My Conversation with Kiki Latimer

Dagny's birthday was quite eventful--morning brought a delightful conversation with Kiki Latimer. You can listen on WCAT Radio or WCAT TV. How I wish I'd known about her wonderful resources on her website when I was writing Bound. But I only heard about her podcast, the Catholic Bookworm, because of the online Catholic Writing Conference I attended in January. What a joy to discover more about her--she tells lovely stories and I'm looking forward to reading her memoir: Seeing God's Face: A Catholic American Woman in India. 

Afternoon was for Adoration. I had so much to thank our Blessed Lord Jesus and pray for--my writing, my music, my family, our priests and choirs, and most of all for the conclave that is at this moment deliberating and casting their votes for the next Pope. God already knows, and we pray that the cardinals are listening to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. We pray our next pope will be a man after God's own heart, a good shepherd.

Evening brought choir practice. So many of our choristers are sick or taking care of others who are sick. We pray they will recover. But we had such a good time--with Palestrina and Josquin mostly. This music makes my heart sing. We went to Home Team BBQ afterwards to celebrate Dagny's birthday. Max is toasting her from NYC. My heart is full. (The two outdoor pictures were taken at Momo's at Waterfront Park over the weekend--you should know that we celebrate birthdays all month long :) 

Prayer, Podcast and Presents

The Nativity, St. Barnabas, Bromborough

Beginning today, St. Andrew the Apostle's Feast Day, we can recite this prayer 15 times daily for special intentions. Advent is a wonderful time of waiting and watching and praying for miracles.

 

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
 in which the Son of God was born
 of the most pure Virgin Mary,
 at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God,

 to hear my prayers and grant my desires,

through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,

and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

I was invited to join a podcast of the Lamplighters. Rob Wyllie had a wonderful article, God's Toys, in The Lamp Magazine about The Velveteen Rabbit and it was lovely joining him and the editors of The Lamp, Matthew Walther and Nic Rowan, for a discussion on both old and new children's literature. I only wish it could've been in person.

This weekend, the Daniel Island News, which hosted the monthly author series this year is hosting a holiday book sale with over 25 authors participating. I'm so happy we'll all be together because I missed every other lecture this year due to choir practice. Besides, books make the best presents!

A Conversation with Carolyn Bennett Fraiser

Friends, meet Carolyn Bennett Fraiser, an accomplished writer, graphic designer, and missionary whom I had the privilege of meeting several years ago at the Carolinas SCBWI Conference. We reconnected again when she stepped up to be the critique coordinator for our region after I resigned. Thank you, Carolyn. And as writers are wont to do, there’s always some shoptalk. I noticed she also had a book coming out from Reycraft and since they make beautiful books (why yes, I’m biased!) I got a copy of it and knew I had to share it with you all. Moon Tree is a lesson in being attentive, developing laser-sharp focus on the little known yet interesting stories all around us.

Congratulations on the publication of Moon Tree: The Story of One Extraordinary Tree. I have never known about this forgotten chapter in our history. It is indeed a captivating story, beautifully written, illustrated by Simona Mulazzani. Thank you for taking the time to chat about it. I see that you have another book about Moons, so I’m curious, which book came to you first? And if you are obsessed with moons? Or trees?

For me, Moon Tree came first. I was fascinated with the story of astronaut Stuart Roosa and the moon trees and spent a couple of years researching then finding the right structure to use for the story. After it was under contract, I was contacted by an educational publisher to do the book on Moons. Of course, I accepted. Since educational publishing typically is faster than trade publishing, it beat Moon Tree by one month! But having them release together was such perfect timing!

Serendipitous! I do love that about educational publishing.

I think I’m a bit obsessed with both moons and trees! I’ve loved star-gazing since I was a kid and growing up just south of Cape Kennedy in Florida, space was always a topic of discussion in our house. My dad loved space too! But I also enjoyed nature. My favorite place to read was at the top of a tree in our back yard. My mom always knew where to find me for dinner. So you could say that I love both very much. Moon Tree was the perfect combination!

Indeed! Isn’t nonfiction writing just the perfect vehicle for people like us who are piqued by one little fact and then go chasing it down a rabbit hole? And of course, we’re rewarded with stories!

