Valerie -Welcome to Bookworthy. Today we're talking with Kelly Wilson-Mize about her picture book, The Beautiful Story Within Me. This lyrical tale of love and redemption brings the classic adage, don't judge a book by its cover, to life with a surprising twist. This vibrantly illustrated book is rooted in simple biblical truth. It is an enchanting adventure for both children and adults. Welcome to Bookworthy Kelly.
Kelly -Thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here.
Valerie -I'm excited to have you here. I've really enjoyed getting to know you a little bit more and your book as well. But to start us off, we have to ask our random question of the week. Are you ready? OK, what type of summer camps did you go to as a kid?
Kelly -Sadly, I did not go to any summer camps unless they were, I think I went to maybe a tennis camp, a week-long tennis camp that was not overnight. But I was able as a teenager to go to a sleepaway camp and I was a counselor for a couple weeks, which was really exciting. I got to see it from a different perspective as a teenager, but I was glad I got to do that.
Valerie -Very neat. I know I have a kiddo that is 15 and he wants to go work at a summer camp this summer. And so it's kind of neat to see his love of summer camps, even though it's not a sleepaway camp, but just, he just loves that environment, that energy and the excitement that comes at camp. So I love that. I know for me growing up, I went, my parents, tried to get me to stop liking horses because I loved horses as a kid. And so they thought sending me to horse
camp would, I would have to have muck stalls and wash horses and do all the hard work, but that would just totally steer me away. Let's just say I went to that horse camp for the next five years. So it did not work. But that's the fun part of summer is just experiencing new things, whether it's like a tennis camp or just small, I don't know, we've done like, community camps in our neighborhood, just to do some fun things together, to get to know some of the kids in our neighborhood. And so I love the summertime that it just gives you time to try new things and relax a little bit. Yes, to breathe. Yes, that's a great way to put it. Well, Kelly, why don't you tell us a little bit about your book?
Kelly -Well, The Beautiful Story Within Me is a picture book. I wanted it to be for all ages. It's kind of, I wanted it to be in the vein kind of of the giving tree or, oh, the places you'll go where every age could get something out of it. I'm not sure if I succeeded with that, but I tried to include just aspects that would appeal to all ages. There's vocabulary. I use big words because I just really love words and It was my book and I just really wanted to use the words that I wanted to use. So, I define those words at the end of the book and kids can go back if they don't understand some of the words that are used. And there are study questions at the end that I tried to make for, you know, various ages. But it's a, it's, I can tell you all about it. The main character is, she, she's a book on a shelf in a library. And my last job before I retired from education was as an elementary librarian. And I got the idea just, you know, obviously
shelving books. There were so many books, wonderful books that were never seen by the kids, never saw the light of day. And I just started thinking about all the similarities between books and people. And so that's what I try to do with the book. It's there are all kinds of references that could apply to either a human person or a book. And so that's kind of the premise of the book.
Valerie -I love what you've done with this because I'm a book lover and it is neat. You know, my husband makes the joke, why do I keep all these books? It's like, well, they're like a friend that I traveled with that we experienced something together and they do have that drawn. They do become their personality in a sense, but you've also brought a little bit of a gospel message into this book as well. Can you tell us about that?
Kelly -Well, there's a surprise, I don't want to give away the whole story, it's very short. But there's a surprise reader who shows up and just sees the book, sees the main character for her true, what's on the inside as God sees us. And he sees her true worth and teaches her that she is valuable. And it doesn't matter what other people think, it only matters what he thinks and that he loves all of his children.
Valerie -I think that is a sweet message that all ages need reminding of. I know from myself, it's a big part of my story is claiming my identity in Christ and having to redo it over and over again. And I think that that's such a sweet message, not just to give to those that are reading the books, but to kids as well. And I love how you're taking that adage of don't judge a book by its cover because our world wants to judge us by our covers, or by the way we look, or the things that we do, but God puts value on us. It has nothing to do with what we do, what we say, or where we go in life. And I love that you're presenting that in a really fun way for kids to think, wow, there are all kinds of books on the bookshelves, and they're all different, and they're all unique, and they all have value and I think that's a really great message for kids to grasp at a young age because I know if I had grasped that younger I probably would have not had as many hiccups along the way right?
Kelly -Right, right. I'm so glad you got it. I'm glad you got the book. She's me. The main character is me. And she's all of us.
Valerie -Yes, I thought she looked familiar. I was wondering if that was you. So is this a little bit of your journey too?
