The Story Behind the Story

This month’s blog is devoted to how and why I came to write my debut children’s book Look for the Pink Ribbons. It’s all in Who you know.

When my mother died of metastatic breast cancer on September 11, 1991, her co-workers gave my sister and me a stuffed lion with a yellow ribbon tied around its neck. They chose this way to honor her (in lieu of flowers at the funeral) because they felt the lion represented her beautiful hair and her courage through chemo.

People often commented about my mother’s thick white hair, which she lost after only a few rounds of chemo. She had also lost her husband, our father, two years before to a massive aneurysm when he was fifty-four years old.

Through the unexpected loss of her husband and a diagnosis of cancer that eventually spread to the brain, my mother did prove to be a pillar of courage.

Mother was also a kind and gentle soul. She never raised her voice, and she always had a smile for others.

After her death I gave the stuffed lion a place of honor on a shelf in my library, and I was comforted by its presence.

A few years later I awoke in the middle of the night with a story on my mind and in my heart—a story about a lion whose life spans the four seasons. I envisioned a soft-spoken lioness who taught her cubs well and showed kindness to everyone around her. When she lost her yellow ruff in the fall of her life, she tied a yellow ribbon around her neck and reminded her cubs to always look for the yellow ribbons.

Her cubs were saddened when their mother had to leave in the winter, but they were gladdened on the first day of spring when they saw the hillside filled with daffodils and forsythia—new life that looked like yellow ribbons.

I did try to market this story well over twenty years ago, and I received an offer for a hybrid contract. However, I was determined to wait for a traditional publishing opportunity.

Fast forward many years to my retirement and my new efforts at writing other children’s books. I have spent those years attending writers’ conferences and honing the craft and making connections and being inspired. Along with the stuffed lion, I shelved my story about my mother.

In the fall of 2022, I signed a contract for a book titled Max and Her Stacks, another picture book about a little girl who loves to read and who constantly surrounds herself with stacks and stacks of books. Ironically, the first contract I signed was not for the first book that became a reality.

I believe God thought the Pink Ribbons book should come first.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11

This scripture became a favorite of mine after I met Amy Parker, the author of the book The Plans I Have for You. Amy has been an encourager and a mentor to me; and when I shared the news of my book contracts, she said, “It was just a matter of time.”

At any rate, Look for the Pink Ribbons has opened doors for me that had previously been closed, and all things have come together for good.

In the meantime, I have continued to write, and I believe God has given me the words. I think he also had plans for me to take my lion story off the shelf.

While attending book festivals and writers’ conferences, people like Amy gave me valuable advice. Another such writer was Lisa Patton, author of the Whistlin’ Dixie series.

I met Lisa at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville right after she had published her first book Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter. I invited her to my writers’ group and my book club, and she acknowledged me—a nobody—in her second book, Yankee Doodle Dixie. When I saw her after the publication of her third book, we had a chance to chat about my writing journey. When I told her about my lion story, she advised me to change the yellow ribbon to a pink ribbon and try to market my story in connection with breast cancer research.

I’m glad I listened to her advice.

As a heads up to my readers, the lion in my story does die at the end of the book; and I have struggled with exposing that death to children. I originally wanted the story to end with Leona’s leaving the jungle and going to another place to live. However, Emerald House at Ambassador International, my Christian publishing company, wanted me to focus on the opportunity to share the good news of life after death through Christ.

They also encouraged me to add discussion questions that might help children cope with losses of friends and family in their own lives. I love this part of the book, and I think this is a beautiful emphasis!

Years ago I remember struggling with understanding why God had not answered my prayer to heal my mother. My sister encouraged me to focus on the fact that she was healed in heaven, not on earth.

Many advances have been made in breast cancer research since my mother was diagnosed. I now know many people who have lived through chemo and hair loss and months of sickness but who are now living healthy lives. With continued research I hope and pray this disease can be eradicated.

My publisher chose to release this book during October as a tribute to breast cancer awareness month.

It is my hope that this book will bring awareness to readers of the importance of supporting this cause. I also pray this book will speak to readers of all ages of the benefit of knowing Christ and the hope He can bring to our world.

Today is also launch day for my book. If you’d like to order a copy, here are the links to order through my publishing company https://ambassador-international.com/books/look-for-the-pink-ribbons/ or through Amazon https://a.co/d/dnGCYxu. You can also find it online at Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Walmart, or wherever books are sold.

While we may feel lost and surrounded by troubles, God is in control of everything that happens in our lives. It’s all in Who we know.

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘it will be happier.’”—Alfred, Lord Tennyson

“Hold fast to dreams; for it dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”—Langston Hughes”

“Be comforted, dear soul! There is always light behind the clouds.”—Louisa May Alcott

Hebrews 11:1; Isaiah 40:31; Romans 5:3-4; Romans 15:13; Romans 8:31