October "Fest" of Fun
During the years that I lived in the East and Midwest, October became my favorite month. The humid summer heat subsided, and the trees morphed into sunsets of colors: orange, yellow, and red in all variations. I loved the sound of leaves crunching under my feet as a cool breeze ruffled the branches. What is your favorite season?
October has many interesting designations, from National Domestic Violence Month to Breast Cancer Awareness Month to National Pizza Month, just to name a few. It is also National Book Month, which includes Banned Book Week from October 4-10. The theme this year is "Let Books Be — Protect the Freedom to Read." Find out more at Banned Books Week. Good News!
My newest book, See What God Made! A Lift-the-Flap Book on Creation won first place in the ACFW KidLit Contest for "Best Picture Book and Board Book." What a thrill! I'm honored to have been chosen, and I'm grateful to the judges who spent hours and hours and hours reviewing all the books entered in the contest.
If you have purchased the book, I'd love to hear about it. My two little grandsons love it and can even lift the flaps (and there are many!). It warms my heart when someone who read my books as a child tells me their children are reading them now. New Children's Books By Fellow Authors & Friends
Take a peek at some lovely new books by fellow author friends: Roger Hutchison's third book in the Sparrow series, Sparrow's Blue Christmas, assures children that all feelings—joy and sorrow— are okay at Christmas, and that it helps to acknowledge our feelings among others who care.
Another author with a third release in an ongoing series is Jennifer Grant. Consider the Night Sky "invites children to learn about outer space and the wonder of God’s love." Love Letters from God Devotional: 52 Interactive Devotions for Growing in Faith and Feeling God's Love by Glenys Nellist will be released in early November but you can pre-order it now. The devotions are interactive and invite children to respond in their own unique ways. All of these books are beautifully illustrated and written with gentle, loving, lyrical text. Sophie Says:
I like to hang with Mom when she's working on her laptop.
I am sure that I am a great help. Dad says that I'm her muse! Don't Forget To:
* Support your local library
* Share with others the books that you love * Set your clocks back ("fall back") on November 1 (my birthday!) * Leave a book review on book websites (they matter!) * Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Website, & BlueSky
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September
The word "September" originates from the Latin word "septum," which means "seven." The original Roman calendar only had seven months and began in March; therefore, September was the 7th month of the year. But whatever the origin of the word, September rolls around every year and is often the time when school kicks off, although many schools now begin in August.
It's been many years since we had young kids at home and engaged in the annual "Back to School Gathering of Supplies." I miss those days of fresh boxes of crayons, brand-new backpacks, all clean and filled with paper and newly sharpened pencils and packets of felt-tip pens. There is a sense of new beginnings, of promise, when the new school year begins, and schedules are once again reinforced. Whatever your age or stage in life, I wish you a happy September, a time of promise and renewal. Book News
I'm delighted to share the September release of a wonderful new book of daily devotions: Always Near: Daily Devotions with God, published by the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation's Westminster John Knox Press. I am honored to have been asked to write an endorsement of the book, as well as to have some of my own devotions included. Here's a brief description:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 This beloved biblical quote begins this exquisite volume of 366 reflections, each grounded in Scripture and followed by a prayer. Offering even the busiest of readers the invitation to draw near to God each day, this daily devotional will be your guide to a deeper faith and closer walk with the One who created, redeems, and sustains us. Ideal for gift-giving throughout the year, Always Near offers timely insights for the seasons as well as biblical wisdom for daily living." I'll be using this daily devotional, and I encourage you to do the same. Let me know how it enriches your life. I'm a Finalist!
I recently joined the KidLit branch of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and entered my newest book, See What God Made, into the Published Children's Book category. The book is one of five finalists for the award, which will be announced on September 12. I'll keep you posted! I'm deeply honored that ACFW KidLit recognized this book. Sophie Says...
I start each morning with a Yoga pose, "Downward Dog." It's a great way to stretch & greet the day! Have a wonderful September,everyone! 
Where does the time go? It's already midway through summer, and kids are gathering school supplies while teachers prepare their rooms for the new semester. Summer flowers abound, but will soon be replaced by fall favorites. Our grandbabies grow and change every day and we are deeply grateful for the time we get to spend with them each week. Life moves forward at a rapid pace.
