Sunday, February 13, 2011

Prayers for my Medieval Series

I haven’t told many folks about this, but I decided to share it in the hopes that you’ll send up some prayers. My agent is sending out a proposal for a series of picture books I created that take place in medieval times. They’re called THE VILLAGE TALES.

I just wanted to ask you to pray that a publisher will take these on. It’s something I’ve had in the works for years, but I didn’t pursue it because I wanted to pick my own illustrator (see the Toy Maker's Shop illustration, by my brother-in-law, Reuben Rog: http://rrog.deviantart.com/). Anyway, publishers prefer using their own artists. Now, I’ll be happy to work with whomever they choose. All I know is, this is something I can accomplish. I’m working on Father’s Rock (Book Three in my Iron series), but it’s kind of overwhelming right now, and the publisher is being understanding about what I can and can’t accomplish at the moment. I’m working on it, but it’s good to have these short stories to give me a sense of accomplishment, and it’s something I absolutely love.

Each tale creates a part of a village, and they take place in the shops, the nearby castle, out in the village fields, and on the village streets. I’m full of ideas for this series. The stories are parables where God represents the shopkeepers, the king, or whomever is in charge at the time. I’ve completed six titles with more to come.

Here’s what I have so far:

The Toy Maker’s Shop
The Cobbler's Shop
The Potter's Shop
The Jeweler's Shop
The Lamp Maker's Shop
The Great Snowmaker

Each story ends with a one to two sentence moral like the classic tales of old.

Of course, I know the following costs money, and the publisher will have to see if the first books sell before going to this extreme, but . . . imagine each book in the shape of a shop, castle, village street, or the trees and fields. Visualize the books displayed so they resemble a village. It’s my hope people will want to collect the whole set!

A person can dream, right? :-)

Anyway, please pray that a publisher will want them. I know picture books are hard to sell, but with God, all things are possible. And I really feel like these stories will encourage, not only children, but adults as well.

6 comments:

  1. Just let us know when they are available to buy and we will buy them! YAY!!! I am excited about more books!!!!!

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  2. I loved the first one I read. They are wonderful and I could see the images as I read. Can't wait for them to be published and I want a set for our church library.

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  3. Wow, they sound fantastic. Wish I could buy them now! :)

    cb
    http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

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  4. I am thrilled about this! I still remember when we would have our "girl time" and you reading a couple of these to me as I drove. We even talked about the illustrations. I thought it was ironic that by just reading it I had the same thoughts you had about the pictures in the book. I have told some people about this series already and they've all said they'd love to read them. Prayers are being said for the publishers to LOVE this series and want input for your illustration ideas. Love you my sweet friend!!

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  5. It sounds like a wonderful series that children (and their parents) would adore, so I hope they make it out onto the shelves. I'll add my prayer that the right publisher will see their potential.

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  6. They sound really great. Hope the publisher will want to publish them as soon as possible.

    Blessings~

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WHEN THE WORLD SAYS YOU CAN'T, FAITH SAYS YOU CAN!