Absolutely yes! Once I saw my first moon tree, I couldn’t let it go. I dove into research and followed every rabbit hole I could. I’m glad I did! Stuart’s personal journey was fascinating in itself, but I didn’t stumble across the story of the third-grade class until I was months into my research. That made it a “must tell” story!

And you do so beautifully. “In a forest of ordinary trees, one sycamore has a secret few people know, a story unearthed in the stars. It all begins...with…” Your writing is so lyrical and poetic. I’ve got to know whether you had that beautiful voice from the very beginning? I’d like to think that even if you started out with a clunky draft, you could somehow feel the poetry underneath and brought it out during revisions.

Oh no. That would’ve been way too easy! My first draft was written in a very straightforward, expository format. I had sidebars and everything! I think my initial word count was up around 1500. I worked in as many details as I could. There was no poetic quality about it. Then I experimented with a very casual telling of the story from the perspective of the tree. I was still trying to find my own voice as an author and honestly didn’t know what would work. I submitted that version widely, but it didn’t sell. Then in a single day, I received two rejections: one editor loved the voice but thought the topic was too niche, then an agent loved the topic but hated the voice! It really is all about perspective, isn’t it? Anyhow, the agent suggested I try a more lyrical voice. I was thrilled – I loved lyrical voice! So I took some time to figure out the best way to restructure the story with the right voice, and it worked.

I do so love revising because that’s when I can see what was originally in my imagination look more like it on paper.

Absolutely. It took me months after that to find the right angle, but once I did, it all fell into place. Isn’t it great when a manuscript just clicks together like that?

How I wish it happened more often and more quickly! I’d like to know if there are some interesting tidbits that didn’t make it into the book.

Well, the manuscript went from 1500 words to 350, so a lot of details had to be cut. I did fit a lot of that into the back matter, but not every detail made sense for the book. Since the main focus of the book was on the seedlings, I included as much as I could about that story line.

One thing I didn’t have room for was the history behind the quarantine process. Astronauts from Apollo 11, 12, and 14 had to be quarantined for 3 weeks because the government was afraid they would bring back “moon bugs” from the surface of the moon. Everything had to be decontaminated including the seeds. That’s when the container broke in a vacuum chamber. After Apollo 14, the government realized it was unnecessary. But the fun part is that they didn’t take the law off the books until the early 1990s!

Most of what I had to cut were parts of Stuart’s story. He was shy, red-headed boy from Oklahoma who followed his dreams – even in the midst of the highly competitive arena of space travel. But he also had a mischievous sense of humor, so that made some of his stories fun. Faith also played a big part of his life, but after he traveled into space, he began talking about it more. The journey seemed to draw him closer to God.

I definitely wanted to know more about Stuart. So thank you. Please tell us a little about your writing journey, both the craft and business of it, given you’ve done such a wide variety of it.

That’s a whole different interview! I’ve loved reading and writing since elementary school. I studied it in college and even went on to get a master’s degree. I’ve written for nonprofit organizations for almost 20 years and a lot in the Christian magazine market. I was able to make a career of it because I didn’t limit myself to just writing one specific things like books. I was open to all kinds of writing. And it’s made me a better writer.

That said, I thought my experience would make it easy to transition into writing for children. It didn’t. I knew how to write, but I spent almost 10 years learning the craft before publishing Moon Tree. But learning how to write for children has made me a better writer overall. I write more concisely and can break down difficult concepts in a way that I couldn’t do before. That has helped me write better copy for my day job.

What’s next for you? I see M is for Mason Jar: An ABC for Young Homesteaders is in the pipeline. What a terrific idea! We’ve been practicing permaculture techniques in our backyard for the past few years but we’re nowhere close to being homesteaders. My husband is a keeper of bees, however! Do tell us more about your property. Pictures? Oh my! I'm salivating. Your property is both beautiful and bountiful. What a great blessing!

We have about an acre of land in western North Carolina but by no means is it a fully operational homestead. We do what we can to work with the land to stay healthy and save money along the way. We have a large vegetable garden. I grow and dry herbs. I even forage dandelions for a skin salve. We preserve a year’s supply of tomato sauce, pickles, jams, pesto, etc. I make our own bone broth as well as cleaning sprays, and laundry soap. We just finished building our chicken coop and hope to have chickens in residence next spring. My husband chops any wood from downed trees on our property that we use for fuel in the winter. We try to incorporate one new thing every year, but lack of time is often our enemy.

