Clarbojahn Presents! Author/Photographer Sandra Stein Part One

Hey Friends!

We have memoir author turned picture book author Sandra Stein with us today. She is going to tell us how she became a picture book author after penning her inspirational memoir “Sincerely Wrong” and she is going to tell us her journey with Self Publishing.

Let’s start with Blurbs from her picture books:

The Water Tower Ravens by Sandra Stein

The Water Tower Ravens Blurb:

Meet a family of ravens living near the top of a water tower in the little town of Purcellville, Virginia. The babies are learning to fly, and one gets stranded on the roof of a house nearby. His sister comes to the rescue. Easy Reader/Picture Book for ages 3 and up, with a page of interesting facts about ravens at the end for older readers.

 

 

Leafster Blurb:                                        

A curious katydid becomes the center of attention when she shows up at a family get-together by the pool. Easy Reader/Picture Book for ages 3 and up, with a page of interesting facts about katydids at the end for older readers.

Both books are for ages 3 and up, grade level K-2.

And now for four questions about her process of writing. 

Sincerely Wrong by Sandra Stein

1- CBJ.>What was the most valuable part of Sincerely Wrong  for you, when you were writing it?

Sandra.S. The most valuable part of writing Sincerely Wrong was seeing how the Lord guided me through the process.  It wasn’t anything hokey like hearing an audible voice or seeing a vision, or anything like that, but it was just a still small voice in my gut that prompted me what to do next.

2- CBJ. >What was the most fun?

S.S. I can’t honestly say that any of it was fun. It was very gut wrenching because memories started coming up that I had managed to repress over the years, and on top of that, I’m a very private person, so it was difficult to write about things I had never shared with anyone before.  I cringed at the thought of what family or friends would think of me when they read it.  Baring my soul to strangers would have been much easier.

It is Written by Sandra Stein

I had not planned on writing any more books, but in 2013, I put together a book called IT IS WRITTEN, which is a compilation of Scriptures topically organized according to everyday issues we all face.  It was actually an expanded, cleaned-up version of a little tabbed notebook I had made to help direct me to the appropriate words of wisdom or encouragement I needed when I was in the midst of challenging circumstances and unsure where to look, or when fear or depression caused my mind to go blank.

3– CBJ> What part of Raven’s on the Water tower was most fun to write and photograph?

S.S. >I loved watching the babies playing with each other and learning how to fly.  In the beginning I wasn’t thinking of writing a book.  I was just enjoying the experience of watching them and capturing what I saw with my camera.

4- CBJ.>What gave you the inspiration on Ravens on the Water tower?

S,S,> The inspiration to turn my pictures into a book came after I witnessed and documented what looked like a rescue mission, with one raven helping another little raven who was unable to fly from the roof of a house it had landed on.  The incident reminded me of a Bible verse in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” I was amazed that this verse would hold true for birds as well, and thought it might make a cute children’s story, as well as a bit of town  lore.

 

And  the fun part!! The Give Away! 🙂

The book of your choice goes to the lucky winner of the person who comments and follows this blog. The lucky winner would have a double chance if tweets about this post and Sandra Stein and another chance of winning if this post gets on their Facebook page. So there could be three extra chances to win. It works by me putting your name in the hat one,two or three times in the hat depending on what you tell me about how you promoted this post and Sandra Stein. You are on your scouts honor.( But I might check you out on Facebook or twitter if I have time.  🙂 But really we are all adults here.  🙂 ) We are doing a give away each part! So you have the ability to win two -2- books from Sandy!! Go comment and win! 🙂

Sandra Stein’s Bio:

Sandra Stein, Author

SANDRA KOVACS STEIN was born in Calcutta, India; grew up in the Dominican Republic; went to school in Canada, where she planned to settle; but fell in love with an American, and wound up moving to Queens, New York, after they married. Nobody knew about the desperate need to feel significant she had grown up with, and that had stayed with her throughout her marriage. After her husband’s untimely death, she went on a search for roots and purpose, which she thought she had found in New Age and occult doctrines. Her need was finally fulfilled when by the age of 39, she became a published numerologist, enjoying the novelty of being sought out for her expertise. That path has long since been abandoned, but memories still linger of how her vulnerability led her to believe in a lie that she persuaded others to buy into as well. “Sincerely Wrong”; published in 2011, is a testimony of the improbable journey that led her from the occult to Christianity at a time when she was convinced she had all the answers, and was no longer seeking. Mrs. Stein now lives in Purcellville, Virginia, not far from her daughter, four of her grandchildren, and her two great-grandsons. She works from home cyber commuting, is active in community and church, and is an avid photographer who enjoys taking pictures of nature and wildlife.  Her career as a writer for children was launched when a pair of ravens built a nest near the top of a water tower across from her balcony in early spring 2013.  They became her main subjects for months to follow, and the inspiration for her first picture book, The Water Tower Ravens.You can visit Stein at her inspirational blog,

Her books are available on Amazon. And of course here as you comment and win a copy! 🙂

http://atfootofcross.blogspot.com/;

at her photo blog, http://godsbrushstrokes.blogspot.com/;

or communicate with her by e-mail at skstein2010@gmail.com.