In the early eighties, I led a girl's club in my home church, and not being able to find the material I needed, I wrote my own. If you want to read more of the background story you can find it in one of my early posts.
My first book, Adventures of Heart Longing, was in print for a decade and then the publishers changed their venue and dropped all children's books, so my book went out of print. It was continued to be used in several Christian schools as a resource and therefore was not forgotten.
Over the years, I received several e-mails asking if I could not republish the book, but one e-mail from a teacher last year spurned me to do some research and three days later, I signed a contract with WestBow publishers. The book, Adventures of Heart Longing, came out early this year. It is written in story form, allegorically picturing the fruit of the Spirit as we find it listed in Galatians 5:22,23.
The second year of my girl's club, I wrote material in the same vein as the first book but this time on the treasure of the kingdom, as Jesus speaks about it in Matthew 6:19-21. This book was never published, but I pulled out my notes earlier this year and rewrote it. Heart Longing and the Treasure Keys, has just been released and is available on-line, or you can order it from me, although, I do not yet have any books - online is much faster than snail mail! If you live in the Fraser Valley, I could deliver, or you could order it from a local bookstore.
The books, written as a story, have study guides included. I like to think that, while the books are targeted for children, that there is something there for all ages, making them the kind of books that are good in a family or class setting, generating interest and discussion.
One teacher sent me a folder of the pictures her kids had drawn after reading the book and my favorite one was from a young boy who said, "This book makes me want to know God." His words touched my heart because, that above all else was my motivation in writing the books and is still my heart prayer - that my readers would be drawn to the Lord - to know Him!
7 comments:
I enjoyed the first book...and will be adding the second book to my library! What could be more rewarding than having a young reader state that the book made him want to know God? Thank-you, Julie...for sharing your books with all of us.
That's great that you had all your notes to write your second book, too, and that it's been released. Great job Julie!
Julie, you have the gift of sharing something familiar in an allegorical way to allow readers to gain a deeper understanding. Congratulations on publishing your second book!
Julie, I enjoyed reading your book. I took it on one of my holidays and I think it's a perfect book to read to younger children as one explains the fruits of the spirit. Thanks again and will be looking out for the next sequel.
Julie, I am happy to see the cover of your second book here. It's so wonderful that you kept those notes all these years and you can have them now in print as a set to share with children and adults. I am looking forward to reading this book and having a set of my own! Proud of you Julie! Congratulations!
We just never know how things can continue to come together. So glad the vision you had when you wrote this for children in the 80's is blessing the next generation of kids too! Love that it inspired the little boy to want to know God. Love the looks of these books and their titles and am proud of you. You are an amazing gifted storyteller Julie!
Hugs
~cb
dear cb ... thank you ! and I wish you and your family a very wonderful Thanksgiving week-end!
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