Valerie -Welcome to Bookworthy. Today we're talking with Yarm del Bocio about her award-winning middle-grade novel, The Heart Changer. This story follows Miriam, who is taken from her homeland and given as a slave to an army commander called Naaman. Yep, the Naaman of Second Kings Five. If you have not heard of this Bible story, you're in for a treat as Jarm helps kids explore forgiveness and compassion through this heartfelt story where the characters discover the one who can set captive's tree. Welcome to Bookworthy Jarm.
Jarm -Thank you, Valerie. This is a pleasure and an honor.
Valerie -I'm so glad to have you here. Well, to start things off, I wanted to ask you, what is your favorite thing about summer?
Jarm -Good question. My favorite season is spring because my name means lover of spring, Yarmulah. But I have a good story for summer. So of course, summer vacation was always the best thing. I love to travel and my mom, a single mom, and my dad died when I was four. And so she was a school social worker. So we both had summers off. And we would go, she was very good at keeping track of family, and we would go from one end of the state to the other visiting friends down to Florida, to California, up to Minnesota. So my summers were usually full of travel, which I love, and I miss that kind of thing. So I think that's what I like best about summer, it means travel.
Valerie - I love traveling too and it's one of those things growing up. We didn't travel a lot. It usually was just to my grandparents' house in the Panhandle of Texas, but it felt so adventurous. It felt so fun just to explore and observe things outside your window. And it's one of those things whenever I travel with my kids, they have a limited amount of screen time because I want them to look out the window and explore and ask questions and look at the clouds. And you know, it's one of those joys of traveling is looking out the window. Exactly. Well, Yarm, why don't you tell us a little bit about your book, The Heart Changer?
Jarm -Sure. So, The Heart Changer is my first, my debut book, historical slash biblical fiction. My desire back in, I mean I could go way back to my writing experience, but since I was in education and taught kindergarten, and high school art, I loved being around kids because I was an only child. And so, and I love scripture. I was a Sunday school teacher and a club leader. And I wanted to find a way. I love the kids in scripture. I love kids in history and scripture who have no backstory. We don't know much about them. Some of them don't even have names like name is wife servant girl, but they've made a huge impact in people's lives. And so I wanted kids too, to feel like they, they knew those characters that the Bible and history Bible, in particular, is not just a bunch of stories that we can't even relate to, but that there were kids just like them that went through the same kind of struggles that they could relate to and emulate. And so I started with a story of the little boy, I called him Toby, who gave his lunch to Jesus. I mean, we kind of just overlooked that story, but it's important because you think, well, was he willing to do that? Was he really hungry and just gave it as a gift to Jesus or where did he come from? How did he get to the feet of the disciples so that they could find him? So I
wrote a story there and I thought, you know, I need one for girls. And so that's where the heart changer came in. I thought, well, Miriam is really good, we don't hear a lot about her. I call her Miriam. You know, we don't know truly what her name was, but I thought that was good. It's another name for Mary as well. And brought out her story because she was an Israeli captive who was, I mean, Nehman was the head of the Syrian army. I mean, history shows that he would have probably been in that area and destroyed a village and taken her captive. That's how he got her as a captive. And what would a middle grader, a 12-year-old, think about that? Of course, she would not be happy. She would be scared. But I would imagine she probably had a lot of spunk and was resentful, was angry, was kind of rebellious, and that the Lord had to work in her heart before she could affect and help Naaman, because God uses those who, you know, surrender to him. And so the story is basically about her journey in struggling with her angst and her feelings and the Lord working in her heart so that she could bless Naaman and lead him to Elisha and be healed.
Valerie -I love that you've taken kind of one of those easy, passed-over stories and given it depth and meaning that even though it's an Old Testament story, there is so much truth of redemption, forgiveness, and the gospel in it too. And I love how you've woven that together so well and really walked Miriam, this young girl, through all those emotions that we feel. Like, you know, she felt betrayed by God. She felt like she hated Naaman and didn't want to serve their family and just her journey of recognizing God's sovereignty, recognizing that he's in control, even when it doesn't feel like control, I think is a message that can really resonate with young kids. So I really appreciate what you've done there. Now Biblical fiction, you know, biblical historical fiction isn't really common in the middle-grade area. What made you want to do this in that eight to twelve range rather than adults or YA?