My newest book, See What God Made!: A Creation Story Lift-the-Flap Book has been out in the world for nearly 6 months and is being spotted in interesting places: From Vons grocery stores to a baby boutique in Las Vegas. If you see it somewhere, let me know. I have peel-and-stick book plates that I'm happy to sign and send to you if you buy a copy. And if you like the book but haven't left a review, even a very short one counts. I'm grateful to those of you who have taken the time to write one. Here are a few links if you wish to add yours: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbooks.com, BooksAMillion, or support a local or independent bookstore. I'd also be grateful if you would follow me on my Amazon Author Page. Thank you in advance!
Celebrating New Books From Friends
God's Gentle Care by Glenys Nellist is the latest book in the "Bedtime Blessings" series. This delightful board book "reassures children that God’s care is constant, gentle, and strong, holding them every moment of every day and night." The book is written for newborns to four year-olds, but even the adults reading the book to their children will be comforted by the gentle and loving rhymes.
Dee Leone, a fellow member of SCBWI-San Diego, has a delightful new book published by Little Golden Books: Counting Creatures and Their Features. The book has become an instant favorite with my youngest grandson, who is not even a year old but loves to sit and "read" the book! Canadian author Laura Alary has written many beautiful picture books, including a series on the seasons of the church year. In her just-released picture book, Around the Circle, Laura describes in "simple, rhythmic text and lush, mixed-media illustrations. . . the circle of the liturgical year as a path full of discovery and wonder." Claire Westwood's art is delightful! What I am reading...
I belong to a Faith in Fiction book group in Pasadena, where I now live. This month, we're reading one of my favorite books: This is Happiness by Niall Williams. But at the moment, I'm reading a book that a friend recently gave me, one that I keep hearing about: Theo of Golden. Both of these books are stories of loss, grief, forgiveness, and kindness. I never have a shortage of books that I want to read! I'd love to hear what you're currently reading.
Sophie Says...
I got some good snuggle time recently with my bestie,
Pippa. I love living closer to all my family!  A photo recently popped up on my feed of me at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, in 2009, holding copies of two of my books found in the Vatican bookstore—translated into Italian. The What is God Like? and Who is Jesus?, were the first books that I had accepted for publication after over four straight years of rejections. They began what became the "Little Blessings" series with Tyndale House. I knew that these books (and others in the series) were published in over twenty languages around the world, but I had no way of knowing where or in which cities. I also found copies in a small bookstore in Florence, Italy. I can’t express the deep joy I felt in knowing that words I’d first scribbled on a notepad at my kitchen table in Illinois had found their way into the hands of children around the world. The publishing world has changed a lot since I began writing children’s books thirty years ago. There are fewer actual bookstores for people to browse, fewer places where books can be found. Occasionally, I have found my books in pharmacies, airports, and even the homes of celebrities (remember the TV show, “Cribs?”) but getting them on bookstore shelves has become rare for me these days, in part because bookstores themselves are rare. In recent years, while shopping for groceries, I’ve checked out the magazine and book rack at the front of the stores. Never once have I seen one of my books on display. I’ve wondered, “How does one get their book on the bookshelf of a grocery store?" I imagined a child spotting my book while the parent stood in the checkout line, and pointing it out to said parent, and the parent saying, “Oh, what a lovely book! Put it in the cart!” This week, a new friend in the area where we now live spotted my most recent book, See What God Made: A Creation Story Lift-the-Flap Book. Where? At the local Vons grocery store! What a thrill! From the Vatican to Vons. This sums up my long writing career. I love that my books can be found from the Vatican in Rome, Italy, to the local Vons. I am delighted by both. But the greatest honor is that one of my books can be found on the nightstand next to a child’s bed: your child, or grandchild, perhaps, as well as mine. Happy reading, everyone! Kathy
Catching Up & A New Book: See What God Made!