I actually wrote M is for Mason Jar on a dare. A homesteading group that I belong to online had a fun thread about the ABCs of homesteading during the pandemic. It was a very adult version, so I joked with my husband about writing a children’s version. He challenged me to do it, so I did. I never thought it would be published, but Familius Publishing picked it up and it is scheduled for release in Fall, 2024.

(Note: M is for Mason Jar is a tentative title; it has not been officially announced yet and is subject to change).

I love that you wrote M is for Mason Jar on a dare! Congratulations!!! Here's to many more beautiful books.

My First Time as a Podcast Guest

So much going on this summer but I wanted to share a link to my very first recording as a guest on Jayne de Sales' podcast. She "dives deep into why fiction matters with some of the most interesting living authors." Thank you, Jayne, for inviting me. It was a great pleasure.

We're not quite sure how she came across my work but she read BOUND and loved it and wanted to talk about it on her show. I was thrilled and a bit nervous because I think best through my fingers and not with my mouth but what a joy to converse with a kindred spirit. We spoke for about half hour about gardening and pets before we decided to record and ended up talking more about the writer's journey, which is also tied to my faith journey. Enjoy! Here's her lovely introduction: What treasure can you find in West Yellowstone, Montana? Scientist-turned-writer Vijaya Bodach found a copy of her favorite tale in a used bookstore there. Science, wonder, and faith were central to our conversation, and she even reveals what stories do to our brains on an MRI. Stick around to the end where she shares her recipe for Mango Lassi! This author of the Young Adult Novel “Bound”, set in Pullman, Washington is a fellow graduate of Washington State University. Go Cougs! 

I learned several things. Improvisation and spontaneity are good for thinking and articulating on my metaphorical feet. I will seek out more opportunities because it was very enjoyable, though there's lots of room for improvement on my part. I gained a new insight from Jayne when I mentioned my tendency of jumping into things and them working out. She said it's the opposite of fear holding us back from our dreams. So true. We should trust more in the Lord and listen less to the devil and his lies. I spoke about what I want, but the truth is, we should be constantly seeking what God wants from our lives. We owe Him absolutely everything and I'm discovering that I'm happiest when I'm doing His will. And it's not at all onerous. In fact, quite the opposite, as you can see below.

A Conversation with Andrew Barton

Today I'm so happy to have Andrew Barton of Heyward the Horse series to talk about his writing journey, the business of self-publishing, and what sustains him. I met him through SCBWI when we started our picture book critique group in Dec. 2018. He brought his first book and I was immediately struck by how bright and engaging it was. How FUN! The Heyward books are in rhyme and this is the hardest to write well, but Andrew delivers. The books are beautiful and I hear that little kids ask for it over and over. And these books aren't just for kids. They make wonderful gifts for grown-ups who love Charleston. Over these past four years, it's been a joy and delight for me to get to know Andrew better. He's never without a sketchpad and a pencil and is always doodling something and I'm always impressed with how much he captures with a few deft strokes. And it's been great to see how he develops a book from scratch. So without further ado, you can hear it all from the horse's mouth yourself.  

Please tell us the path you took to get that first book published, the challenges and obstacles you faced, and how you overcame them.

First – thank you so much, Vijaya, for the opportunity! I want everyone to know that you are a wonderful person, an admirable writer and a fantastic critique partner. One of the most frequent compliments I receive about my second book was an idea that came from you. You suggested that I call my backmatter “hoofnotes” instead of “footnotes” (the main character is a horse) and it has made a lot of readers chuckle. Thank you!

[Vijaya curtsies] My pleasure, Andrew. I’m delighted about hoofnotes.

To your question, a very successful serial entrepreneur once told me that he would never ever try and make money in publishing. He said something like, “It’s almost impossible to make it in that industry”. He was two years too late! I was already heavily invested in changing the world with my first children’s book, Heyward the Horse Loves Charleston, Of Course.

Flashback two years earlier – my first child, Lucy, was just learning to walk. My wife and I were acquiring (and reading) children’s books to her at a rate that would surely set her on a path to straight A’s and a guaranteed full ride at an ivy league school. To the upper-class, and beyond!

