There is no way getting around it: Kathy O’Neill reminds me of my grandma. It’s not just the northeastern accent, or the hair. It’s the mannerisms. It’s the heart. It was all I could do to stop myself from ending the interview by saying, “Well, I’ll see you at Thanksgiving!”

But I think the similarities go deeper. I think Kathy embodies the grandmotherly spirit. You can tell she loves children, she’s still got lots of energy, and she’d be there for you whenever you needed her. That’s the kind of person I want writing a devotional for kids.

As Brenda and I sat down to discuss her book “Hoofprints of Hope” I was amazed at the knowledge and ease that she has. Kathy has put in her time as a teacher and a writer and everyone at Write2Ignite cannot wait to help her get this book into the hands of as many children as possible. Listen to the episode as we discuss devotional writing, research, and how cowboy’s keep their hats on. Who knows? You may just finish the episode thinking about your grandma as well.

Back in the day, NHL player Jacques Plante wrote letters to a kid in Canada, giving him tips on the game. That kid grew up to be Sue Irwin’s husband. When she learned about this collection of letters, Sue decided to write a book about hockey safety. “Safety Stars” led to another sports book (this time about soccer) and now Sue has her first board book.

Hey There, Blue Bird, Why do you Chirp? Is a delightful story inspired by Psalm 145:10 which says, “All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.” Brenda and I got to talk to Sue about her new book, her writing journey, what Time2Write is, and how important critique groups are.

They say never meet your heroes. But I made an exception. Bob Smiley has been making me laugh since I was a kid reading the Clubhouse Magazine. I’ve seen almost every standup special he’s made. But when I read Average Boy’s Above Average Year, I became an even bigger fan. Bob Smiley and Focus on the Family have created a brand that has exploded recently. Average Boy books, articles, and an award-winning podcast. Bob has seen a gradual change, as more families come to his comedy shows because they are Average Boy fans. In this episode, Brenda and I ask Bob questions about comedy, the writing process, and his super-secret trick to get into the mind of a 12-year-old boy. If you find my laugh annoying, I apologize. It’s in this episode a lot!

As a fourth-generation author, Daniel Blackaby knows a thing or two about legacy. His grandfather wrote the impactful book “Experiencing God.” Every Christmas break, Daniel re-reads the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Legacy and cultural impact are always on Daniel’s mind. Which is why he launched his website “The Collision.org” which features articles and podcast episodes about how to engage with pop culture from a Biblical perspective.

On this month's episode, Brenda and I got to sit down with Daniel and talk about his books, why Christians struggle to embrace fantasy, and why we must do more than just criticize culture: we must contribute. If you want to check out other episodes, just click here. You can listen to the whole conversation here, or on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon Music.

To enter the giveaway, head on over to Write2Ignite.com and comment on this blog post:

Fantasy has the power to change someone. When C.S. Lewis read Phantastes by George MacDonald, he said it “baptized his imagination.” For Emily Golus, Vindor helped her with her anxiety. Now, the mother of two has three books set in the land of Vindor, and she’s hoping to write more.

On this month’s episode, Brenda and I got to ask Emily all the questions about fantasy: how do you build a story world? How do you keep your world fresh and original? And most importantly, do Centaurs brush their teeth? Listen to this wide-ranging conversation as we tackle fantasy, theology, and everything in between.

And if you want to check out other episodes, just click here. You’ll want to keep reading to find more resources below and how to enter the giveaway! You can listen to the whole conversation here, or on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon Music.

When her mother retired and started a raspberry farm, Donna Thornton found her hundred-acre wood. Starting with a baby donkey named Druplet, Donna wrote a picture book as a gift for her mother. This led to a publishing contract, another picture book, and another. Now, Donna is retired and is setting the personal goal of a book a year.

On this month’s episode, learn about the art of doing local events. From how to setup your table, to helping out nonprofit organizations through your book events, Donna will teach you the power of pouring into your local community.

And if you want to check out other episodes, just click here. You’ll want to keep reading to find more resources below and how to enter the giveaway! You can listen to the whole conversation here, or on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon Music.

Donna’s local artist: Kay Rugh https://www.facebook.com/iHeartRughArt

The author that Donna is loving right now: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi https://www.allenlevi.com/the-book

The non profits and churches Donna does signings with are:

Brookgreen Gardens

Knights of Columbus

Friends of the Waccamaw Library

Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church

The Kiwanis Club of Pawleys Island, SC

Friends of the Waccamaw Library

Pawleys Island Christian Academy

First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach

Since 2009, Anna Raats has worked for Ambassador International. From designing the interiors of books, to becoming the Chief Operating Officer of the publishing company, Anna knows a thing or two about publishing books. On this month’s episode, Brenda and I sit down and ask her the burning questions on every writer’s mind. From how many copies a first time author normally sells, to how many social media followers is enough. And in the meantime, you’ll meet one of the nicest people in the publishing world.Anna has been gracious enough to offer a $25 gift card to Ambassador International’s retail store as the giveaway. Here is how you enter: email us at info.write2ignite@gmail.com

Introducing…

When Cindy Lynn Sawyer wrote The Wonder of Under, shestopped short of hiring an illustrator. After all, the cost of hiring someoneto illustrate your picture book is the most expensive part of self-publishing. Soyou can imagine her surprise when she opened her birthday gift to find a fullyillustrated version of the Wonder of Under! Get ready to laugh and learnon this month’s podcast, as Cindy offers her insights into the world ofself-publishing picture books, where to market them, and how figuring out astory is like taking a laxative.

The podcast

You can listen to the whole conversation on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon Music.

If you want to win a copy of The Wonder of Under, and Remmy’sSticky Situation, here is how you enter: email us at info.write2ignite@gmail.com

Or, you can comment on this blog post.

You can purchase Cindy’s books here:

https://www.designed2glow.com/books.html

Cindy’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KidLitWriter/

Instagram: @designed2glow

https://jasminewall.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfbb4yRBH64

https://www.erinhealyedits.com/author-services

Authors Cindy loves:

Tina Cho

Glenys Nellist

Annette Whipple