Welcome to our next Picture Book Interview post! Our guest today is Christie Thomas. She’s the author of Christian inspirational picture book Quinn’s Promise Rock, plus several other Christian living titles.
Hi, Christie! Tell us about yourself.
Hi! I’m a homeschool mom of three boys. We live in Alberta, Canada. It’s the home of ranches, rivers, and the Rocky Mountains.
My husband works for our local school board. I worked as the Children’s Ministry Director at my church for most of my adult work-outside-the-home life. I transitioned to working mostly online a few years ago.
I focus on helping parents teach their kids about God and the Bible without having to know it all or do it all. Most of my books are written late in the evenings alongside a cold cup of tea.
How did you know you wanted to be an author?
I wanted to be an author when I was a kid, but ended up focusing on science during my school years. I planned to be a doctor.
When I was offered a job as a summer intern at a church, it completely changed my plans…I loved working with the kids!
In my children’s ministry work, I often would write Bible stories, scripts, and skits. I never planned to publish any of them. Then, one day I went for a walk and realized I had already created the perfect content for my first book! It was created out of a series of take-home pages I wrote for our preschool families.
It took several years to get from concept to actually “being an author.” But here I am today, living my childhood dream!
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Write, write, write! My current writing style is much better than my writing 5 years ago. That’s simply from writing everyday. Even emails are a great way to practice communication skills!
Is there anyone who has been instrumental in your path to becoming a writer?
My mom! My first book was self-published, and she helped me pay for it. She’s also my #1 cheerleader for any new book that comes out.
Tell us about Quinn’s Promise Rock.
Quinn’s Promise Rock is a faith-based book for kids living with worries.
In the story, Quinn the owl is worried that she’ll get separated from her dad. So he takes her on an adventure through the forest.
First, they go to the top of a mountain. He points out how they can see their nesting tree, far below. They soon get caught in a rainstorm so they take shelter in a cave. Later, he takes her to the forest floor and picks up a small rock.
During their adventure, he reminds Quinn that God is like the mountain – steadfast, unmoving. But God is also like the cave: a place of safety. And although God is steadfast and a place of safety, the beautiful thing is that God comes everywhere with us.
Quinn tucks the small rock in her feathers to remind herself of God’s reassuring presence.
There is also a second book in which Quinn nurses an injured firefly back to health and is upset when it leaves for home.
Who do you hope to reach with this story?
I hope to specifically reach kids who are anxious and worried about the future, or worried about separating from their parents.
What is the main message of Quinn’s Promise Rock?
Quinn’s Promise Rock is perfect for faith-based families who want a reminder that God is with us, even when we’re afraid!
Tell us about some of the characters or pictures.
People often tell me how much they love the illustrations because they are both adorable and calming! I love the page where Quinn and her daddy are nestled together in a cave, and there’s a pair of bats hanging from the ceiling.
What inspired you to write this picture book?
A friend of mine posted on Facebook that her son was anxious and worried to go to school. So she tucked a rock in his pocket and told him that whenever he touched it, it would remind him that God was with him. I read that and that very day I sat down to write the story!
How long have you been working on it?
Quinn’s Promise Rock was the quickest of my books to write – it came out like a burst of inspiration. It took a very long time to get published through! I wrote it in 2015 and it didn’t release until 2019.
What were some of the things that surprised you about the book-making process?
How long it takes! I couldn’t believe how much patience I had to have during the process.
What other professionals helped bring the book to life?
Sydney Hanson is the illustrator for Quinn’s Promise Rock (and Quinn Says Goodbye) and she did an incredible job. Along the way, I also had an editor, a graphic designer, and a marketer to help get the word out about the book.
What has been the most rewarding part of creating this story?
I love when I get to read the book in front of kids and share an actual rock with them. It’s so fun to paint/color rocks with preschoolers and send them home in their pockets, to remind them of how much God loves them!
Find the book!
Thank you, Christie, for sharing your inspirational book with us. If you’d like to learn more about Quinn’s Promise Rock, check out Christie’s website!
Quinn’s Promise Rock is available for purchase on:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- …and more!