I’ve bought at conferences and discovered in book shops, and those written by my author friends.
One of the ladies at our Bible study table asked me how I knew so many books—and then asked for some Christian book recommendations for her grandchildren. What an honor.
And it occurred to me that I’m still doing author studies after all these years!
Author Studies—Years Later
This most recent conference gave me even more authors, their incredible stories and ministries, and a slew of new books. Just in case you’re like my Bible study friend, I’m happy to share a few recommendations and some great backstories for you. (Because I’m surrounded by many favorite authors and book recommendations, I promise to share more in the months to come.)
Hope you love hearing about these two authors who are changing the world.
Matthew Hawk Eldridge
You might recognize Matthew Hawk from his guitar-playing, singing or acting (in 40+ major motion pictures and television shows). But now he’s often found volunteering with children and families in medical crises. There, he discovered children facing the hardest days we can imagine. He knew they needed to be kids—to simply laugh. So, he wrote to lift children’s hearts and bring silliness to their long days. Through his self-proclaimed “Silly Book Series,” children giggle over dressed-up dinosaurs dancing, buffalos in backpacks, and an instrument-beating animal band.
I especially love What’s in the Dark? After a child questions all the silly things he can imagine, he’s reassured to learn he’s safe from these things. Through his bouncy poetic nod to prayer and Bible-reading, Matthew helps children face the dark with smiles on their faces.
More recently, Matthew immersed himself in the start of the “Heaven” series. During his volunteer times, his heart was captured by several very special children. Some waited endlessly for important surgeries, faced seclusion from germs and other people, and simply couldn’t interact as most children do. It’s those children who adored his books and begged for more. Tragically, some of them passed away, but, he hasn’t forgotten their smiles or the sound of their laughter. So, he continues in his mission of bringing silly stories for children who beg to laugh.
Butterfly Flutter Bye appears to be another fun book. All children can appreciate its sweetness and vibrant pictures. But this first book in the Heaven series tells of butterflies who sometimes say goodbye. For children and families coping with death, dying, and grief, the story is designed to help children open up and reflect on the butterfly. “The words and pictures were carefully crafted with depth, compassion, and rich symbolic meaning to tell the full story from multiple angles.” (Amazon Books Description) This book is definitely on my TBR pile.
Matthew's New Ministry
Matthew’s heart goes beyond writing his books. During the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, he collected books from conference attendees for children’s hospitals and Ronald McDonald houses. He happily took stacks of books back to that favorite hospital of his and the children he loves so much.
And now he’s in the beginning stages of a new ministry—“Heaven’s Book Club” where anyone can send life-changing books to children facing long-term hospital care. To hear Matthew talk about it himself, you might want to check out this recent post on his Facebook page.
Sheila Preston Fitzgerald
Sheila Preston Fitzgerald and I met before the conference last year and literally bumped into each other daily. She always glowed. I knew she must have an incredible story of healing and happiness, but I was floored by the trauma she experienced. From her presence, I would never have known! What a surprise it was to read her memoir, One Foot in Heaven: Finding Hope in the Hopeless.
Sheila survived a traumatic, near-fatal motorcycle accident and she has since endured deep pain, multiple surgeries, physical therapies, and much loss. Yet, she radiates life and passion as she tells her miraculous story. I couldn’t put it down.
JUST RELEASED TWO DAYS AGO: FootNotes Adventures with Jesus: Encountering Jesus in Everyday Moments. If you’re drawn to thought-provoking devotions, Sheila’s horrific life-and-death experience draws you into her stories, and her passionate zest for life compels you to live alongside her for 30 magnificent days. With relatable stories, she makes you feel like you’re in the middle of her life. In her wise tender ways, she shows you how living for Jesus isn’t some grandiose production, but rather simply showing love to people around you in real ways. Sheila’s “reflection questions” make you think about your own life and mission—and further lead you into actionable ideas that will profoundly impact those around you. There you’ll discover Jesus for yourself in your everyday moments. I believe you’ll be touched.
I hope this peek into the lives of these two incredible authors will cause you to read their works as well as bring you inspiration and purpose.
If Ronald McDonald Houses spark a memory for you, you might enjoy reading again how my students supported our local Ronald McDonald House. That connection was just one reason I was initially drawn to Matthew’s work. And if you’re wanting to read more in-depth about how my students and I dug into author lives, you might want to check these podcast episodes out: On Becoming Authors and Beginning as Writers. What an adventure it was talking with young children about authors—while creating a podcast in 2019-2020. There’s nothing like hearing children tell their versions of learning!
Such an inspiration! Thanks for sharing information about these authors. I need to build my own stack of TBRs. We can learn so much from others!
I love the connection you made between the way you taught children to appreciate books by learning about their authors, and how you have now discovered the value of learning about authors in your quest to become a better author yourself. Full circle, right? 😊❤️
Oh, yes! It’s amazing to me how often my kindergarten days melt into these authoring days! (I could use a few of those kindergartners right now to critique my latest…) And I’m always happy to share authors. I’ve got another great one to share next month. 📚 Thanks for commenting, as always!