From my earliest memories, I have wanted to write. My dream has always been to see my name printed on the front of a book as its author. Alongside that dream has been my love of drawing and art–both passions growing together for as long as I can remember.
I grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries and R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps thrillers, yet I never wavered from wanting to write children’s books. There is something magical about them. Words are powerful, but so much can also be expressed through a single colorful illustration.
About a year ago, I found myself struggling in my relationship with God. It wasn’t that I didn’t know Him–I did–but I felt a deep longing for something more. I wanted a closer relationship with Him. At the sane time, I was struggling in my everyday life and felt a strong calling to become who God created me to be, even though the world seemed to be pushing against me. I knew I was being called, but I didn’t yet know how to answer.
So I searched and prayed… and then two things happened almost simultaneously.
On December 26, 2024, while searching my Bible app for a devotional or study to help fill that longing, I came across a plan to read the Bible in chronological order in one year. Why not? I thought, and I decided to begin.
Around that same time, I read a blog about bees in the Bible. I discovered that there are surprisingly few references to bees in Scripture, but something about them sparked an idea. That idea became a desire to honor God through writing for children – and it would begin with a bee. I didn’t realize until after I finished drafting the story just how much it mirrored my own journey of discovering my calling and stepping out in faith. In many ways, I realized, I am Beatrix the Bee.
As I continued reading the Bible chronologically, I also discovered how limited my understanding had been, centered mostly on well-known verses and popular Bible stories. I encountered passages I embarrassingly didn’t remember, yet they were pivotal moments in biblical history and rich with life lessons.
That realization sparked a second idea: to take the nontraditional yet important stories of the Bible and bring them to life for children through illustration. My hope is to help children develop a deeper understanding of Scripture by seeing these stories unfold in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and engaging.
I dove deeply into writing and illustrating, unsure of where it would lead but fully trusting God throughout the process. One of my favorite verses is Revelation 3:7: “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.“
True to that promise, door after door opened. Today, I devote my time to writing and creating with the purpose of giving all glory to God.