But as I read, I quickly realized that all children’s books are not equal and would occasionally say to myself, “I could make this”. About that same time, I began looking for ways to increase my income to pay for that ivy league education just in case Plan A fell through. I’m a self-employed graphic designer and the thought of hiring employees to grow a big company sounded horrid. I’m an artist – not a manager! With a little encouragement from some mentor types, I decided to take a stab at producing my own intellectual property.

I hear you. As much as I love the idea of having a team of people at Bodach Books, I don’t really want to manage it all. I can barely manage myself, lol. Last year I got two books that really resonated with me since we've been pondering the beauty of the small family business, whether it's growing bok-choy, baking bread, or making books, and I think you’d enjoy them too. Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis. And small is still beautiful: economics as if families mattered by Joseph Pearce.

I reached out to a successful local author, Jonathan Miller, and he gave me a great piece of advice. Before you start your book, write a business plan. So I did. As I wrote my first book, I was laser-focused on who would read it and how it would get into their hands. Two years later – about the time I received that great advice from the entrepreneur – my book was selling in a dozen local stores. It was a start.

I don’t mean to make it sound easy. It wasn’t. Could I write? Barely. Rhyme? Kinda. Draw? Yes. But I was not overly confident in any of these skills. I had no notion that such a thing as a professional critique group existed. I tend to be a learn-or-fail-on-the-job type of person so I worked intuitively while heavily relying on feedback from family and friends. The feedback, to my great delight, was overwhelmingly positive.

It's how I've learned most things too, Andrew. And how wonderful it is to finally find your tribe.

Birthing a children’s picture book requires a zillion little decisions and I stuck to my mantra – Keep It Simple Stupid. My other mantra – Don’t Reinvent the Wheel – pulled its weight too. In fact, without my friend Jonathan’s advice (and contacts), I might still be working on that first book.

The biggest mental obstacle for me was financially investing in my own business plan. Sweat equity is all well and good, but eventually, you have to pay someone cold hard cash to print your book. That was way out of my comfort zone. I bit the bullet, got a loan, and ordered 1500 copies. To get me through that decision, I relied on the positive feedback I’d received, encouragement from my wife, and a little bit of desperation.

Such good advice. And it’s great that you trusted yourself in publishing Heyward. I see that you've sold over 3,000 copies! That's fantastic! I love that you are NOT a starving artist. You make a living through your art.

As a graphic designer, my job is to create stuff that promotes my client’s message. My goal with Heyward was to make stuff to promote MY message for a change. Equally important, Heyward needed to be profitable. And after an astonishingly short amount of research, it became apparent that self-publishing would be the path of least resistance – particularly for a hyper-local subject like Charleston, S.C.

That said, I’d love to work with my “soul-publisher” one day if the opportunity presents itself. The opportunity should present itself to my email address here. ;)

I still feel like a newbie when it comes to self-publishing and marketing has been my nemesis. I admire how you've cultivated relationships with local vendors who sell your books. What advice do you have for those who'd like to do what you are doing?

Marketing is the big behemoth for nearly all of us, isn’t it? The truth is, I’m no expert marketer. As a graphic designer, I am well equipped to create all the visual assets and content. I created my website, email newsletters, social media posts, flyers, and business cards. I am particularly proud of the book trailer I made with my daughter’s help for my most recent book.

So I’m blessed to have the advantage of creating marketing fodder, but knowing how and when to use those assets to drive sales is the tricky part. That’s where the expert marketer shines. I’m still figuring that out and I ask for help when I need it. For example, I hired a PR consultant, Fisher Creative, to help me with press releases, copywriting, and strategy.

For Heyward, marketing is only part of the story. My main focus has been Wholesale Distribution. From the beginning, I’ve tried to get my books into local shops. It can be intimidating to walk into a store and ask for “the buyer”, but it works! Stores are always seeking new and exclusive items to stock the shelves. In that sense, the retailer and author are working together in a partnership to make the end consumer happy.

There are a few drawbacks though. For one, I have to be able to sell my books at a low enough price for the retailer to make a profit. The margins are much slimmer than selling a book directly from my website. Volume is key.

Bottomline - marketing (and distribution) is hard work. There’s no way around it.

Thanks, Andrew. It's so great to see your kids involved in the creative process. You have a young family. Can you give us a glimpse into a typical day?

Make beds, dress kids, scramble eggs, brush teeth.

Make beds, dress kids, scramble eggs, brush teeth.

