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How the Story Came to Be
We have an annual girls event at our church called Princess Power Sleepover. It’s an overnight event for girls K-5th grade. https://uspeculiarpeople.com/2025/03/20/princess-power-sleepover/
I am the Children’s Minister at Heart of Life Church (https://www.heartoflife.org/), and as I began preparing for PPS2024, the idea for the story If Tables Could Talk was born. I wanted something creative to use as a concrete example for one of the sessions (regarding the value of the girls) in the evening. Why not write a story? I thought. So I bought a set of 6 paints, a pad of 12×16 canvases, and rummaged around in the elementary church supplies for paint brushes!
Everyone Needs Friends Like Mine!
I sent the story to 5 of my friends, asking for constructive criticism regarding the story itself, and asking their opinions about the illustrations. Without fail, they all responded that it was a story that not only needed to be taken to the Princess Power Sleepover event, but also needed to be published. They all wanted to know: what happened to The Chair? So of course, the idea behind Book 2 was born!
How it Went Over at the Event
The large group setting was probably not my best idea for the reading of If Tables Could Talk. If I had saved it for a bedtime story, or perhaps divided the girls up, it probably would have been more impactful. Although the older girls appreciated the story, the little ones wanted to know when it was time to eat(!) [In my defense, supper wasn’t ready on schedule, and we were using the story as a time-filler!] Nonetheless, several of the mothers echoed the sentiments of my 5 friends and encouraged publishing.
The Journey Had Begun
The following week at church staff meeting, I was as high as a kite! I asked one of my colleagues who had had a devotional published if they would be willing to edit my story (I meant proofread, but at that point I didn’t know the difference) and on the spot they connected me with their editor through a group text. I was shocked at how fast God was moving, but I was certainly enjoying the ride!
Britney Hamm, my editor, replied immediately and within a week we were having a phone conversation. I sent her a TERRIBLE rough draft (it still had the page breaks in it from where I had printed it off to tape onto the back of the foamboard to read to the girls at the sleepover!)
More Painting!
Britney Hamm loved the idea and the illustrations, but she encouraged more paintings. So I got down to business. As I painted more, however, it seemed to me that she wanted me to redo more of the original paintings! And then of course, due to page breaks, we needed even MORE illustrations. But I wanted to make sure that she understood that part of the reason I wanted to do this project was so the young (both physically and at heart) could have an example of artwork that isn’t pristine perfect as we have today in all the computer-based literature. As a children’s minister and homeschool mom, I see the frustration when kids try something once and it doesn’t come out poster-perfect. I want my story to reach the hearts of those willing to try something and fail, and then try again.
We were able to keep 10 of the original paintings. Some of the ones I had to redo are shown below.
My Art Experience
I have not had an art lesson since 7th grade (although my art teacher in elementary was VERY good! Thank you, Miss Arlene!) My attempts at teaching art to my own kids were random, and consisted of cheap craft paint from Walmart.
With our youngest son, we drew pictures together for our Bible lessons every day when he was in 1st grade. Although they were based on beautiful Biblical artwork, our renditions were elementary in comparison.
We tried water colors when he was in upper elementary, and that’s where I discovered my love for painting. I found it relaxing, and during the winter it brought color into my house that before I had only found outside during the warmer months.
The change to acrylic paints was only because the girls at the sleepover would not be able to see the watercolor paintings from the back of the room and I needed something much more vivid. They were cheaper than oil paints, so it was an easy decision to make.
Although I have not had lessons, I must admit that I have watched a TON of YouTube videos, many of them several times. I also had an art teacher friend of my husband’s (my husband is a retired math teacher with a passion for fabric art/quilting) come and assess my work and she assured me it was aesthetically pleasing and cohesive in nature. This gave me great confidence to continue!
Hidden Dates
My editor was the one who suggested the Hidden Dates. All the credit for that brilliant idea goes to her!
The Trilogy is Born
You obviously can’t have a series of just 2 books! So the idea of a trilogy was suggested by my editor. The rough draft for Book 2: What Happened to the Chair is almost complete, but I have not sent it to Britney yet as I need a basic outline of Book 3: Putting the Pieces Together in order to assure nothing needs to be added to Book 2 to tie all the loose ends together.
Learning as I go
I have learned there is a HUGE difference between proofreading and editing. Proofreading is making sure spelling and punctuation is correct. Editing is making sure the overall threads in the story are connected. My spelling and punctuation were pretty decent, but Britney earned her money on the editing! Hopefully, I have advanced as much in writing as I have in painting, and Book 2: What Happened to the Chair will have better balance.
Work by Britney Lynn Hamm
I highly recommend Britney’s book Finding Freedom. I consumed it in one weekend! She is in the process of writing a sequel and I can’t wait til it’s out!
My Ultimate Goal
I pray that my year of toil will both reach the heart and please the eye. I have lifted it up in prayer that it might glorify Jesus Christ. I also crave from my very soul that my travail might encourage someone else to create because God created us to create beautiful things. May your hands be full of skill and your heart of integrity, as written about David (the man after God’s own heart).
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