Kelly -It is, it is. It's my journey as a middle-aged woman, which, you know, like I said, it's kind of a unique thing, the way that the book is set up. I tried to set it up for all ages, but yeah, she's me. Just, you know, different stages of life and being new and young. And, you know, it's funny because a lot of the positive feedback I've gotten from this book is from people my age. The older people are, the more I feel like they can relate to it because they've seen some life. And yeah, she's me. I incorporated also, this is just, I sent my illustrator books of my kids, they're grown now, but I sent the illustrator pictures of my kids and so that he could include them. So they're in the book, little illustrations of them. The gray cat is our family cat, Chester, that we adored. I included him for several reasons to honor Chester because we love him so much. But when I was a librarian, the kids loved any story that had an animal in the library. And, you know, there's Library Lion, the
Library Dragon, what's the one? Dewey, the Library Cat. Anyway, so many books that have an animal roaming through the library and the kids always love those so much. So I thought that that would be good. And two, we love our pets because they don't care if we're having a bad hair day. They don't care what we look like on the outside. They just love us and they're present. They're there with us. And that's kind of what the cat is. The cat is on the cover. The book has literally nothing to do with the cat except that the cat is just there. He's there with the you know, with the main character as pets are for us. And so that's who the cat is.
Valerie -Those are sweet little nuggets. I love that. And kids do latch on to characters that are of the animal variety, just because they're interesting and you can do things with a cat that you couldn't do with a person. A lot of times they could be standing on top of the bookshelf and you know, which would not look so good if a kid was standing on top of the bookshelf. But I love that you've done that. Well, Kelly, tell us a little bit about your writing journey. When did you start writing?
Kelly -So my background is in education. I was a teacher. I taught before I had kids, I taught second grade and then I taught sixth grade. And then when I had my son, I stayed home and I was home for 12 years. So during that time, I had always loved writing and thought that I might want to write. And I just, you know, I was kind of home with the kids all day and just looking for something honestly for myself that I could do and feel productive and creative. And so I began doing some freelance writing when my kids were little. I wrote a poem that was published in Clubhouse Junior Magazine, which Focus on the Family. I think that was the first paid writing that I did. And then I was able to write for Lifeway and I still write some for them while I was home with the kids. And it was just such a godsend for me to have that, you know, just like I said, to feel productive and creative in a time, at a time, you know, when it was all about the kids. And so I started with Lifeway and have done lots of different things with them over the years and still do a little bit of work for them. But that was kind of, that's been the crux of my writing. I've contributed lots of stories and devotions to compilations and, you
know, I've had some things published online, but just a little bit of a lot of different things, a lot of different kinds of writing. And then, so I felt like with this book, it was time to write up my book. I just felt like I'd kind of dabbled in every other single thing I could, you know, do almost in the writing world and just felt like I wanted to go ahead and do my book. And so I had that idea when I was teaching in the library. And I kind of, I honestly kind of got in a rush to do it when I, once I realized I was going to, what I was going to write. My parents are, my parents are 90. My dad is 90. My mom was almost 90. So I wanted them to see my book. And so that was another motivation for how that came to be when it did.
Valerie -Now in some of your earlier writing, you wrote, represented like parent life, and did some interviews with some pretty well-known Christian personalities, right? Tell us a little bit about that experience and being able to interview Max Lucado.
Kelly -Yes, that was so fun. Oh, that was the highlight of my life. It's one of those things, like, a lot of people ask me, how did you get to write for Lifeway and how do I do that? Way back, like I said, when my kids were little, they may still do this. They had online, like a little test that you would take if you were interested in writing. And so I started out writing devotions for them in their kid's magazine Adventure, which was a kid, I think they still publish Adventure for Kids, which is a devotional magazine. And then that editor also edited Parent Life and it's kind of just kind of felt some different things fell in my lap by the grace of God. And just one thing led to another, and I was able to, they asked me if I would want to do that. And of course, I think I just, paced around the house the rest of the day. I was just so excited. Just couldn't be more excited to have been able to talk to him. And it was a phone interview. And he was so kind. And like I said, that's one of the best things that I've been able to do as a writer, for sure.
