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This is what happens when 11 publishers say ‘No’…

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Fatherhood changes me. More often than I imagined, Elias and Adeline (and soon, our new baby boy) affect how I see and experience life. I suspected this would happen but I didn’t know to what degree their lives would impact my own. But almost immediately, as soon as the midwife put Elias in my arms, his tiny 8-pound presence began shaping what I believe to be important, enjoyable, and true.

Still, even though he’s 6 and has already started calling me “Dad” on occasion, watching him grow up (and Adeline, too!) continues to mold who I am and who I want to be.

Some of my favorite moments as a father happen right before their bedtime (some of my most challenging moments also happen right before their bedtime). But whether they are acting like angels or trolls, bedtime can often create the opportunity or space for good stories to get told, for deep and curious wonderings to get said out loud, for the most hilarious moments to occur, and for important lessons and ideas to get talked about.

And often these amazing moments are sparked by a book. While I knew that my kids would likely love being read to, I didn’t have a clue to what extent my kids and I would fall in love with certain books. But that’s exactly what happened. Somehow, while snuggling in a warm bed and reading books like Where the Wild Things Are or Goodnight Moon or Llama Llama Red Pajamas or one of the many Dr. Seuse classics helped to create some of the most enjoyable or funny or sincere moments with my kids.

But one thing I noticed early on while reading to Elias was that there seemed to be a shortage of fun, easy-to-read, creative, and age-appropriate books about God. Oh, we read lots of books about God. But out of those that we read, so many of them failed to inspire the same moments that wockets and pockets or llamas or quirky odes to the moon seemed to inspire. For whatever reason, most of the books that even hinted about God (and let’s face it, most of them do far more than hint), none of them became Elias’s favorites or the kind of book that he’d request over and over.

I don’t know why this was true. Maybe it was me. Or maybe it was Elias. Or perhaps the books that we engaged simply lacked the “magic” that other books possessed.

I certainly didn’t dwell on this too much. However, I do remember that shortly after Adeline’s birth (Elias was 3) that somewhere in the back of my mind, an idea began to evolve. Like most ideas, it started as a question: is it possible to write a children’s book about God that was fun and inspiring and might develop the same bond with kids that so many of other books seem to do? And if so, what would that kind of book look like? What would it sound like? What would it be about? And if a children’s book like that were possible, would I even have the chops to write it?

Eventually, my questions sparked a couple of conversations with Jessica about children’s books and about whether or not she thought I should invest time and creativity into developing an idea. Without hesitation, Jessica looked at me and said, “You’re a writer—a good writer. And from the moment I knew that I was pregnant, I’ve always pictured you writing a children’s book.”

A few days later I was sitting at Starbucks, laptop open, brainstorming ideas. After a handful of bad concepts—a couple of them terrible—I decided on a theme: creation or Creation.

Now, don’t laugh, but here are the very first lines that I wrote:

God made this.
God made that.
God made them both in no time flat
This is big and that is small
Still, God made them, size and all.

God made these.
God made those.
Those are red. These have toes.
Fast things, slow things, things that crawl.
These and those, God made them all.

Okay, you can laugh. Eventually, I narrowed the concept to God making light. Light is easy to comprehend. It’s both practical and magical, a simple enough concept that’s layered with mystery and symbolism. And too, as a person of faith, I not only believe that everything started with light but that Jesus said that we are also light. So as a theme, “light” provided a wide array of ideas and imagery in which to work with.

For three months, off and on, I worked on the verse for a children’s book, attempting to capture with words what it might have been like when God created light. As I developed the concept, I let numerous people read it. I gave them permission to tell me what they liked, what they didn’t like, and what they believed worked and didn’t work. And then I worked on it some more…

Let there be light!
That’s what God said.
And light began shining and then started to spread.

In flickers and flashes,
In spills and in splashes,
Shine began shining across nothing but blackness.

Light glared and glimmered.
It flared and sparked.
And wherever light shined,
Dark stopped being dark.

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Working with rhyme and meter took me back to my roots in writing, to my middle school days when everywhere I went required that I carry a notebook with me just in case I was inspired to write a poem or song.

Several months after I finished, I presented the idea to my literary agent, Greg Daniel. He loved it. We began working on a book proposal, which was honestly a new concept for me. Though I’d written more than 16 books, I’d actually never needed to write a proposal before. I mean, I wrote a short summary of my idea a time or two. But a full blown proposal? Never.

Greg and I (with a little help from my wife, Jessica) put together a fantastic proposal for the book that we were now calling God Made Light. Not only did the proposal outline in detail the concept, but it also contained pre-endorsements from people like Ann Voskamp, Sandi Patty, Angie Smith, and a variety of others who were happy to add their name and support to the idea.

Because everybody I shared the idea with loved it. I mean, they really loved it.