Make beds, dress kids, scramble eggs, brush teeth.

What was the question again? Sorry, I’m exhausted.

For my wife and I, the typical day starts between 4:30 - 6:30 AM. Several times a week we take turns getting up early to work out. Then begins the Whirlwind of Monotony to get the kids off to school. Then begins the workday followed by another Whirlwind getting the children fed and in bed. The sameness of every day can be excruciating.

On the plus side, I believe there is no duty on earth that can surpass the beauty and gravity of raising children. The rewards of parenthood are beyond words and reach deep into the heart. Parenthood requires a near-complete sacrifice of self and it is terrible and worth it. In full transparency, as I type these high-sounding words my kids are banging on the other side of a locked door demanding my attention. I’m doing my best to ignore them.

Life with young kids is a short season and I’m very grateful for it. My wife, Erin, is a wonderful mother and partner. She’s also very supportive of my children’s book business. The days aren’t easy, but I feel very blessed.

Blessings upon blessings, indeed. And what a beautiful family picture--we don't often get snow so it's lovely to play in it. You bring back both the sweet and sour memories. I love everything you said, especially the essence of parenting. Your life itself is a work of art. Please give us some advice on how to create and maintain an artful life.

If my life is a work of art, it must be an abstract impressionist piece composed of dirty diapers, existential anxiety, sleep deprivation, coffee, and Disney+. I like abstract artwork so I’m cool with it.

Regarding your question, here are three things that have made a real difference in my life:

Prayer. In my twenties, God became a reality in my life primarily through earnestly seeking answers at church and in the Bible. The God that met me there was, to my great surprise and relief, a Loving Father. Ever since I have continued seeking Him and praying for wisdom in my decisions. Prayer is not typically a quick fix from my experience, but as I look back, I see God’s guidance at work. I love Proverbs 3:6. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Routine: For Erin and me, routine is paramount. We’ve been married nearly 14 years and have learned, though we possess very different personality types, to work well as a team. We communicate frequently about all the wants and needs in our house. We even have a recurring Monday night meeting where we go over the business of the week. A routine does not come naturally to me, but it has contributed immeasurably to our lives.

Journaling: I highly recommend journaling with the aim of goal tracking. In 2019 I listened to an audiobook that changed my life. In a way, it’s just another goal-setting self-help book. But for some reason, Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt spoke clearly to me and, more than that, it felt achievable. Goal setting can be extremely overwhelming, but Hyatt’s approach and writing style inspired me. I’ve been journaling and tracking my goals ever since. At this point, I can’t live without it. I wrote a blog post about this topic if you’d like to know more.

This is amazing: these are three of my favorite things too, though I came to the faith much, much later in life (13 years this Easter Vigil). Michael and I often wonder what it would’ve been like had we had this beautiful faith God has given us in our 20s (we're pushing 60). But thank God He never stopped chasing us. And thank God for bringing you into our lives.

Thank you, Vijaya for the opportunity to speak with you. You are one of the most interesting and enjoyable people I’ve encountered on my author/illustrator journey.

Thank YOU for taking the time, my friend, to share so generously. I've enjoyed it very much and maybe one day, the right story will present itself to us to make together. Here we are in our matching tees and your books! I think children's book creators have the best time ever. 

Readers, over to you. If you have questions or comments, I'm sure Andrew will be happy to respond.

A Conversation with Janeen Zaio about Treasure with a Face

Friends, I have a very special treat for you this St. Nicholas Day. My friend Janeen Zaio has just released her first historical novel for kids about a Jewish boy, Eli, who wants to be a treasure hunter and discovers one far greater than any treasure. I had the great pleasure of reading both the first draft and the final book, and what a book! Janeen has created a riveting story that’s hard to put down. It’s action-packed, funny, and could possibly change your life!

Janeen, I’ve known you for 10 years. What a beautiful time we’ve had together. But it isn’t until five years ago that you mentioned you were writing a book and I’ve been so privileged to read your story. I love historical fiction, but especially any story set around the time when Jesus walked this earth. Please tell us why you had to write The Treasure with a Face.

Thank you, Vijaya. I’m so glad that God brought you to Charleston! You’ve been a great friend, and you were the first person to read The Treasure with a Face. That draft was very different from the final version, largely because of your influence. Whether it was giving me craft books, introducing me to the Catholic Writers’ Guild, or giving me honest feedback, your help and encouragement was instrumental in getting it published.

