The holiday season got off to a bang at our house this past weekend with Thanksgiving and then Christmas Tree Day! It’s beginning to look a lot like my favorite holiday around here, and I wanted to bring some of the Spirit of Christmas to Sensibility and Sense!
That’s why I’m excited to introduce children’s author, Stephanie Burkhart and her new picture book, JOSEPH’S CRADLE!
Here’s a little bit about the book. . .
“The Christmas story about the birth of Jesus is one of the most popular and well known stories around the world. We can only imagine how anxious Joseph and Mary were when they arrived in Bethlehem. Throughout the story, Mary carries herself with dignity and grace. Joseph is steadfast and loyal. Becoming a parent isn’t easy and both Mary and Joseph have to find their own way.”
What a compelling story! And now, let’s meet the author. . .
Stephanie Burkhart was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, but now calls California her home. She currently works for the LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher. Stephanie has been writing since she was five, when she crafted homemade comic books on the kitchen table. Her previous books with 4RV Publishing include: THE GIVING MEADOW, and FIRST FLAG OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. Stephanie enjoys coffee, adores chocolate and is currently the Den Leader for her son’s Cub Scout Den.
Welcome Stephanie!
SS: Mary and Baby Jesus are often themes for Christmas books. What inspired you to write this story from Joseph’s perspective?
STEPHANIE: I wanted to write the Christmas story from the view of being expectant parents. I wanted to show how Joseph grew into fatherhood. I think these are all aspects of life we all can identify with.
SS: How long did it take you to write JOSEPH’S CRADLE?
STEPHANIE: The story took about a day to write. After editing, I’d say it took about a week.
SS: The pictures in the book are lovely! Did you pick the illustrator?
STEPHANIE: No, I did not. 4RV Publishing selected the illustrator. I think Matthew Hughes did a fantastic job with the illustrations. They have a very soft-hearted feel and compliment the story well.
SS: With so many Christmas book out there, what makes JOSEPH’S CRADLE special?
STEPHANIE: It’s a look at the Christmas story from a different perspective.
SS: How long have you been writing children’s books?
STEPHANIE: About 5 years now. My first children’s book, THE GIVING MEADOW was published with 4RV Publishing in 2010. It has a great message about sharing and caring for young children as well as telling about Caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly. It’s perfect for Easter as it helps young children understand Jesus’ story.
Thanks for sharing your writer journey with us! You can learn more about Stephanie at www.stephanieburkhart.com. JOSEPH’S CRADLE is available for purchase through 4RV Publishing.
Sensibility- Looking at familiar stories from different perspectives helps us see things in ways we never thought possible.
Sense- Write a draft of your current work-in-progress from the perspective of a different character or object in the story. You’ll be amazed at what you learn that can make your manuscript stronger.
What’s one of your favorite Christmas books?
Thank you so much for having me here today, Patti! One of my favorite Christmas stories is Rudolph. I remember as a child I couldn’t for it to come on TV.
Smiles
Steph Burkhart
Nice story I like that you can do this.
Congratulations on Joseph’s Cradle. I think sometimes we forget that Mary and Joseph were parents with the same joys and fears as the rest of us.
This is such a wonderful book. I’m glad you were able to write a book for the children of the world! 🙂
Great idea to write your book from Joseph’s perspective. Sometimes he gets overlooked! Lovely cover!
Another great interview, Stephanie. The book is a winner. Good luck. Thanks, Patti, for sharing.