I know you’re going to enjoy meeting my friend, Kristi Butler. Kristi and I met years ago at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and it’s been a joy to watch her growing success as a writer and speaker. (Although I must admit, this is the first time I’ve ever had a headshot of a critter in a blog post!)
Kristi is the author of Gracie’s Groundhog Day Surprise and Grover Groundhog is NOT Hibernating This Christmas!, a picture book series for kids. Read on as she shares the story of her journey.
So let’s get started! (Don’t forget to leave a comment and you’ll be in the drawing for your choice of a free book!)
Welcome to The Christian Writer’s Den. Tell us, have you always wanted to be a writer?
I think the idea has always been ruminating in the back of my mind, well, at least since sixth grade when I won a writing contest sponsored by the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). And I guess I loved the marketing aspect even then, as I had such a great time reading it for the local Rotary club…a group of men…could have been intimidating for a 6th grade girl.
So, what have you written since then?
I’ve been blogging–trying to keep up with three!–writing some articles here and there, and a little bit of poetry. I’ve also been writing devotionals and material for speaking at women’s events.
Tell us about your book journey.
During my time as a pastor’s wife, I often felt the urge to write a book encouraging those who hold down the fort while their husbands do ministry. I have some funny stories to tell, like the time I kissed my best friend’s husband right on the lips (accidentally) at Wednesday night supper [Vonda here: Now THAT'S a story I want to hear!], as well as sharing our journey through times that weren’t quite so much fun. Maybe someday. (I think Robin Bryce is doing that job for me!)
Back in 2002, during a time of personal struggle, I received a couple of words from the Lord that I knew needed to be shared with others. At that point, I began to seriously consider the path of a writer. Interestingly, a flier came across my husband’s desk about the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. He brought it home and suggested that I go. Totally intimidated, I ventured into that world of REAL writers and was made to feel right at home when you and Edie Melson were the first two people that I met. God is so good.
Then, in 2004, while learning to “walk” the message of that first (yet to be published) book, I was on a little retreat with a couple of my writer girlfriends. We were staying in the home of some friends in the mountains near Blowing Rock, NC. There was a burrow of groundhogs in the yard. I was totally enthralled. My friend, Sherri Roberson (whom I met that first year at BRMCWC) said, “Kristi, you are so crazy about those groundhogs, I think you should write a children’s book about them.” I said, “No, that’s not what God called me to do.”
That very night, the gist of the first book, Gracie’s Groundhog Day Surprise, just came to me. I got up and jotted it in my journal. It’s a story of forgiveness…interestingly another message that I had to learn to “walk” in my personal life and in our time in ministry.
In 2006, I pitched the story to Jesse Florea of Focus on the Family at BRMCWC. He bought it for Clubhouse, Jr. magazine!! FOTF sent 700 copies to Punxsutawney, PA in 2007 for Groundhog Day. My husband and I braved the frigid temperatures to join over 10,000 people to witness Punxsutawney Phil predicting 6 more weeks of winter. Afterwards, I met with hundreds of people, giving away copies of Clubhouse, Jr., and autographing the story.
So how did that become a book?
I submitted the story to Candy Cane Press, feeling like it was the perfect match…holiday centered and Christian. I waited a year and a half for a little 3×4 inch rejection note. As much as I would have loved to unite with Candy Cane Press, that rejection and an amazing opportunity to work one-on-one with Cindy Kenney at the Gideon Media Arts Conference led me to consider self-publishing.
Why self-publishing?
I didn’t want to go through more waiting and possible rejection. Nearly four years had passed and I was ready to get the book out there. It had been professionally edited by Cindy Kenney, an amazing writer and editor.
But most importantly, self-publishing gave me the privilege of working with my sweet Daddy as the illustrator, something that could have never happened in traditional publishing. Through the Gideon conference, I connected with Carla and Josiah Williams of WinePress Publishing. My experience with them has been stellar…yes, costly, but a great journey.