Jarm -As I said, because I was a teacher, I was used to working with those that age. I mean, my story started with a memoir, then moved to picture books, and I did do historical and biblical picture books. But since I love to describe middle grade was my sweet spot. But I think it's just because they have a lot of angst. It's middle grade is a time when they're not kids. I mean,
they are kids, but they're not little kids, little elementary, and they're not high school. They're not mature enough to do things like driving or being out on their own, being independent. So they're kind of stuck in this tough spot. And so of course they have angst because they don't want to be young anymore, but they are. And they do want to be older, but they're not allowed to be. And so it's a really time of struggling inside. And I thought that that group would need a story like this that would give them hope, and encouragement, give them, I say, a hero to emulate. Of course, Christ is our ultimate hero, but someone who, rather than a superhero, can't be superwoman or whatever we may think we are, but we can. But this is someone actually that lived and it was biblical and that God used that they could emulate and realize as they do in the story, that not only that God work to get all things together for good, but if we surrender to Him, He can use our lives in some pretty amazing ways and He has a plan for our lives and we can maybe be a hero to someone else and encourage them and be used of God.
Valerie -I love that. And it's one of those I have, what is it? A 15-year-old, a 12-year-old and a 10-year-old. So they're kind of all on this really awkward stage of life. And it is just hard in our culture. You know, as I read not too long ago that, you know, the idea of adolescents and teens is rather new in the last, you know, 70-some-odd years that they're still kids, but they want the responsibility. They want to step up. They want to learn and grow. And I think our culture kind of says, be a kid as long as you can and doesn't allow them that space to try and fail, but, and to grow. And so I love that Miriam goes on that journey and struggles and works through things. And, you know, she even struggles with the other maidservant kind of how to deal with someone who's not nice to us. I mean, that happens as an adult. And so it's one of those, you know, allowing kids to walk through not just a story that is, you know, walks them through different emotions so that they can grow empathy for other people groups, as well
as, you know, empathy and understanding of what's going on in their head and heart, but also to know that it is a biblical story that while we don't have this particular character's name, you know, we do know that she impacted Naaman greatly. And because of her, he was healed. And if she hadn't spoken up, if she hadn't been brave, then if she had just sat in her angst and anger, God would have used another way to impact Naaman. But she got to be a part of that. And even though we don't have her name, she does have a place in scripture that has been saved over time. And that is so sweet. Now, for this book, what do you hope kids walk away with from this story?
Jarm -I think the two things as I mentioned was that God is writing our story. I call him the heart changer, which he is. He changes hearts only he can do that. And the heart changer is writing each of our stories. And although there can be days and weeks and months and sometimes years where it doesn't look like anything good is happening, we're going through really hard times, especially in middle school. I'm sure some things happen in school and
between friends. Friends can be betrayed, they can hurt, and things don't, you know, you could fall, you could get sick, you could, I mean, there's just a multitude of things that could happen. You can get a bad grade on the test or fail a class. I mean, all kinds of things that can happen in your life, and you just think, what in the, you know, especially, you know, maybe Christian kids might think, oh, because I'm a Christian, everything is going to work out fine. Well, that's not always true. It's not true because he loves us and he disciplines us for our good. And it's the trials that bring us to the point of surrender and change us in good ways. And so not to be afraid of the hard times, but to know that God will use that in the future, even though we can't see it. And we normally can't see it until, and sometimes we won't know until we get to heaven, how we've impacted people. But to hang in there and to keep trusting God and to serve him and to realize that it's not just older people, not just older heroes that can make a difference in the world, but as a young person, you can in huge ways. Now, Miriam influenced a commander of the Syrian army. Not all children have that opportunity but they can make a huge difference in their friends' lives, their school's lives, even in church's lives, and their neighborhood. And God can use them in many ways, you know if they surrender to Him. So those are the two things that I want kids to get out of the story.
