My Journey to Become an Author
Blog Post #1 - August 29, 2024
When I was 6 years old, I drew pictures and asked my mom to write down the story to go with my pictures. She did, and my stick figure, crayon-colored pictures drawn on little scraps of paper were stapled together and became my first book: Manna and the Peach Bush and the Banana Tree.
Never mind that I had named the main character—a little girl with brown hair and a fruit tree in the backyard who had a striking resemblance to my six-year-old self—Manna, after hearing a Bible lesson at church about God providing manna for his people in the desert. Apparently I had listened in Sunday School, but somehow came home from church thinking manna was a little girl’s name, and not little honey wafers, as the Bible describes it. Never mind that you couldn’t grow bananas in our Midwestern back yard. And never mind that peaches grew on trees (we actually had one of those!) not bushes as my little book suggests.
In spite of all my six-year-old silliness, Manna and the Peach Bush and the Banana Tree became a favorite in my family.
Many more illustrations and stories scribbled on little scrap pieces of paper and then stapled together soon followed.
When I was about 8 years old, I decided I wanted to be an author one day. I even wrote a song about it. (I also wanted to be a singer 😊)
I enjoyed writing stories and poems all through grade school, junior high, and high school. My college English professor told me I should major in English, and my Children’s Literature professor in my education classes told me the book I had written (as an assignment for her class) should be published. I did briefly pursue publishing that book, but nothing came of it. But that was okay because at that time, I had other plans: marry my college sweetheart, live in the country, and have a family of our own. Fast forward several more years, and we began caring for children in foster care.
I wanted a way to reach even more children—hopefully all across the country—with a message of hope and healing. I prayerfully wrote Sammy’s Journey Home, and even though it wasn’t written on little scraps of paper and stapled together, it became a family favorite with my children in my own home.
I am thrilled and honored to present Sammy’s Journey Home to you, my dear readers. I hope it touches your hearts and inspires you to open your heart to the love of God, receive His grace, and unlock your potential. May you live your life, and truly enjoy each day.
Blessings!
~Elizabeth
Thanks, Mom, for always encouraging my creativity!