Greg sent the proposal to 11 publishers. The immediate response from acquisition editors was excitement! I mean, it was almost odd how positive the reaction was. Every single editor except one took the concept to their pub boards. Every single pub board loved the idea. However, over the next six months (one editor took the book to her pub board twice), we received 11 declines. Some publishers said no because of budget reasons. Others said no because the children’s book industry was difficult to break into. And a couple publishers said no because I was the book’s author. That last one stung a bit.

We received the final no three days before Christmas. We were on our way to the airport when Greg called. I tried to be positive. But I was fighting tears.

Jessica grabbed my hand. “Matthew,” she said, “I believe in you, baby. And I believe in this book. We’ll publish it ourselves.”

However, at the time, we couldn’t afford to publish it ourselves. We didn’t have any debt except our mortgage. And we certainly weren’t struggling. But we also knew that, unlike self-publishing regular books, self-publishing a children’s book was expensive. To do it really well was a lot more expensive.

Almost 2 years later, Jessica said, “Let’s do this.”

I knew exactly who I wanted to ask to illustrate the book, my longtime friend, Matthew Paul Mewhorter! (Yes, that’s his real name.) Matthew and I have worked together before and so I was hopeful that he’d be up for doing it again.

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Almost immediately, Matthew began working on sketches for the book. After a few rounds of proofing the storyboard, Matthew began drawing, inking, editing, and all of the other things that artists do and redo, etc.

Contact Matthew Paul Mewhorter here.

Matthew’s artwork in God Made Light is beyond my expectations. It’s gorgeous, a brilliant display of color, movement. No doubt his talent brought my words alive.

Meanwhile, after seeing some of the initial artwork, DaySpring (the faith division of Hallmark) started working on a product line to go along with the book. That blew me away! I mean, what? A product line?! Are you kidding me?

The God Made Light product line by DaySpring includes a floor puzzle, a nightlight, and a collection of encouragement notes for kids. You can see all of it here or by clicking on the image below.

The final product is beautiful. Holding God Made Light for the first time was surreal.

But I’m also nervous. Because to do this well did not come cheap. But despite my slight anxiety, I believe in it.

Did I create a book about God that, like all of our favorite children’s books, might inspire beautiful moments and memories between parents and kids? I’ll let you and your kids decide that. But I’m hopeful that this book will accomplish that for many.

Every word in this book is intentional. Every detail in the artwork is there on purpose. Because I wanted to create a book about God that was enjoyable to read, both for parents and kids.  I wanted to create a book that tells our little ones that God delights in who they are. I wanted to create a book that reminded all of us that we are created to shine brightly.

And I wanted that book to be simple, fun, rhythmic, and full of color. And that’s why I released God Made Light.

For our kids. For us.

For a little more light to shine brightly in this world.

You can buy God Made Light at Amazon.com (and yes, it is Amazon Prime approved).

And please, would you consider sharing this book and products with your family and friends? I would be most grateful.

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Matthew Paul Turner

Author Matthew Paul Turner

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Join the discussion 36 Comments

  • AnnVoskamp says:

    Every page of this book shatters a bit more of the darkness, Matthew. 
    Thank you for stepping up and investing the time into our kids so we all get to pass a torch in the dark.
    Thank you for being the kind of brave that steps out of any box people may have put you in. 

    Thank you for the blazing hope that is God made Light.

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  • sarahbessey says:

    Congratulations, Matthew! You and Jessica are doing good work here.

  • sarahbessey says:

    Congratulations, Matthew! You and Jessica are doing good work here.

  • jodyo70 says:

    Matthew, I clicked on over here via Sarah B’s retweet. So very glad I did! I’m an elementary teacher and I LOVE kid’s picture books (as my shelves will attest). I am a grandmother and a writer.  I’ll have to say that the initial verses and rhymes here gave me chills.  You are so right–finding ‘let’s read it again!’ books about God is a bit of a challenge.  I’m guessing your book will change that.  I’m off to purchase and recommend!

  • baylormum says:

    My daughter’s first baby shower is in a month and she wants books to start library for Thomas. I’m already doing her favs, Mercer Mayer and I’ll Love You Forever. Now I need to add this to the mix. You have got to feed your family (although I know that is not why you did this)! Glad to call you friend. 

    🙂

  • baylormum says:

    My daughter’s first baby shower is in a month and she wants books to start library for Thomas. I’m already doing her favs, Mercer Mayer and I’ll Love You Forever. Now I need to add this to the mix. You have got to feed your family (although I know that is not why you did this)! Glad to call you friend. 

    🙂

  • ggbolt16 says:

    This looks awesome and both my kids love book (4 and 2) This will make a welcome addition to our ever growing library

  • ggbolt16 says:

    This looks awesome and both my kids love book (4 and 2) This will make a welcome addition to our ever growing library

  • TheRev1958 says:

    Does the book use male and female imagery and language for God?

  • TheRev1958 says:

    Does the book use male and female imagery and language for God?

  • DawnCamp says:

    I love this: “And wherever light shined, Dark stopped being dark.” I hope my children see that this applies to their light, too.

