Book Birthday Blog with Angela Verges

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Angela Verges on the release of Abby and Zach Pray Through the Alphabet

  

Congratulations on your debut picture book! How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I have been a Sunday School teacher for 6–8-year-olds for a number of years. In fact, it’s been so long that I should be near retirement. Kids in their innocence give you their true opinion. I remember the comment of one little girl when we were discussing praying. At the end of class I asked her, “what do you like about our church.” She said, “I like the donuts. You have good donuts here.” I worked hard to contain my chuckle and noted her comment for future use somewhere. Months later the idea was birthed to create a story to show youth the simplicity of prayer and learning to pray.  

 

 

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book? 

I hope that a child listening to this story being read to them will know that there’s no “right” way to pray, no fancy words needed. The alphabet shows that prayer isn’t rigid. It can be joyful, curious, thankful, or quiet. God welcomes it all.
 
For adults reading to a child, I’d like them to be reminded that childlike prayer – honest, trusting and simple – is powerful. 

What was the most difficult part of writing this book? 

Hmm…finding the right voice. I wanted to make sure the tone was warm and the language age appropriate. I wanted simple language that would make the reader feel that they could pray with ease like Abby and Zach. 

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it? 

I am working on my marketing plan, learning to become better at using Goodreads as a resource and more comfortable promoting myself. Right now, you can find the book on Amazon and in the trunk of my car. 

What's next for you? 

My plan is to dust off a work-in-progress that I tucked away a couple of years ago; see if it has potential. 

More about the book . . . 

Have you ever wondered about the best way to make learning to pray easy for kids? Join Abby and Zach on a joyful journey from A to Z as they discover simple, heartfelt prayers that turn every letter of the alphabet into a moment to talk with God. Through realistic characters, this book encourages early learning while nurturing a heart for God. 

Published by: BK Royston Publishing 

More about the author . . .  

Angela Verges is the author of the book Menopause Ain’t No Joke – Blending Faith and Humor in Perfectly Imperfect Situations. As a little girl growing up in Michigan, Angela often played dress-up and pretended to be a schoolteacher to her neighborhood friends. Her pretend role became a reality later in life when she became a Sunday School Teacher.
 
Angela still lives in Michigan and is the mother of two adult sons who have taught her a thing or two along the way. She enjoys sitting in a café with a warm cup of coffee and her laptop, creating stories, until the staff wonders when she will leave. 

https://www.facebook.com/angela.verges 

https://www.instagram.com/writermama223/