Valerie - Well, it's, it's fun as you know, a children's book author yourself and you've written some other things too, is to see that Max Lucado has done both books for adults and for kids that have been so powerful and just moving us towards seeking the Lord more and more and looking at it in different ways. And I think that's what your book does a really good job of is to take a look at the bookshelf a little differently, to look at ourselves and compare ourselves to the stories that are within us and that God is developing beauty within those stories, just like any book. It starts off one way, but usually ends up a totally different way we don't expect by the end, right?
Kelly -Right, right. Thank you for that. That's a good summary. I appreciate that.
Valerie -Of course. Well, did you always want to be an author? I know you said you were in education and then you were a librarian for a while. So did you always want to write some?
Kelly -I think I did. I think I did. And I dabbled a little bit as a kid, you know, wanting to write. I remember my first memory of being so excited about writing something. I'm a lot older than you, but way back in the day, my second-grade teacher made books in the classroom. And I know kids do that all the time, like, you know, all about me, a book, but it was so cool back
then. We didn't have all the resources that schools have today, but she and I think a lot of teachers did this back then, she took cardboard and wallpaper and made literal hardcover books of our stories. And I just thought that was the coolest thing ever. I sent in a poem to Highlights magazine as a child, rejected, broke my heart. But here and there, I just couldn't get away from it. Um, I, as I grew up, I've definitely, it has been on my mind my whole life to maybe, maybe write.
Valerie -I love that you kind of refer back to a second-grade experience, because even for me, in second grade we did, we made a book. And it was, I can't remember what I wrote about, but I drew the pictures if we want to call that drawing. But that really, you know, it's really neat to see through many of the people that I have interviewed that kind of that second to fourth grade is usually when these little ideas of who we want to be or what I can do start building And I love that you have continued to develop that story within you and to continue to grow in that. And I love that, you know, you're taking something that started so long ago. And even now, as you say, you kind of rushed a little bit to make sure that your parents could hold the book in your, in their hands, but that, that idea started so early, but you saw it come to fruition. And I love that you did that.
Kelly -Yeah. And it's funny that you mentioned fourth grade. You said second through fourth grade, which is so true. My fourth-grade teacher made an impact on me too. She read, you know, fourth grade, some would say it might be getting a little old to be read aloud to, but she read to us every day and she introduced me to Beverly Cleary, one of the loves of my life. And so I think that played a role too. And that was fourth grade, but loved every Ramona book and I think I've pretty much read every single one of Beverly Cleary's books. But yeah, that second through fourth-grade time, that's true. It was very true for me.
Valerie -It's a very interesting and powerful age. We never can really, when our kids are growing up, we don't really always see what's developing at that really young age, because they're just so busy. But it is really neat to look back and say, you know what, those were the years that I was told who I was and what I could do. And just the power of that age and writing for that age is really important. Now, Kelly, what is your favorite book?
Kelly -I see, I thought about this so hard. I don't, I can't name, you know, other than the Bible, of course. I just like, I like a lot of different kinds of books. I'm not a huge nonfiction lover, except I love biographies, but I love a good mindless fiction book where I don't have to think too much. I love some of the classics, Great Gatsby. One of my recent favorites, fairly recent was the book, Educated by Tara Westover. That was so fascinating to me.
Valerie -Now our book club read that not too long ago. I wasn't able to read it, but it brought up a lot of very interesting discussions.
Kelly -Yes, I love CS Lewis, of course, and it's impossible. I used to say, and this is true, I love this book, there's a book called The Perfect Day, and I just have lost the author's name, but it's about a writer, and they made a movie about it. Oh my goodness, I should know the writer's name, but it's a really good book. It's called The Perfect Day or A Perfect Day, and I'll have to look that up and get back to you on the author's name.
Valerie -Me too, that sounds interesting. Now, as you, since you've been a librarian for a few years, what were the books that you turned kind of your reluctant readers towards? If you could point a young mind towards a specific book, where would you point them?
