Picture Book

October 24, 2023 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Writer’s Desk: Alyssa Clements

The Writer’s Desk with Alyssa Clements

Alyssa Clements is a third-grade teacher turned book editor who loves pointing children to God through the incredible world he has made. After earning her undergraduate degree in English literature and masters of arts in teaching elementary education from Wheaton College, Alyssa taught third grade at a Christian classical school in the Chicagoland area. She then went to work in the Christian publishing industry as an acquisitions editor on the children’s and adult nonfiction teams at Tyndale House Publishers, where she currently enjoys creating faith-based books that inspire readers of all ages to love what is good, true, and beautiful.

Alyssa is married to Forrest, and they have two wonderfully curious young children. Their family lives in West Chicago, Illinois, and can often be found playing outdoors at their neighborhood park or curled up reading stacks and stacks of picture books.

Connect with Alyssa on Instagram and Facebook.

More about The Size of Everything

This one-of-a-kind, faith and science picture book starts in the middle with the size your child knows best―their own body! Turn the pages to the left or right to discover big and small creations and science facts about God’s incredible world.

God created ginormous galaxies, itty-bitty quarks and everything in between―including humans. The Size of Everything captures the magnitude of God’s creation by setting everything on a size scale. Readers start in the middle with the size of an eight-year-old child and have the option to turn the pages to the left and explore cells, plants, and animals that are smaller than them. Or they can turn the pages to the right to discover creatures, landmarks, and planets larger than they can imagine! Best of all, children will see God’s power and creativity in all of creation.

What’s Inside?

A one-of-a-kind book that starts in the middle
Over 45 fantastic creations (atoms, cells, animals, plants, landmarks, planets, etc.)
Over 80 brilliantly colorful illustrations and highly detailed photos
Over 100 mind-blowing science facts, educational callouts, and funny tidbits
A giant size index along the bottom of each page for children to track their progress

It’s a perfect faith and science resource for reading at home or an educational resource for home schools, Christian schools, and Sunday school classrooms.

Purchase a copy of The Size of Everything here.

Q&A with Alyssa Clements

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

AC: I grew up in northern California.

TG: Why did you write The Size of Everything?

AC: I wrote The Size of Everything because I saw a hole in the Christian children’s book market when it comes to books that tie faith and science together in an exciting, but scientifically rich way. When I was a third-grade teacher at a Christian school, science was my favorite subject to teach because it provided such a natural avenue to conversation about God. Kids love learning cool facts and having their minds blown by new, interesting things, and the study of science is filled with that. As they dive into scientific study, children are almost guaranteed to come across something that will lead them to respond, “That’s so cool!” Those moments are wonderful opportunities to respond, “Yes! And isn’t God so cool for creating it that way!” By studying the amazing world that God has made, children can easily have their hearts turned towards him—the Creator of it all. I hope that readers of The Size of Everything will each have a moment where they are stopped in their tracks by a fact about God’s world that sparks awe in them and inspires them to think about God in a new way.

TG: Did you have any surprises or learning moments while writing this title?

AC: I learned so many cool facts about God’s world! My research took me down so many rabbit trails, and the more I researched, the more I was fascinated by the intentionality, whimsy, and hugeness of God’s world. I was also reminded over and over again of the theme of the book, that of all these huge and tiny, marvelous and fascinating things, God says that people are his best creation. I obviously knew this before writing the book, but I was surprised by how much I still felt amazed by God’s love while I was writing. I hope it comes through to the readers!

TG: What do you hope readers take away from The Size of Everything?

AC: I hope they start seeing more of God and his character in the world around them. I hope that they want to learn more about who God is because they see that he is powerful, fun, creative, and loves them more than anything.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

AC: I like to set aside several hours at a time to write. It takes me a little while to get in a groove, and once I do, I like to have the time to dig in. I don’t do well with writing just a half hour here and a half hour there.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

AC: I’ve found that creating an outline is super important. This gives structure from the very beginning and keeps me from wasting time on ideas that are interesting but that might not actually make sense in the book. Children’s books also need to adhere to strict page count guidelines. An outline helps me to stay within those guidelines and create a cohesive product from the beginning, without having to add or cut things later to meet the page count.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

AC: I normally choose hot tea, especially fruity flavors.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

AC: I like to get outside and away from my computer. Getting my body moving and in a different environment helps me to think through different options and see if I can come at what I’m stuck on from a different angle. I also like to talk through ideas with my husband. Sometimes it’s easier to find the words that I’m looking for when I’m speaking compared to just writing, and verbally processing can get me unstuck.

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

AC: I’m a “both” writer! I definitely edit as I go because I like to finish a writing session with at least a portion of text that I feel good about. But once I write a larger section, I also like to step away and then come back to edit it again a few days later with fresh eyes. This just means that I need to plan ahead when it comes to my deadlines!

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

AC: You have to know your audience. As a children’s book writer, it’s important to understand child development and how children are thinking and speaking at different ages. There are so many children’s books out there that are written for adults more than children, which makes sense because adults are the ones publishing and purchasing the books. But I would say that a truly successful children’s book is one that kids will come back to over and over on their own. These books are the ones that invite children in at their level, and they are often different from the ones that adults think they will be.