It was such a pleasure and I learned what you can accomplish when you’re focused on this ONE thing.

I began writing the night I pondered the question that keeps Catholic parents awake at night: Would my boys remain happily Catholic? We both know many Catholics who have left the Church for exciting activities at megachurches, and the megachurch in our area is almost irresistible. It looks like a beautiful resort and has amazing activities for kids, a café that rivals Starbucks, and rockin’ praise music. (I know you prefer Gregorian Chant, but that praise music is really GOOD!) My boys were ages thirteen and fifteen, and I knew that at some point, friends would invite them to attend that church, so I had to make sure they understood that the communion there is not Jesus’s living Body. I wanted them to appreciate the unparalleled gift of Christ’s Real Presence in every Catholic tabernacle. Once you understand that with your heart and soul, you can’t possibly leave the Catholic Church for games and lattes.

I know that stories are much more compelling than lectures, so I started developing the plot for The Treasure with a Face to impart that lesson. Although my boys grew faster than the story did, I hope I can reach other children with an adventure story containing a subtle message about Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist.

You really struck a balance so that the story is a great deal of adventure and fun with a message that’s not preachy. Was that hard to do?

As you know, my first draft was too preachy. Only a little :) Then I changed the plot line to add more adventure. My protagonist Eli is an aspiring treasure hunter who wants to find treasure as a way to escape from being his demanding uncle’s metalsmithing apprentice, so he resolves to find the ultimate treasure: the Ark of the Covenant. That’s not going to be easy – the Ark’s been missing for hundreds of years, flames reportedly shoot out the bottom of the Ark, and people who touch it tend to die, but Eli has a plan. Surely, Jesus knows where the Ark is hidden, so Eli sets out to meet Him.

Now amidst my character crawling through glowing caves, running along the walls of ancient Jerusalem, and outwitting villains, I was able to weave in the events that reinforce the theme of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, but leave the “preaching” to the discussion questions at the end. I’m a retired homeschooling mom so the discussion questions are designed to get kids to think deeply but also to share some interesting facts. For example, do you know the most exotic place anyone has ever taken the Eucharist? The answer is on page 258.

I do! And there was just a story about it in Shalom Tidings. Your back-matter is excellent, with Q&A and glossary. So smart to leave the teaching in the back for the kids who read everything and for teachers. I should think about doing something similar for Bound.

I could picture everything so clearly in your story and it brought ancient Israel to life. Please tell me the kind of research you had to do to make it so immersive.

Aww, thank you for saying that. I love reading private revelations in which the visionary follows the life of Jesus and makes you feel like the 13^th Apostle, so that really helped me understand the landscape, food, and customs. I read many other books with maps of ancient Jerusalem and pictures of the Holy Land today, and there were many good websites like bible-history.com, but my favorite way to learn about ancient Israel was to visit The Holy Land Experience in Orlando. It’s a Christian theme park that has short theatrical productions about Biblical events, a huge replica of The Temple in Jerusalem, and an enormous replica of ancient Jerusalem.

I had no idea there’s a Bible-themed park in Orlando. I will definitely have to visit, given that covid-rulz have cramped international travel. My sister went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land right before covid became news and she’s soooo grateful. What are some of the themes in your book?

While the main theme is that Jesus is alive in the Blessed Sacrament at Catholic churches today, so you don’t have to live in ancient Israel to meet Him. Another theme is paraphrased from St. John Vianney: “You are what you are in the eyes of God and nothing more.”

I love that! So true. 

I think that message is so needed in this world. Another theme is that Jesus died to redeem all of us, no matter what sins we have repented of, no matter our race, our job, or our family situation. 

Amen! I know you’re a cradle Catholic, but did you always have devotion to the Eucharist?

I always had the head knowledge that the Eucharist is truly Jesus, but about 20 years ago, it occurred to me that I should be more enthusiastic about receiving Him. I should be metaphorically skipping up to receive Him instead of going through the motions. So, I started praying that God would give me zeal for the Eucharist, and a few days later, a friend gave me Scott Hahn’s book The Lamb’s Supper. That was the beginning of my realization that we have an unparalleled gift in the Catholic Church. I started to embrace the Eucharist with my heart and soul and became more mindful of Christ’s Real Presence.

