Blog | Mindy Baker Books

Glenys Nellist has done it again. Her book LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD–BIBLE STORIES FOR A GIRL’S HEART speaks directly to young girls as it narrates in sweet and simple prose fourteen stories of the women of the Bible. Each woman’s story highlights a different adjective: Eve (The first girl), Miriam (The trusting girl), Rahab (The brave girl), Deborah (The strong girl) etc. The lift-the-flap love letter on each page is a letter from God written to the reader, and portrays God’s reassurance that he is able, willing, and ready to help his precious daughters become the women he created them to be.

I personally connected with and loved the beautiful story of Miriam. Miriam had to learn to trust. As she watched her baby brother in the basket she thought of all the things that could happen to him and she was afraid. The end of the story is incredibly powerful. Glenys writes, “And as she ran, she thought about all the things she had been afraid of at the riverbank. The wicked king had not come. The waves had not come. But God had come. God had come and saved her baby brother. ‘Thank you, God,’ Miriam whispered, ‘for helping me to let go of my fears and trust you instead.'”

I pray that I would let go of my fears and trust God in the the way this simple story tells that Miriam did.

You know it is a great children’s book when it can touch the hearts of the adults who are reading it, too. These are powerful truths for everyone—parents, grandparents, and children!

I also loved how Glenys moved chronologically through the Bible from Eve to Mary Magdalene at the Resurrection. I also loved how she concluded with a space for the reader to write a love letter back to God.

I highly recommend LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD–BIBLE STORIES FOR A GIRL’S HEART.

Here are some helpful links:

To purchase on Amazon, click here.

Glenys Nellist’s Website

Twitter: @Glenys Nellist
Facebook: Glenys Nellist: Author

GRAND RAPIDS AREA: Glenys recently hosted a princess party which included activities such as reading the story of Esther, The Prayerful Girl (from the book), making a pin wheel craft and coloring, snacks (of course!), and parading around the bookstore. She also taught the girls to wave like the Queen of England. Sounds fun! She is planning Princess Party at local church in the near future. More details will be announced shortly on her website and Facebook. Be sure to check there for more information.

About the author: GLENYS NELLIST was born and raised in a little village in northern England. Her stories and poems have been published in children’s magazines where her writing reflects a deep passion for bringing the Bible to life for young children. Glenys lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, David.

Book Review and Author Interviews

An interview with the illustrator of MAYA LIN…Dow Phumiruk

June 16, 2017February 17, 2019 admin

I recently contacted Dow Phumiruk to ask her some questions about the work she did illustrating her debut picture book entitled MAYA LIN.

Background:
MAYA LIN is the story of the artist-architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Here is a paragraph of what the book MAYA LIN is all about (as taken from its description on the Internet).

“As a child, Maya Lin loved to study the spaces around her. She explored the forest in her backyard, observing woodland creatures, and used her house as a model to build tiny towns out of paper and scraps. The daughter of a clay artist and poet, Maya grew up with art and learned to think with her hands as well as her mind. From her first experiments with light and lines to the height of her success nationwide, this is the story of an inspiring American artist; the visionary artist-architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.”

It was such a delight to interview Dow! Here are my questions and her answers:

Q: Can you describe for us the process you go through in illustrating a book from concept to final art? What are some of the challenges you face along the way, and how do you overcome them?

A: First I’ll create a storyboard – basically thumbnails (tiny, really rough blobby sketches – “blobby” is the best word I can think of!) of the entire book. I use a template I found online along with Photoshop for this. I try to vary layout and composition for interest and keep the pace of the book in mind. I’ll ask myself several questions:

– What do I want in the middle of the book?

– Where do I want to use full spreads with lots of details for the reader to pause and dwell on the art?

– Where should I use a series of quick spot illustrations to move the story along?

– Which parts of the story have very obvious images that comes to mind? Those images will be my anchors, and then I can draw in the rest of the storyboard around them.

Some stories can be challenging if there are so many important scenes that I want to draw too many spreads. Sometimes text lends itself to an abstract image, and this is very tricky figuring out how to incorporate abstract sequences into the rest of the more realistic art. For example, Maya Lin imagined a giant knife slicing into the earth for her memorial design. I had difficulty thinking how a big knife could be drawn into a picture book for young children – without being too scary! Ultimately, my editor gave me some feedback, and we made it work. Often times before I ask for feedback from my editor, I’ll run it by my online critique group buddies. Their advice is very helpful, and so many times a fresh look at the art is all that’s needed to lead us to a novel solution.

