The Wonder of Under Wins Third Place in the ACFW KidLit Awards

I’m thrilled to share that The Wonder of Under won 3rd Place in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) KidLit Awards, with judges also naming its title as one of their favorites. For a debut, self-published picture book, this recognition is such an incredible honor.
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What makes this moment even sweeter is remembering how the book came to life. The story was inspired by my granddaughter, who, as a curious crawler, loved peeking under rugs and couches again and again. I jokingly called it “the wonder of under,” and soon the phrase grew into a story about imagination and discovery.

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I nearly gave up on publishing it because of the cost of illustrations, but for my 60th birthday, my family surprised me with a box of printed books. They had pooled their resources to hire an illustrator, and when that fell through, my daughter Andee stepped in to create the amazing artwork. With their encouragement—and the support of friends who taught me the how-tos of writing—I found the courage to launch my career as a children’s author.

And now, to see that same book honored alongside traditionally published works is beyond humbling. You can find The Wonder of Under at Fables Books in Goshen, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Apple Books, and other major outlets. 
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Sometimes, the simplest inspirations—like a baby crawling under a rug—can lead to the most extraordinary journeys.