That is so beautiful. I love it when you pray for a virtue or an insight, the Holy Spirit illuminates your soul on it. But beware of praying for patience or humility because I’ve discovered that I’m literally turned into a patient or humiliated in some way.

Speaking of patience, I am so impressed that it took you only five years from conceiving this book idea and publication. I was in your shoes nearly 20 years ago and still haven’t managed to write that first story of my heart to my satisfaction. Please tell us your path to publication.

Well, you and I both trust that God’s timing is always perfect! We prioritize our vocation as wives and mothers, then do our best and leave the results up to God. You’ve had amazing results, by the way! I couldn’t put Bound down!

Thank you. It’s because the story was literally given to me in its entirety. I wish it would happen more often because it’s such a joy when the writing flows.

For me, that first year of writing was like wandering in the desert for 40 years. There was a much more direct route available, but I didn’t take it.

What do you mean by a more direct path?

If I could do it over again, I would've taken more time to learn the craft of writing BEFORE I submitted my early manuscript to publishers. I was so eager to get my story out there, but now I can see that I wasted time submitting it to publishers when it wasn't ready. I can totally see why they rejected the old version. There are so many writing no-no's that I didn't know about. For example, a weather opener in a new chapter tells the editor you're a newbie. So much for, "It was a dark and stormy night..." Who knew?

Haha! Have you heard of this? Home | The Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest (bulwer-lytton.com) Thanks for clarifying. But really, the only way to learn to write a novel is by writing a novel. I’m glad you dove in and then learned aspects of storytelling. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who say they want to write a book but don’t.

So I wrote the first draft THEN learned how to write. I didn’t get serious about learning until my third rejection from a publisher. (Looking back on it, I’m glad that version was rejected because this new version is much better.) So, I hunkered down and spent an entire summer watching online fictional writing classes taught by Erin Brown Conroy. They’re recorded classes through Homeschool Connections, a Catholic homeschool program. I was thirty years older than the average student, but the classes were incredibly helpful. A year later, when I finished applying the lessons to my manuscript and rewriting it, I immediately sent it off to Perpetual Light Publishing, and they agreed to publish it.

Congratulations!!! I still remember the excitement and thrill knowing it’d be a book that kids could read. Please give us some insight into your decision-making process in choosing Perpetual Light Publishing because there are so many different avenues to publish right now.

I'm thrilled to be working with Perpetual Light Publishing. They're a hybrid publishing company, which was a good fit for me versus self-publishing or traditional publishing. Being completely new to publishing, I wanted someone to do the typesetting, cover art, printing and distribution but just as importantly, I wanted mentors who could share resources and marketing ideas.

Traditional publishers sometimes reject a good manuscript simply because the author doesn't have a platform, meaning she doesn't have a following already, whether it's having a TV show, being on the speaking circuit, or having a podcast, etc. Publishers know that a platform will enable the author to sell right away which reduces their risk.

A hybrid publisher can take a risk on someone without a platform because an author pays for their services, so they won't lose money if the book doesn't sell. For example, Perpetual Light offers a la cart services or bundled services. I paid them for professional editing, typesetting, cover design, printing, and distribution, then we share in the profit off each book sold. Their contract is very generous to authors, so it was definitely the right choice for me. They've also been great at helping with marketing, whether it's sharing contacts or promoting my book.

The founders of Perpetual Light are Erin Broestl and Jeanie Schoonover-Egolf, and they’re amazingly talented editors and writers. Erin wrote God Made the Moonlight, which Jeanie illustrated, and Jeanie writes and illustrates the Molly McBride series. They were excellent collaborators, and they worked incredibly fast — 9 months to publication. In fact, the book contract arrived on December the 8^th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and the book was published on September 7^th, the eve of Our Lady’s birthday! The timing was a sweet little “God-nod” since Our Lady plays a small, but pivotal role in the story.

What a talented team. The cover is gorgeous! And I must say, the interior is sweet too. You mentioned a treasure hunt for kids. Please elaborate.

As part of my book launch, I’ve created the Escape with the Ark Challenge in which children ages seven and up solve clues and tackle challenges in their own search for the Ark of the Covenant. It’s like an escape room, but it can be held outside or in a gym.