So if you want to write children’s books that children will enjoy, spend time with the children in your life! Pay attention to how they think and talk, and consider what words and experiences are known to them at different ages.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

AC: There’s a quote by Toni Morrison: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” I never planned to write a children’s book, but I knew the power of science in inspiring faith so thought I’d try to write the one that I thought was missing in the market. I was fairly confident that kids would like the concept because it was based off a lesson I used to teach my third graders, but I had no idea if all the gatekeepers I needed to get on board to get it published would catch the vision. I am honestly just so humbled that it is a real book out in the world. I’m glad I was willing to risk the rejection and go for it.

TG: What is your favorite place on earth?

AC: This may be a boring answer, but I’m a total homebody, so I have to say our home. It has lots of windows and natural light, and it’s the place where my kids are the most comfortable. I really can’t think of anywhere better than to be with them and my husband in the place that makes us all the happiest.

TG: Cats or dogs?

AC: Cats! Our family has a ten-year-old Tabby named Marmo.

TG: What is one thing you can’t live without?

AC: Plants. During the winter, you’ll find me tending to my house plants, and during the summer, I love being out in the garden, especially tending to my dahlias.

TG: What is the best song to blast when you need to be pumped up?

AC: “The Love of the Father” by CityAlight

TG: If you could time travel to any point in history when would it be, and who would you be hanging out with?

AC: I would like to travel back to the time when Jesus lived on earth and spend time with his mom, Mary. As a mom myself, I would love to talk all things motherhood and hear about her experiences raising Jesus.

TG: If you weren’t a writer, what job would you have?

AC: Besides being a writer, I’ve also been a third-grade teacher and book editor. I have loved each of those jobs in the different stages of my life that I’ve had them. I’m also a very novice gardener, and if I had the land and the time to invest in learning and planting, I would love to become a flower farmer.

TG: Who is your dream co-author?

AC: I would love to do a book with Steve Jenkins. His children’s science books are filled with fascinating information, and his striking, Caldecott-winning illustrations are realistic and interesting to look at. Our whole family loves them! However, his books do not have a Christian connection. He captures his readers’ imaginations, and after that happens, I wish I could come in and help turn readers’ hearts towards God and show them that learning science isn’t an end in itself; instead, it’s God’s joyful and gracious revelation of his character. Only with that perspective does it really matter.

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July 27, 2022 by Tricia Goyer 23 Comments

Writer’s Desk with Karen Ferguson

The Writer’s Desk with Karen Ferguson

Karen Ferguson is a freelance writer and small business owner with a background in K-8 education. A grateful wife, mom, and grandmom she loves words and the Word of God and is passionate about writing stories that grab and hold young readers’ attention while teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love for them. She wants every child to know their life matters.

Karen loves reading, writing, staying active, and spending time with her family and their crazy Golden Retriever in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Connect with Karen on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, GoodReads, and sign up for her newsletter here.

Q&A with Karen Ferguson

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

KF: One of my favorite things to do in the evening is read, but if I try to read in bed after 8:30 pm, I immediately fall asleep… 😴

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Guess How Much God Loves You?

KF: The Bible. This book is about the Creation Account as recorded in the Bible. I know there is some controversy surrounding The Beginning, and just how that happened, even within the Church. But none of us were alive then, and I’m a firm believer in the authority and authenticity of the Bible, so I relied on what God said happened at the very beginning.

But there is more to this book. This is the first of a six-book series, and there is a story thread throughout, with two main characters: Lucy Lu and Papa Joe. I didn’t want to just present facts from the Bible, I wanted those facts to be part of a personal story kids could relate to. And I wanted to create an experience for readers, something along the lines of the Magic School Bus series, so kids feel like they are living it firsthand.

The main motivator behind the book was frustration. I was seeing too many children’s books promoting anti-biblical principles. I remember how important it was for me to teach my girls about God in a way that was engaging, easy to relate to, and Bible-based, and now that I’m a grandmom it seems even harder to find these types of resources.

Young children are so impressionable and, unfortunately, they are bombarded with ungodly messages every day, in ways that would have been unbelievable ten years ago. I wanted to be part of the solution and create something dynamic, fun, and creative – grounded in the truths of the Bible – for parents and grandparents to share with the special children in their lives.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

KF: Not really, although the words do seem to flow a bit better when I have a cup of coffee right beside me. One habit I gave up was obsessively self-editing as I wrote. I used to do this all the time and it really slowed me down and got in the way of creative thought. I’m getting better at letting the words flow freely in the first draft before I start editing too much.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

KF: Waiting to edit until the second draft. Think of your first draft as more of a free write practice. I also encourage you to schedule your writing time just like any other important appointment. This is something I’m working on myself, as I’ve had a nasty habit of putting off writing for other “more important” things far too often. Sometimes those other things are legitimate reasons, but I have found they can easily turn into excuses.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

KF: My favorite coffee: Kauai Coffee Company, Garden Isle Medium Roast. I discovered it when we were in Kauai many years ago and toured their coffee estate. I was thrilled to find it in local stores! The Hawaiian Islands hold a special place in my heart, so when I drink it, it feels like a little bit of paradise at home 🏝

I try not to snack when I write, once I get started it’s hard to stop 😋

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

KF: I take a walk or listen to music. Worship music, primarily. There is something rejuvenating about getting out into green space and fresh air that is so good for my brain and body. It clears the clutter in my head and silences that inner critic that can distract and discourage. Add worship music into the mix, and my heart and mind are ready for new ideas.

