Many years ago, I started to write a text for a Mother’s Day picture book based on Proverbs 31. I talked about the perfect mother. I took it to an online critique group I was part of. Comments like the mom is too perfect, the story isn’t child centered, and the manuscript is way too preachy, came back to me. It was back to the drawing board. Wait, not the drawing board. At that point in time, I never considered the possibility of being the illustrator. So, I went back to the keyboard to work on the piece, or not. To tell the truth, the file gathered proverbial dust in a folder of ideas for picture books somewhere in the depths of my computer.
Then one day I went to a Christian conference. I asked my novel publisher about subbing children’s books. She said no, so I interviewed with another editor at the same conference. They were not taking picture books but were open to chapter books as long as I did the illustrations. I agreed and prayed that I would be up to the task. A year later, Dottie’s Dream Horse came into being as a chapter book for Christian children reading at a second or third grade level. I became an author and illustrator, something I had hoped for but never dreamed would actually take place. I did not have formal art training other than some great high school teachers.
A few months after I signed the contract for the chapter book, my novel publisher changed her mind. She asked what other children’s works I had waiting for a publisher. I had a lot and still do. The biggest requirement was that it had to have a Christian worldview and not too preachy. I had one piece almost completely illustrated with inked drawings. I used it at an art camp as my project for the week. All it needed was the addition of color and some limited editing to have it meet the requirements. Lucy and Thunder ended up hitting the market at almost the same time as Dottie’s Dream Horse.
When the topic came up of my next children’s book for that publisher, I mentioned the Mother’s Day idea. She offered the contract without seeing anything in advance. I stared at my ideas and had no idea how to fix the battered manuscript that seemed to not work. I played with several scenarios. Nothing seemed to work. I made myself start drawing some of the pictures. At least I’d have illustrations for the contracted story. I just needed to come up with better words.
At our church, we send out soldier boxes filled with snacks several times each year. While stuffing those boxes, the idea came about including a wounded warrior in the story. I also decided that a tithe from the new book royalties would go into postage for our soldier boxes. In the story, mother and daughter both exhibit the qualities of the Proverbs woman as they help their wounded warrior through the course of his yearlong recuperation. The young girl takes the lead in working towards providing a safe place for wounded warriors and their families. She will ultimately give up something very precious to reach her goal. Everything came together. The picture book now had an arc, a theme, and a spiritual connection. I had new words and was able to create pictures that told a different story than I’d thought of in the beginning.
If you are a writer, don’t give up on those old ideas hiding away on your computer or in a drawer. God might have a way to use them in ways you never dreamed of. Those old manuscripts may inspire something new and different, or my just need to editing skills you’ve learned as you’ve grown as a writer.
I Love Mom, Our Hero, a
bi-lingual book, came out on April 1st. It isn’t a joke that I hope you will get this story for yourself, a mom, or daughter that you know. It will make a nice Mother’s Day gift next month.
Bettie Boswell always loved to read and create stories for family and friends. In 2016 she began writing and illustrating stories to share with the world. She is now an author/illustrator of both children and Christian adult fiction and non-fiction books. Her other efforts include contributions to educational works, leveled readers, magazine articles, and devotional and short story anthologies. Bettie has two grown sons, one daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and a busy minister husband.