Kids look for clues at the landmarks of ancient Jerusalem such as the Temple and the Coliseum and experience some of the same things Eli experiences like crawling through a glowworm cave. One clue requires kids to find dye to reveal a hidden message on a scroll. Another challenge has them guess which person they should ask for directions, a Roman or a Pharisee. If they guess incorrectly, they have to dig through the “garbage” at the Valley of Gehenna to find the next clue.

I’m going to travel around the Southeastern U.S. hosting these events. Parents can go to JaneenZaio.com. to request that I host one for their Catholic school or homeschooling group.

That sounds like so much fun! Truly, you are bringing all your gifts to this project. I often have a saint or two who make themselves known to me, who come onto my radar for specific stories and to whom I turn to for help. What saints did you ask to intercede for you as you wrote?

I asked for the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis and Manuel Fodera who aren’t canonized yet, but I’m sure they’re in heaven. They were young boys who died of cancer in 2006 and 2010 respectively. Each of them showed great devotion to the Eucharist. Carlo called the Eucharist his “highway to heaven” and Manuel called it a “bomb of grace.” The other unofficial saint is the baby I miscarried, whom we named John Sebastian. I’m sure those three helped make this book and the Escape with the Ark Challenge more fun.

What’s next for you? What’s God calling you to do?

In addition to hosting the Escape with the Ark Challenges, this spring I’ll host a True North Book Club which allows students around the world to watch recorded sessions online where we discuss each chapter of The Treasure with a Face and give author secrets. We also talk about literary devices and vocabulary, so it can be a language arts class for schools and homeschoolers.

I’d also love to speak at homeschooling or Eucharistic conferences. I give two different talks:

26 Ways to Help Kids Have Zeal for Christ’s Real Presence and 40 Ways to Be an Ambassador for Christ’s Real Presence.

After that, we’ll see where God leads me, but it would be fun to write a sequel to The Treasure with a Face or to take a Eucharistic miracle and develop a fictional story around it.

That’s so exciting, Janeen. I know you will follow God’s call with single-minded devotion. May He bless all the works of your heart and hands.

What's the best advice you ever received--on prayer, on writing, on marketing? What advice do you have for new writers?

The best advice on prayer is from our mutual Friend: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” I often go into Eucharistic Adoration stressed out but come out peaceful and joyful.

Me too, Janeen. It is amazing.

One of the best nuggets of advice I ever received on writing is from you, Vijaya. You said, “Write about something you’re passionate about.” Now that I’ve read The Treasure with a Face about a hundred times, I can see why you have to love what you’re writing, or it would be very tedious.

And let’s not forget that passionate means you’re willing to suffer for it.

The best marketing advice I have for writers is to find your audience and figure out how you want to reach them. So many people think social media marketing is the only way, but I think relationship marketing, while not as efficient, can create more loyal customers. Things like speaking events, book readings, and scavenger hunts might be more time-consuming, but they allow you to interact with your readers on a personal level, which is far more gratifying.

As a person who doesn’t have any social media presence at all, I am in complete agreement with what you say about building relationships. And it’s a lot more fun too.

My advice for new writers is that it’s never too late to start.

Hey, I’m reading that book right now by Julia Cameron.

Oh, and my unsolicited advice for everybody is the last line in my book, “Wherever you’re living, whenever you’re living, go discover the living Jesus for yourself.”

Amen! Thank you so much, Janeen, for taking the time to chat with me. Please share where they can find you online.

Link to my Facebook page, Janeen Zaio, Ambassadors for Christ's Real Presence https://www.facebook.com/Janeen-Zaio-Ambassadors-for-Christs-Real-Presence-101968027978031

Link to my Facebook page, The Treasure with a Face by Janeen Zaio

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069655753683&show_switched_toast=true

Link to my MeWe page, Catholics Who Love the Eucharist

https://mewe.com/p/catholicswholovetheeucharist

Finally, what is your favorite donut?

I have a list of my faves but THE very best one is sugar-coated, custard-filled, flaky croissant donut from the French chocolate cafe downtown Charleston.

There you have it, folks! The donut ministry helped tremendously during our conversion, so take note. Coincidentally, while we were having this conversation, I was having one with Grace Wynter over at WriterUnboxed. See: Author Up Close: Vijaya Bodach—Play. Dream. Believe. – Writer Unboxed