HOW A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK CAME TO LIFE by ERMA ULLREY

HOW A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK CAME TO LIFE by ERMA ULLREY
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 by Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: A Snowflake's Adventure

AUTHOR: eMarie

PUBLISHER: MerryHeartInk

GENRE: Children's Picture Book

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand alone

TARGET AGE: 5-10 YO

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME MY DEAR FRIEND, CRITIQUE PARTNER, AND AUTHOR eMARIE TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. ERMA SHARES HOW ADVERSITY IN HER LIFE LED TO THE CREATION OF A CHILDREN’S BOOK.

HOW A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK CAME TO LIFE

Erma Ullrey

Like you, we watched in shock as one hurricane and then another ravaged Florida only to make its way through Tennessee and North Carolina. Pictures captured bits of the devastation these storms inflicted. But people with swollen, red eyes, brave enough to choke out the horror they endured, broke our hearts and prompted us to give.

Whoever said “you don’t know what it’s like until it happens to you” expressed pain and genius in eleven words.

Maybe I sound like a broken record, but I can’t imagine how people get through this life without the Lord! And while it’s true He sends rain on the “just and unjust alike” (Matt.5:45), I’d rather walk through the storm with my hand in His.

… Shockwaves hit when the doctor pronounced my husband Bert’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Unlike Kubler-Ross’s neat and tidy phases of grief, a disorganized rush of emotions followed. Denial, certainly. Then, the inevitable blur of faith, confusion, strength, weakness, anger, and fear. Like a thousand pinpricks, a crack in my armor began to reveal itself.

“How could a loving God…?” The question that rears its ugly head and torments a believer. In my quiet moments, I behaved more like Jacob. I didn’t have a physical wrestling match with the Lord, but an intense spiritual battle raged.

The doctors had told us the statistical prognosis regarding Bert’s disease spelled “hopeless.” But we determined to weigh those percentages against faith. Yet my wrestling continued.

Thankfully, the Lord invites us in Hebrews to come and reason with Him.

I came, but I was beyond reason. Not that He needed my reminders, but I showed Him all the places in His word where He healed the sick. I cried out, asking Him to show me He was still a miracle-working God. That He cared about what was happening to Bert. That every promise in His word remained true. That He still is our faithful God.

Yet, the more I prayed, the louder the storm grew.

I got in the car to go to lunch with a group of Bible study friends. As I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, I again asked God to let me know He was Immanuel-with us.

Beyond frustrated with this unanswered prayer, I walked up to the restaurant, exhaled, and gasped as vapors from my mouth hung in the air. That's when it hit me.

God had answered my prayer through this simple act. Genesis 2:7 says, "Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life..."

Every breath was, is, and always will be proof of God's existence and love.

My wrestling ended there and then. The Lord had given me the proof I’d asked for.

That afternoon, in an effort to capture what God showed me, I penned the first words to A Snowflake's Adventure.

...seven years later, my husband is living with cancer and doing well.

A Snowflake's Adventure is the story of God's personal love. To my husband. To me. To every child He's ever created. We are His one-of-a-kind design. Unique. Purposeful. Each and every one of us.

(To the glory of God, we donated this #1 Amazon children’s book through OCC/Samaritan’s Purse to 500+ children around the world on Christmas Day 2021!)

Back cover blurb for A Snowflake’s Adventure:

A snowflake that doesn’t want to fall?

Come and meet Pearl, a delightful, spunky snowflake who knows what happens after snowflakes tumble to the earth. They melt! She wants no part of it—until the Creator shares His unique purpose for her.

Amazon buy link

Erma Ullrey is a follower of Jesus Christ. Married for forty-three years, she enjoys four wonderful children, three outlaws, and four precious grandchildren. She worked in the medical field for over twenty-five years. After completing her B.S.H.S., she became a health educator and received international credentials in childbirth education (I.C.E.A.) and lactation consulting (I.B.C.L.C.). She’s served as a women’s Bible study leader and participates in a local book club as well as local and national writer’s groups.

She posts encouraging blogs on her website and enjoys chatting with her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram friends. And she keeps chickens.

Erma is an award-winning author. Her writing awards including:

2024 ACFW Royal Crown Romance Finalist;

2024 Scrivenings Press, Suspense Finalist;

2024 ACFW Genesis Romance Finalist (double semi-finalist - Romance and Mystery/Suspense/Thriller);

2023 ACFW First Impressions, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller;

2023 Scrivenings Press, 1st place Contemporary Romance;

2023 Scrivenings Press and Faith, Hope, and Love Romance Finalist;

2022 ACFW Genesis finalist, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller;

2020 ACFW First Impressions, Spec. Fic., 1st place;

2020 ICAN 2st place, Suspense;

2020 ACFW Virginia Crown Award, Suspense, 1st place;

2019 ICAN, Suspense, 1st place;

2019 ACFW Genesis Finalist, Novella;

2018 OHCWC Blue Seal Award winner (tie) Suspense, 1st place;

2018 Georgia Peach, Children’s Picture Book, 2nd place

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Comments

Erma From Idaho At 11/20/2024 2:10:07 PM

Hi Melissa, Thank. you so much for your encouraging comment! I am grateful for your support! God bless you! :)

Melissa Henderson From Mount Pleasant SC At 11/20/2024 7:49:55 AM

Thank you for sharing about Erma and her writing. This is a precious book. :-)

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Melissa! Thank you for stopping by and endorsing Erma's delightful story for children. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Erma From Idaho At 11/19/2024 8:58:39 AM

Thank you, Patti, for hosting my blog. I appreciate you and am grateful to your readers. My prayer is that A Snowflake's Adventure assures every child that they are loved by the Creator and He has a unique purpose for their lives. Blessings and God's love, Erma :)

Reply by: Patti Shene

Erma, it's always a joy to host you! A Snowflake's Adventure is a precious story with a beautiful message for children everywhere. Blessings on your writing!