Greetings friends and readers! It's been a long time since I sent any updates to you. These past five months have been full to overflowing:
Downsizing to a small place half the size of our home in Carlsbad; selling our house; and moving into a lovely retirement community in Pasadena, CA. We are within 20 minutes of all three of our grown children and our two very young grandchildren, who are growing up way too fast! We love being part of their lives. Along with spending time with family, we've been busy unpacking, getting to know new people, finding new doctors, exploring the area, and more. We are settling in happily amidst the challenges of change. My 59th book, See What God Made: A Creation Story Lift-the-Flap Book, entered the world on February 10. I'm busy getting proposals to editors through my wonderful agent, Rachel Kent, and hope to soon settle into a writing routine. I still have many books I feel inspired to write. Mother's Day just passed and Father's Day is on the horizon. My last three books, Since the Baby Came: A Sibling's Learning-to-Love Story in 16 Poems; Daddy, Tell Me a Story; and See What God Made! all make great gifts for Father's Day, baby showers, baptisms, birthdays. I'd love to hear from those of you who have shared my books with others, or who enjoy them within your own family. I wish each of you a lovely springtime as we head into summer and all that lies ahead for each of us. Looking for a Great Father's Day Gift?
 I've been eager to announce the upcoming publication of my latest book: See What God Made! A Creation Story Lift-the-Flap Book. It's perfect for curious little ones who enjoy interactive stories. This is my 59th published book, but my very first lift-the-flap. I'm very excited and can't wait for you to read it to your little ones. See What God Made!, based on the story of creation found in Genesis 1-2, highlights the events of the seven days in which God made heaven and earth and rested from all the wonderful work. This rhyming, interactive board book:
Lift the flaps in this rhyming story of creation and see what God made.   
Advent, my favorite season of the church year, begins November 30, as the secular calendar heads into its final month. One season ends, another begins, all at the same time.
Beginnings and endings. Such is the stuff of life. The Bostroms' lives are marked by especially poignant beginnings and endings this year. We became grandparents for the first time in February and will become grandparents again before this year is over. At the end of October, Greg retired after faithfully serving God as a pastor for 42 years. It's an ending we foresaw and carefully planned, and when he announced our plans in February, November seemed a long way away. Now, the month itself is nearly gone, and we find ourselves over our head in packing boxes, crazy schedules, and heartfelt good-byes. We try to cherish each moment we still have here in Carlsbad, a place we've come to love, full of people we've also come to love. Tears are commonplace in our home these days. The tears are not all sadness; they are mingled with gratitude for our time here and joyful thoughts of living closer to our ever growing family. When we moved from Illinois to California 11 years ago, we were a family of 5. Now, we are a family of 9+ (we include our daughter-in-law's mom as family, because she is!). We are grateful and blessed to be able to be near all of our grown children and families, to become a more active part of their lives, especially as the next generation begins. We're moving into a place half the size of what we now have, so we have had to let go of a significant amount of household items as well as memorabilia we have kept for many years. It has helped us whittle down to what we most treasure; but mostly what we treasure are the memories we carry deep inside our hearts. The next month will be busy with a new grandbaby, moving, and Christmas. We'll have a new address as of December 3. I'll be a bit quiet online, but will be back early January with news of a new children's book that will arrive on bookshelves (hopefully yours!) in early February. See What God Made: Creation! is my first lift-the-flap storybook in nearly 60 published books. The book is now available for pre-order. As you, too, live through your beginnings and endings and close out one year and welcome another, know that I hold you in my heart. May you find blessings in the ordinary moments as well as the extraordinary. And may the peace of Christ, whose birth we soon celebrate, fill your heart with joy! Great Christmas Gift Ideas
"The Blow Out Sale" is finished. |
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I enjoyed my first trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house
and got to meet their church family!
and got to meet their church family!
Sophie Says:
I was a very good girl when Camden came to visit!
I was gentle around him but I confess that I did try to sneak
some of his toys when he was having tummy time.
I was gentle around him but I confess that I did try to sneak
some of his toys when he was having tummy time.
NEXT MONTH...
I will share some upcoming children's books
by fellow authors and friends.
Stay tuned!
by fellow authors and friends.
Stay tuned!
Perfect Father's Day gifts for the Dads and Grandfathers in your life!
Since The Baby Came
A book for a family expecting a new baby, or a family with a new baby. Both parents are very active participants in the entire story!
Daddy, Tell Me a Story
Celebrate the special bond between fathers and daughters with this silly picture book about a bedtime story gone awry.
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