Valerie Fentress writes children’s books hoping to communicate Biblical truths through simple stories. She is the author of Beneath the Hood, and an avid blogger. Valerie lives in Texas with her husband and three boys, who challenge her daily to find joy between imagination and chaos.
In this interview, Valerie talks with us about her new Children’s Easter book, An Easter Bunny’s Tale.
FF: What gave you the idea for An Easter Bunny’s Tale?
In the crucible of parenting, we have to make so many decisions on how we raise our children. And in a Christian home there is always the question of Santa and the Easter Bunny. Will these characters be a part of our family celebrations and traditions? When my boys were very young my husband and I struggled with the Easter Bunny character, and made the decision not to have that character as part of our family events. But all the ideas my kids ran into kept bringing up this bunny, so I wondered how to reclaim this secular idea and have it glorify God instead of my kids’ sweet tooth. From that wrestling and creativity, the story An Easter Bunny’s Tale was born. It’s taken me almost ten years to work the story out and overcome my fears, so this story can be a part of your family’s Easter celebrations.
FF: What were you trying to communicate to kids in this story?
In this story, I’m hoping to communicate the joy and power of the Easter story. If you’ve grown up in the church and heard Bible Stories over and over they can lose their power over time. So with An Easter Bunny’s Tale I wanted to have a depiction of the transformational power of what Christ did at his death, burial and resurrection, while reclaiming a secular character to point to Christ and not just candy.
FF: Do your kids give you inspiration for your books?
Most definitely. My three boys are my treasure and my joy, so it’s only natural for their comments to spark ideas. Children say the most creative observations and speak so freely that they are great muses for me. I hope to have a picture book out in 2023, that was completely inspired by my youngest, which he gets a kick out of.
FF: What are your favorite children’s books?
There are too many to list here. You can find a list of my favorite books of all time at my blog. For Children’s books specifically, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson, Thunderhoof by Syd Hoff, Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, and Winne, the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, are among my favorites.
FF: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I currently have five stories that are in different stages of production with at least fifteen other ideas I’m still fleshing out.
FF: How long have you been writing?
Truthfully always. Fifteen years ago I was working more in short stories and flash fiction. When kids entered our family, and depression snuck in with them, my writing took a back seat behind all the fears and insecurities I had stored up. Over the last few years, God’s been working in my heart to overcome my fears and move toward obedience in the talents he’s given me. God’s faithfulness, a 12-step program called Regeneration, and the Covid quarantine, led me to take a step out in faith.
FF: What is your next step in your publishing journey?
I’m continuing to be active on my blog and social media. As well as looking forward to another book release at the beginning of 2023.
An Easter Bunny’s Tale
Valerie Fentress
Bee Magnified Press
Genres: Children’s, Easter
Release Date: March 2, 2022
ISBN-10: 0578261146
ISBN-13: 978-0578261140
Book Summary:
Why is there an Easter Bunny? Let him tell you the tale of how everything has changed, even himself.
Follow a little gray rabbit, as he discovers a familiar voice in a garden one night. The man is God in the flesh, of this he is sure, and he cannot help but follow Him, as he is captured and put on trial. The little rabbit is confused at what he sees. Then he hides and as he waits he discovers the true source of transformation. Now he can’t wait to tell you and his friends about the good news he has found.
Will you listen to his tale?
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