This week sees the launch of my pre-sale period for my upcoming Pagan children’s book… And it’s taken a fair few of my friends giving me a good talking to, once again, to convince me that I deserve this, I’ve worked for it and I can do it…
I wrote the stories to entertain my daughter. She was five at the time and I’d just had my son and we’d snuggle in bed at night, baby on my lap, my daughter next to me and I’d tell her stories of baby elements and the adventures they experienced as they learn about the world because they want to be big and strong so they can help protect Mother Earth and her Children.
I remember the first story I told her. It was a stormy night and she was scared of the thunder. I told her it was the big elements coming together to blow away all the heat that was making her feel sweaty and hot during the day and she wanted to know how the big elements learned how to do that. So I told her the story of the little elements and when she was tucked up in bed, I called my mother. I told her I’d had an idea for a cute set of toys we could make for my kids and nieces and nephews… It didn’t even occur to me to write them into stories, despite me coming from a family of great writers!
I saw my mum a few days later and she’d been sketching them! There they were, sketched into the little book my mum always carries around with her. As soon as I saw them on the page, about sixty new stories popped into my head! So many lessons I could teach my children about the natural world and themselves through these teeny imps.
So… When I got home that night I wrote the first six. It took me about two hours, my fingers typed so quickly, I felt a bit like Jim Carey in Bruce Almighty! You know the part, where he’s answering the emails and his fingers are going really fast? Except it was my prayers being answered and I was answering them myself!
As someone who’s struggled with my self esteem and self image my whole life, it’s been rare that I’ve looked at something I’ve created and known, without needing to be told, that it was good! I’ve needed reassuring and reminding many times since back then… But in that moment, I looked at these stories and I knew they were the inspiration many families needed to teach their early years children to love and respect nature.
So… There… You’re all witnesses… This admission right here is probably the most arrogant I’ll ever be in my life… And I’ll need reassuring multiple times after it’s posted that it’s ok to say I’m good at something and not apologise for it…
I believe these stories were a gift to me. A magic and a power that I can’t fully take credit for because it came from my children, my mother, my faith… And I can’t wait to share them with you!
Debi xXx
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