How do you market your books?
That’s actually the most delightful part!! After over 20 years in the elementary classroom, I am a teacher at heart, and love speaking to students. I travel to Christian schools for author visits, do events with my local Chick-Fil-A, speak for MOPS groups and women’s retreats, and exhibit at festival type affairs. God just keeps opening doors!
You said books, plural. Tell us about your second book.
Daddy and I joined forces on another groundhog book, with the same brother and sister characters, Gracie and Grover. Right now we are having a blast sharing our Christmas story, Grover Groundhog Is Not Hibernating This Christmas!
Do you have a favorite? The Christmas is a really fun read aloud! It allows for audience participation in singing some Christmas tunes and quoting the Luke 2 account of Jesus’ birth. Lots of people know it by heart because of Linus’ recitation in the Charlie Brown Christmas story.
Any other books on the horizon? God willing, I would love to continue with more Gracie and Grover books, mostly holiday centered. I’d also love to do a birthday book.
What about the book you started writing for women back in 2002? I’m still walking the journey of that message, that God is Just What We Need. I’m sharing that message through women’s retreats and currently looking into the possibility of doing an e-book and see how that goes. I have a Christmas devotional book brewing. Again, looking into the e-book realm.
What encouragement can you offer to other writers? Go for it! Embrace that dream and run with it!
Any suggestions for how to do that? Be prepared. Study the craft. Attend writer’s conferences and retreats. My personal favorites are BRMCWC, Write2Ignite!, and NCompass Writing Retreat. Join a writer’s group. Pray a lot. Write a lot.
Thanks for joining us today, Kristi. I know readers are always happy to hear success stories of self-published books.
Readers, you can read Kristi’s full bio below and then leave her a comment. Don’t forget to check back next week to see if you’re the winner!
Bio: Kristi Butler is honored, humbled, and so happy with God’s call on her life…as a wife, mom, soon to be grandmommy, teacher, speaker, and writer. With almost 30 years of marriage under her belt, three beautiful daughters flown from the nest, and an amazing 12-year-old daughter adopted from China still at home to “keep her young,” she stays on the go. Add to that the privilege of teaching transitional kindergarten, speaking for women’s retreats and MOPS International, and she is blessed beyond measure!The opportunity to write in her free time (haha) is just icing on the cake!
She is a two-time graduate of She Speaks, a huge fan (and attendee) of Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and the NCompass Writer’s Retreat. She has written for a Focus on the Family parenting newsletter, for Clubhouse, Jr. magazine, is a featured blogger for Carolina Parent magazine, and is the author of Gracie’s Groundhog Day Surprise and Grover Groundhog is NOT Hibernating This Christmas! She is delighted with her affiliation with Write2Ignite!, loving the privilege of encouraging writers as they navigate the paths the Dream Giver has laid before them. Website: Blog: Email: Please friend me on Facebook!!
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I Need Some Funny Quotes About Aging–Can You Help Me?
I’m trying to collect as many 1-3 sentence funny quotes about aging that I can get. They can be about men, women, health, beauty, wisdom, grandparenting…anything…as long as they’re clean, quick, and spot-on funny. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
Here’s an example: “I laughed so hard the tears ran down my leg.” I LOVE it!
If you have any good ones, would you email them to me? And I need the author’s name as well, if possible–even if it’s you! At this point, I’m only seeing what’s available. If I see that there are enough quotes available, I’ll contact you to see if you’d like to work with me on a project.
Thanks for your help! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
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Don’t Forget to MoGo!
This may be Author Interview week, but with five Tuesdays this month, you still have another week to reach your 7000-word goal for November. So don’t stop!
Even if you haven’t written a single new word this month on your book-length project, you can start today and still earn another entry for the $100 drawing!
Check out the MoGo details here.
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Parting Words from The WORD…
What a joy to serve Him with you. And in this week of thanks, this verse is my gift to you:
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge…” 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 NIV
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