Valerie -I love that he put that on your heart. And that's not just a message for, you know, middle-grade kids, but it's a message I know my heart enjoyed when I was reading your book as well. It's just a reminder of God's goodness and his faithfulness and that even in hard times he is still working and still accomplishing, desiring to accomplish his will. And what does it tell my kids all the time when they Come to me like, why is this happening? It's like, well, that's the wrong question. We need to ask, what does God want to teach you with this, with what's going on here? And you know, cause God's, if God brought you to it, he's going to use it and he's not going to, you know, it's like, ah, I'm just not going to worry about it. He's going to use whatever we're experiencing. And sometimes that's a conflict between brothers. Sometimes it's conflict at school or just struggling through things and it's hard as a parent to watch them struggle, but just to see God's faithfulness in their struggle and as they're working through things has been, I know for me as a parent, really, I've been very thankful for God's little like, this is why, this is why, this is a good thing. Because I know when I was young, going through struggles, I did ask a lot of times, why is this happening to me? Does God hate me? What is this? And just to wrestle with that is a good thing for our young kids and it grows them so much in their faith. Now, Yarm, did you always want to be an author?
Jarm -Well, interestingly, no, I don't think I thought of that. I just like to write. I like to communicate. I'll say that. Even I was an only child and I had to have somebody to talk to. And so I would line up my animals on the couch and talk to them or preach to them or teach them. I don't know what I was doing, but I would talk to my girlfriend, my best friend, Becky, on the phone every night, even though we saw each other three times at church. I just had this ability or need to communicate. And it started with a journal and diaries and a lot of kids, especially girls, do that. And that kind of morphed into things I did at church, I would write for. And then when my mom died, almost short of her 100th birthday, I panicked and thought, oh no, I'm not going to remember all our great stories and adventures. I better start writing a memoir. And
So I started doing that and that led to picture books, believe it or not. But I was too wordy for picture books, even though I wrote a number of them, and went to middle grade. And now I'm coming full circle in writing for my Silver Sisters. And they flourish and be flourishing and fragrant to use our maturing years for the Lord. So I've always just liked to communicate, encourage others, and inspire others no matter what age and grade. And you know, that I'm communicating with, but that's my desire, even in my blogs and in the devotionals I write. It's all about encouragement and inspiration how good God is and how we can take advantage of His goodness in a good way.
Valerie -I love that it doesn't matter your age. That's always a message we need to be reminded of is just that God is good. That God is working for our good and his glory. And, you know, it's, I love that you're doing that, not just for this middle-grade age, but for all ages. Cause yeah, it's, we need to be reminded daily of those things for sure. Now, when did your writing journey begin, Jarm?
Jarm -Well, as I mentioned, it started with my writing journals, but even before I could write, I actually found this book. It's called Do You Know? And it's really old. I don't even think that there's anything written by it. The photos, it's a Bible storybook, and it's bound like this, which is crazy. But I found this a couple of years ago after I had after I'd written The Heart Changer, and I thought kids would enjoy this during a school visit. But evidently, and you never want to do this in a book, but, I didn't think they wrote a good enough story, so I thought I'd write over it and write my version of it. So I guess back then I wanted to be an author and I wanted to, you know, this whole book is, I'm surprised that my mother didn't catch me doing that. But
that's when I think, okay, so I love to write, I love to communicate, and I think it was just a natural process, but it wasn't until my life was so busy, you know, in my teens, 20s, 30s, I didn't get married till my late 30s, and I don't think it was until, you know, later on that I realized, and I think probably reading picture books and other books to my kids, be home educated for 10 years, maybe that might have been what, you know, what spurred me on to write for others because I write for kids. Just because I love my journey with home educating our two kids and it kind of led to that. So I don't know if that answers your question, but yes.
Valerie -It does. Yes. And you know, it's, it's neat to see how, you know, those natural gifts that were given lead us in a direction to serve the Lord with however he's made us. And it's, you know, we don't always do a good job of recognizing what God has already put in us, but it's neat to see that he has directed your path and given you the gifts that have allowed you to write this sweet book and be as encouraging as you are in add your blogs and such also. Now, what is your favorite book?