Next I’ll draw out a dummy using my storyboard as a guide. I might submit the dummy in color unless the art director specifically asks for black and white. I’ll carve the “blobby” sketched shapes down into recognizable people or scenery. My kids laugh at my sketches, because they are often funny-looking. A person in the background might look more like an octopus or loaf of bread than of human form! After the dummy and individual spreads are approved, then I put in all the details, shading, texture, and lighting.

Q: Do you have a favorite page or series of drawings within the MAYA LIN book? If so, what is it and why?

A: My favorite spread is the forest scene. She sits on a rock and waits, hoping to befriend the wild animals. I love drawing greenery and animals and soft lighting. I also love the thought of sitting peacefully in the woods, catching glimpses of woodland creatures. My family and I enjoy nature hikes in our beautiful state of Colorado.

Q: What was it about this particular project that resonated with you and made you want to work on it?

A: The most realistic answer is that it was my first opportunity to work with a traditional publishing house (Christy Ottaviano Books of Henry Holt/Macmillan), and I probably would’ve said yes to a book about almost anything (slugs/bugs, the inventor of the stapler, etc). But, wow! What a perfect fit this project turned out to be for me. I loved drawing Maya. As you might guess, I’ve spent a good part of my artist life drawing Asian girls and women!

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book MAYA LIN, and specifically the way that you portrayed the storyline?

A: This story is an inspiration for readers of all ages! I recently attended a book signing with my daughters for two of their favorite young adult authors, Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen) and Colleen Oakes (Queen of Hearts). These lovely ladies told the teens and tweens present not to think that their dreams were for someone else – not to think that writing a best selling novel was for someone else to do. We moms in the audience listened and were inspired, too. Similarly, I hope the message from Maya Lin’s story will inspire readers to do the best they can, take some chances, and reach for their life goals. Successes like Victoria’s and Colleen’s and Maya’s could happen for any of us, because in many ways, these successful people are much like ourselves.

Here are some links to help you get to know Dow and her artwork better.

Portfolio

Blog

Twitter and Instagram: @dowphumiruk

Facebook page: artbydow

MAYA LIN on Amazon:

Note to Dow–It was a true delight to hear how you create your artwork, and I enjoyed the personal thoughts and insights you shared with me in the answers to my questions. Best wishes to you with this beautiful book!

Book Review and Author Interviews

Book Review–Christmas Love Letters from God

October 15, 2016February 17, 2019 admin

Glenys Nellist beautifully tells seven stories that surround the birth of Christ in a simple, yet compelling way, combining prose and rhyme. It is perfect for helping children to identify with how Isaiah, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and the Wise Men might have felt as they lived out these moments of their lives.

I personally loved how each mini-story tied into a promise from God in the Old Testament. As I lifted the flap and read the letter from God, each promise seemed to jump off of the page and speak right to my heart.

The exciting thing is that children will have this experience as they read the book. As they lift each flap to receive a letter from God, the Christmas love letters will help them to personally connect a promise of Scripture to their own struggles, fears, and experiences.

For example:

When I feel worried or apprehensive about what God is asking me to do (like Mary) God says, “The light of my blessing will shine on you.”

When I have doubt (like Joseph), God says, “I will make you strong and help you.”

When I am facing a long and difficult path (like Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem), God says, “I will march out ahead of you.”

These are powerful truths for everyone—parents, grandparents, and children!

I also loved how Glenys began with Isaiah, which will help children to make the important connection that Jesus was the fulfillment of a promise God made to bring his light to the world. I also loved how she concluded with a space for the child to write a letter back to God, as a way of giving a gift back to him.

Although my children are grown now, I know I would have used this beautiful book year after year as a family tradition and well-loved Christmas read-aloud. It was a joy to receive this book in the mail and have the opportunity to review it.

About the author: GLENYS NELLIST was born and raised in a little village in northern England. Her stories and poems have been published in children’s magazines where her writing reflects a deep passion for bringing the Bible to life for young children. Glenys lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, David.

Author life

Book Launch Team

July 26, 2016February 17, 2019 admin

Come Join me on my journey to publication by joining my BOOK LAUNCH TEAM! Thanks in advance. https://goo.gl/forms/2TM3EyG6EjpHmAN13 …