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

KF: I used to edit obsessively as I wrote, which slowed me down and caused a lot of frustration. After hearing from several writers about their editing practices, I either wait until the second draft if I’m writing something short or until the end of my writing session to do some light edits if it’s longer.

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

KF: Expecting instant success. Like anything in life, something worthwhile takes time to achieve. The reality is very few people achieve instant success in any field. We just don’t see all the baby steps those ‘successful’ authors took to get to that place. Also, comparing yourself with other writers. Don’t do it! 😊 Too often we compare our beginning with someone else’s middle or even end. God has a unique plan for each of us as writers, so don’t let small beginnings discourage you. Each step forward is important, no matter how small.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

KF: Don’t overfocus on building your platform at first. Focus most of your energies on learning how to be the best writer you can be. This is a paraphrase, but it was solid advice from Francine Rivers when I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting with her one on one at a writer’s conference in 2019. Of course, platform building is an important piece of the writing journey, but she explained how essential it is to first study and develop our writing skills, so we create something worth reading and sharing.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

KF: The second book in the Guess How Much God Loves You picture book series. It’s about the First Family of God (Adam, Eve, and the Garden).

TG: What book(s) are you currently reading?

KF: Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills for fiction, and Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel for non-fiction.

TG: What is your favorite place on earth?

KF: The library of course… ;-). I have often said to my husband that besides home and church, it’s my favorite place, and it’s true. But if I had to pick a more exotic location, it’s the Hawaiian Islands. As my dad used to say, Hawaii feels like “Paradise on earth.” There’s a beauty and feeling of wellbeing that goes along with it that’s hard to explain. More recently I’ve fallen in love with Seaside Florida (30A) on the Gulf of Mexico. Or the Emerald Coast as it is called – and for good reason – the water is amazing!

TG: Cats or dogs?

KF: Dogs all the way (sorry cat lovers ;-)! Growing up I had both, but my husband is allergic to cats, so after 30 years with just dogs, I’m not sure I’d know what to do with a cat now. Dogs are intensely loyal and loving, a true gift from God.

TG: What is one thing you can’t live without?

KF: Jesus.

TG: What is the best song to blast when you need to be pumped up?

KF: I love worship music, and mostly listen to that genre, but I have to say, “We Will Rock You” by Queen pumps me up every time! When it starts playing my reflex is to stomp and sing the lyrics aggressively no matter where I am…😁

TG: If you could time travel to any point in history when would it be, and who would you be hanging out with?

KF: The 1950s. There is something about that period that is nostalgic, but still current enough to have things I appreciate like easy access to clean water, bathrooms inside homes, and cars to drive. I’d be hanging out with Elvis, for sure. I’ve been a big fan of his ever since I was a kid listening to my mom’s records after school and dancing in my bedroom. As an adult, I appreciate not only his sound but his contribution to gospel music.

TG: If you weren’t a writer, what job would you have?

KF: I’ve worked in many different fields over the years. There was a point when I referred to myself as a ‘multi-passionate professional’ because it was hard for me to choose just one path. In fact, I started my business doing a little bit of several things, as the idea of a niche was intimidating, and next to impossible to decide at first. But if I wasn’t pursuing this writing dream now, I’d probably be working in human resources, which was my last major gig before stepping out to write exclusively.

TG: Who is your dream co-author?

KF: Ted Dekker. I’ve enjoyed his stuff for years. Some of my favorites are the ones with intense (and sometimes creepy) plots. The way he writes is adrenaline-laced and never fails to pull me in, but what I love most about his work is each story has a redemptive quality to it. He always points to Jesus. Sometimes subtly, other times more boldly. It was his work that inspired me to write fiction so I would love to finish the manuscript I’m working on with his help 😉

Enter to win one of five copies of Guess How Much God Loves You:

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More about Guess How Much God Loves You:

Guess How Much God Loves You is the story of seven-year-old Lucy Lu, a colorful, creatively curious first-grader, who is starting to have serious questions about God.

How old is He?
Does He sleep?
What does He do all day?
And the biggest one of all—does God love me?

After one particularly hard day of being bullied by her classmates at school, Lucy feels like she doesn’t matter. She sits with Papa Joe, who has promised to answer her questions about God, launching them onto a journey to discover God’s never-changing, never-failing, never-ending love.

What follows is a wild adventure through the Bible, where Lucy and her papa find themselves in the middle of each page of the exciting story of God’s love and faithfulness for all people throughout all of history.

Purchase a copy of Guess How Much God Loves You.