Jarm - Oh boy, that was such a hard question. I mean, other than God's Word, of course, that has impacted me. But if you talk about a favorite book, I love the story of Jane Eyre. I love the
movie. I love the book. I've read the book, which is very long. But she's a woman who wanted to do what was right in God's eyes, even though she'd have to give up something she loved very dearly. And I love that model because I love her heroines, of course. So that story has always impacted me. I love the Valley of Vision, which is Pilgrims. It's a nonfiction, kind of devotional from the 17th, and 18th centuries. It's just a book of prayers, and that's huge. I think Elizabeth Elliot's stories, all of them, all of her, well, she writes mostly nonfiction. All her, her, accounts of Jim, her husband, and his faithfulness, her faithfulness. I mean, even their marriage and relationship was tumultuous. You know what I mean? Just
difficult, but they were both used by God in many ways. Of course, her husband was martyred, and she went on to go back to talk about Hiro, go back to the very people that killed your husband, and serve the Lord with your young daughter who was under a year at the time. So yeah, I love any of Elizabeth Elliot's books. And as a kid, I liked Dr. Seuss. I loved Alexander the No Good Very Bad Day because days are like that. I loved the Anna Green Gables series on television, the Canadian version. I never actually read the series, I'm embarrassed to say I'm a visual and I like to see the story. But I mean, talk about making me cry. I mean, it's such a sensitive story. So those are some of the books that have made me who I am and that I love to read.
Valerie - I love Anna Green Gables, the Canadian version too. And it was only recently that I read, you know, one of the books and I was just like, you'd be very surprised at how aligned they are. I was kind of like, I can see this in my head. So it was like visiting an old friend reading through that book and it was a lot of fun. So if you had the time, I'd recommend it.
Jarm -Yes, yes. Thank you. I'll put it on my list.
Valerie -Now, what can we expect next from you?
Jarm -Well, as I mentioned, I'm turning a corner in writing for women, flourishing and fragrant, using your maturing years for the Lord, and living it with confidence and joy is the story I'm working on or the nonfiction book. I have written another, actually two other historical fiction for middle grade. One is called It takes place at the World Columbian Exposition of 1893. It's kind of an adventure mystery. I have been revising that with critique groups and have been praying for an agent because it's very difficult to publish in the Christian publishing world unless you have an agent. So I've been praying for an agent. I love the story. I believe in it. I think kids would like it if there's a place for it. So this is another place where I have to trust the Lord that he's got his timing. So that's basically what's on my plate. I'm also working on certification to be a book coach with Author Accelerator and that's taking up a lot of my time lately. But hopefully, that'll be done soon and I can move on to finishing my book. But that's what the Lord has for me right now.
Valerie -Very exciting. I would be very interested to read that little mystery. I love history and exploring it from different perspectives. And so that sounds fun. I will join you in prayer for that one. Well, where can people find out more about you and your books, Jarm?
Jarm -Okay, well, I'll show you the book, in particular, the Heart Changer. So you can find me on my website, jarmdelbacio.com. It's J -A -R -M -D -E -L -B -O -C -C -I -O. You'll find all the information there, not only about me and the social media, places where you'll find me, and links to the book to purchase, but you'll also find more importantly, in the part about teachers' resources a teacher's guide, a parent's guide for those at home school for the heart changer. It will tell a little bit of background, and setting, ask questions, and tell a little bit about me as an author. They have some projects, some recipes, and Syrian recipes, that are tried and true. So a little bit of that, and you could use it as a learning unit for kids to go along with the book. You can also find other resources that I suggest for middle grade that would be on there, places that I have spoken. I'm open to speaking at schools and churches and that kind of thing. So you'll see some information there and a little more about me and my writing project. So, oh, and also about my book on aging, you'll see that there as well. So yeah that's the place to go jarmdellbaccio.com you can find me there and connect with me there, ask a question, email me, or whatever you need.
Valerie -We'll make sure that link is in the descriptions of this episode. And thank you so much for joining me today, Yarm. It's been a pleasure.
Jarm -Yes, yes. You are welcome. It was wonderful to be able to share with you.
Valerie -And thank you for joining Yarm and Me on this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links we discussed and let us know in the comments what is your favorite thing about summer. Be sure to like and subscribe to discover more great books together.
Happy reading!
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