Kelly -And I was thinking about that too. We might need to cut this out. I need to look it up because there was this one book
that I love so much. We had, we had the, it was a Christian school. So with some of the things we didn't have, but of course, they all liked the Magic Tree House books. You know, graphic novels are huge now. Right before I left, we had some graphic novels that the kids loved and they loved Bad Kitty. I just tried to always highlight a variety of different kinds of books. And I know, you know, I will say there's kind of a shortage. I think I think you have boys, right? I feel like there are more girl books than boy books on the shelves. And so it was always, oh, they love, the boys loved, I survived. I survived the books. They love those. But it was always
kind of more challenging, usually more challenging, not always to find books that the boys would like. I love, okay, I love one of my favorite books Tuck Everlasting for that age. So I always pushed that one and they didn't know, it was one of those in the shelves that they would be like, eh, I don't know. How can you not read this? This is so good. And there's a book called that we did, we did the Christmas school that was just fascinating and just so such advanced issues for kind of around a fourth-grade level called Among the Hidden. And I don't know the author's name, but it's a series and just, you know, I can get into a really good elementary
book. But yeah, it's a challenge to be able to find books that match certain kids. And I didn't always do the greatest job with that, but I did try. And, but yeah, it was, it was beautiful to see kids that truly love to read and read. I had kids that read just about every book in the library. And it's so funny because I would often have kids that would check out the same book over and over and over again. And I'm like, why are you taking that again? You already read that. Let's look at something different. But it's been a few years. My memory's a little Fuzzy, I was done in 2020, so I guess we're coming up on four years. But yeah, definitely a
challenge to match up kids with the right books.
Valerie -I know what is it in my home. I have one kid who's read every age-appropriate book he can read twice if not more than that. And he's always like, where's the next book, Mom? Where's the next book, Mom? And then I have another kid who is dyslexic and it's been a role. He loves to be read too, which allows him to build his vocabulary and engage that part of his brain. But graphic novels, as you had mentioned, have been an eye-opening experience for him. And it's been neat to see the literary community, to see the need for boys that really are very visual learners and they connect more visually than they do with just words on a page. And it makes it so much more tangible for busy boys because I have three busy boys. And so we have lots of graphic novels around here. Too fun. Well, Kelly, what can we expect next from you?
Kelly -I don't know, I'm just not sure. I tell you that I am a really good assignment writer. I love to be given an assignment. I do it, I give it back. The editors do what they want with it. However, publishing this book on my own was tough in many ways. It's been a great blessing, but I need to take the advice of the book that I wrote and realize my identity does not lie in, you know. Sales or Amazon reviews of it. It's kind of an emotional roller coaster. It's been and I'm not I'm not a good promoter I don't like to promote it feels like self-promotion even though it's not really but So, I don't know. I'm not sure what's next. I just recently got a job as a freelance opportunity With PragerU Kids. I don't know if you're familiar with them, but I was so excited about that.
Valerie -I am, I heard about that.
Kelly - It's a consistent assignment and so that's good for me. And like I said, it's one of those situations where I do what I'm asked, I give it to them and then they make it. If they need to change it, they change it and it's contract work. But I would honestly love to write another book and I have a couple of other ideas of things that I might do. But again, like I said, it's heavy. It has been for me, just the whole process and you know.
Valerie -It is, it is a roller coaster ride for sure. I've self-published too. And so it is a weird state of affairs. It is. Cause yeah, you're, you look at a publishing house and they have multiple departments to do all the different things. Well, as a self-publisher, you're doing all the things or finding people to help you do the things. And that's just hard to do as one person. But I love that you have taken that step of faith and put out a message that is so important to your heart and can both speak to kids and adults in just reminding us of our identity in Christ. And I think you even mentioned in Samuel 6 -7 in the book just that God looks at our hearts, not just the outside as the world does. And I love that you pull that verse into the book several times because it's such a verse I tell my kids a lot. Too fun. Well, Kelly, where can people find out more about you and your books?
Kelly -Well, I have a website, www.kellywilsonmize.com, and I have an Amazon author page, Kelly Wilson- Mize, if you are interested in going there. The book can be purchased anywhere online. It's not in very many stores, but just Google the beautiful story within me, Kelly Wilson Mize, and you should be able to find a copy.
Valerie -I hope people do reach out and kind of see what you're up to. I love that you're working with PragerUKids. I think that's a great, much-needed space for kids, kid, I guess, what's the word I'm looking for? Content, kid content. And so I love that you're doing that. I look forward to seeing more from you.
Kelly -Great. Well, thank you so much for having me. I love what you're doing with the podcast. This is so needed, and I'm so impressed with the technology and how this gets put out there. It's just really neat.
Valerie-It's a learning experience for sure. Well, thank you so much for joining me today, Kelly.
Kelly -Yes. Thank you so much.
Valerie -And thank you for joining Kelly and me on this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links that we discussed and let us know in the comments what type of summer camps you went to as a kid. Did you go away for overnight camp or did you just stay around your own home? We'd love to hear about it and be sure to like and subscribe so you can discover more great books together.
Happy reading!
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