    My daughter read the beginning before I sat down with her and the first thing she mentioned was the rhyme. Then she had to read some of it out loud to show me, too. I had a couple of those mom’s-getting-choked-up-and-trying-to-hide-it moments, and those only happen with the best children’s books. 

    She loves the quirky illustrations and I especially like the ones that depict the light that’s inside us. 

    I’m glad you and Jessica didn’t give up on this book!

  • DawnCamp says:

    I love this: “And wherever light shined, Dark stopped being dark.” I hope my children see that this applies to their light, too.

    My daughter read the beginning before I sat down with her and the first thing she mentioned was the rhyme. Then she had to read some of it out loud to show me, too. I had a couple of those mom’s-getting-choked-up-and-trying-to-hide-it moments, and those only happen with the best children’s books. 

    She loves the quirky illustrations and I especially like the ones that depict the light that’s inside us. 

    I’m glad you and Jessica didn’t give up on this book!

  • TheRev1958 I only use the word “God.” I don’t use pronouns.

  • TheRev1958 I only use the word “God.” I don’t use pronouns.

  • TheRev1958 says:

    MatthewPaulTurner TheRev1958 Great! Thanks.

  • TheRev1958 says:

    MatthewPaulTurner TheRev1958 Great! Thanks.

  • JenniferAGLayte says:

    This sounds GREAT for my youngest nephew who, being the third, gets the other two kids’ off-casts. 

    While we’re at it, would you consider this book, maybe for your kids when they’re a little older?
    http://wp.me/P1h4nk-v8

  • JenniferAGLayte says:

    This sounds GREAT for my youngest nephew who, being the third, gets the other two kids’ off-casts. 

    While we’re at it, would you consider this book, maybe for your kids when they’re a little older?
    http://wp.me/P1h4nk-v8

  • Bethe Wright says:

    Bless you! I have a 15-month-old and reading to her is one of my great joys of being a mother (and we love Llama Llama), but you’re so right, the Christian books are kind of blah. I will gladly try this book out. And as an aspiring author finishing her first Christian novel, it’s encouraging to see that even with 11 rejections, you still saw your dream fulfilled.

  • Bethe Wright says:

    Bless you! I have a 15-month-old and reading to her is one of my great joys of being a mother (and we love Llama Llama), but you’re so right, the Christian books are kind of blah. I will gladly try this book out. And as an aspiring author finishing her first Christian novel, it’s encouraging to see that even with 11 rejections, you still saw your dream fulfilled.

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  • lizdyer55 says:

    Matthew – I’ve never met you and we’ve never interacted much on social network even though we have a lot of mutual connections and a few mutual friends but I feel like I know you a bit because I’ve followed you since you first started blogging. I’m really excited about this book. Your story of how it was birthed really touched me. I don’t have a child in my life at the moment to share it with but I’m looking forward to the day I have a grandchild so I’m going to buy it now. I also manage a private facebook group for Christian moms of LGBT kids (we love our kids uncomditionally and are trying to make the world a better place for them to live) and I’m going to share this post in my group which has more than 230 moms. Many blessings to you and your family!

  • Stpu22 says:

    I love your writing Matthew and am so glad you wrote this. I’m going to buy it for my grandchildren. Thank.

  • Stpu22 says:

    I love your writing Matthew and am so glad you wrote this. I’m going to buy it for my grandchildren. Thank.

  • courtney_walsh says:

    It’s really beautiful, Matthew, and I plan to order a copy for our son. It will be perfect for Christmas! I’m an author too and I understand the proposal (argh) and the pub board (double argh). I’ve had contracts fall apart after I’d finished the manuscript. And I have to say, taking the risk yourselves…doing this on your own? It’s gonna be all that much more of a reward when it explodes. 

    Maybe that was God’s plan all along. 🙂 

    Congratulations to you and your illustrator! You guys should both be so proud!

  • courtney_walsh says:

    It’s really beautiful, Matthew, and I plan to order a copy for our son. It will be perfect for Christmas! I’m an author too and I understand the proposal (argh) and the pub board (double argh). I’ve had contracts fall apart after I’d finished the manuscript. And I have to say, taking the risk yourselves…doing this on your own? It’s gonna be all that much more of a reward when it explodes. 

    Maybe that was God’s plan all along. 🙂 

    Congratulations to you and your illustrator! You guys should both be so proud!

  • ncurrie7 says:

    I can’t wait to read this book to my kids! I feel the same way about there not being many great books about God for kids. My youngest always asks for bible stories from his children’s bible, and that’s great, but I sense that he’s not entertained the way that he is when we read Green Eggs and Ham or Llama Llama and the Bully Goat or Goose on the Loose. He loves rhymes. This book sounds like it will fit the bill perfectly and is just what we have been looking for. I found your site through Lisa-Jo Baker’s blog post about your book. She’s a great writer. I love her blog. Really looking forward to getting my hands on your book, and I love the story behind the book. I’m so glad you were guided to create this book and to get it published through whatever means possible. Good for you! God bless.

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