Help me welcome author and blogger Joan C. Benson today as she shares about her newest co-authoring project with author Marjorie Wingert.

Getting to know Joan and Marjorie:

Joan C. Benson is an inspirational speaker, a former educator/reading specialist, a wife, mother to four, and a grandmother to eight precious ones. Her debut historical fiction, His Gift, was released in 2020. She co-authored God's ABCs, a twice award-winning children’s fiction, the first of four books in The Cornerstone Concepts for Kids series. Let’s Be One: God’s Human Race released in October 2023. The third of four books, Wonder of Life, came out in March 2024.

Marjorie Wingert loves encouraging parents, equipping women, and connecting with children. She is a wife to Nathan and mother to one young daughter. She published her first children’s fiction book in 2020, Meet Mr. Caleb and created a CD with original music. Marjorie co-authored the award-winning children’s fiction, God’s ABCs, released in March 2023 followed by Let’s Be One: God’s Human Race, in October 2023. Wonder of Life came out in March 2024.

Connecting Online"

Links to Joan: https://www.joancbenson.com

Facebook – author page: https://www.facebook.com/YIHAVEHOPE

X: JoanCBenson@11Ccaj4life

Amazon Buy Link for Wonder of Life and the other Cornerstone Concepts for Kids books (3 of 4 are published): https://amzn.to/4cBt8Y7

Book Spotlight: Wonder of Life by Joan C. Benson and Marjorie Wingert

Children’s Fiction Picture Book (Ages: from lap readers-8)

First Page: “God made the wonders of heaven and earth. He created the morning and night on the First. ‘Twas on the second, he shaped our big sky. Day Three he formed seas, and the land oh so dry!”

If I could not write for some reason, I believe I would contribute to children’s ministry in some way. I began my teaching career as a 2nd-grade teacher and the children captured my heart. I remember wishing I could have taken a few of them home with me.

Because young children are so transparent, easy to entertain, and “mostly” joyful, I find time spent with them inspiring. I have a strong desire to protect the youngest of our little ones with God’s truth so they will not be deceived in our anti-biblical culture. It is from that heart’s desire I was inspired to write the Cornerstone Concepts for Kids series with my co-author, Marjorie Wingert. Our children are vulnerable. They are unable to put on the armor of God without our help as their caregivers, parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.

Our third book, Wonder of Life, is a story teaching God’s involvement in our lives from conception, and how God made his human children in His image. We were set apart from the animals. In a culture where life is “disposable,” our prayer is for children to learn how sacred they are from God’s perspective. We are pleased to offer this entertaining, rhyming, and beautifully illustrated book to Christian families as a tool to convey God’s biblical truth.

My first novel, His Gift, is historical fiction for teenagers to adults. The novel was based on a true story from my mom’s life at the onset of the Great Depression. This piece of writing also represents my first real “roadblock” as a writer. I was an experienced writer, having written for educational publishers for years. However, I yearned to tell my God stories. I wasn’t clear how my book would ever get published in the independent market. I went to writing conferences, but often received conflicting editorial advice. Doubts reigned in my mind. Was His Gift even worthy of publishing?

Since my story was based on family history, I thought it was funny (as well as frustrating) when an editor told me girls didn’t take chemistry in high school in 1929. I was told to rewrite it to show my main character in a sewing class to be more accurate. I knew my mom had taken chemistry in 1929 because she expressed her disdain for it. Another editor told me, “No one wants to read about The Great Depression. Too depressing!”

Through these experiences, I overcame my frustration by setting aside the contrary voices and choosing to believe in myself despite the negative noise. I stood firm for the theme I wanted to share in a world where disappointment abounds and sometimes dreams go unfulfilled. God honored my perseverance. Eventually, I met an agent who believed in the message of His Gift who then found a Christian publisher who loved the story. The rest is history.

My words of wisdom to everyone: “Don’t give up on your inspiration, your God-gifts, or your dreams. Persevere!”
[WC 492]