There is no way getting around it: Kathy O’Neill reminds me of my grandma. It’s not just the northeastern accent, or the hair. It’s the mannerisms. It’s the heart. It was all I could do to stop myself from ending the interview by saying, “Well, I’ll see you at Thanksgiving!”

But I think the similarities go deeper. I think Kathy embodies the grandmotherly spirit. You can tell she loves children, she’s still got lots of energy, and she’d be there for you whenever you needed her. That’s the kind of person I want writing a devotional for kids.

As Brenda and I sat down to discuss her book “Hoofprints of Hope” I was amazed at the knowledge and ease that she has. Kathy has put in her time as a teacher and a writer and everyone at Write2Ignite cannot wait to help her get this book into the hands of as many children as possible. Listen to the episode as we discuss devotional writing, research, and how cowboy’s keep their hats on. Who knows? You may just finish the episode thinking about your grandma as well.

Back in the day, NHL player Jacques Plante wrote letters to a kid in Canada, giving him tips on the game. That kid grew up to be Sue Irwin’s husband. When she learned about this collection of letters, Sue decided to write a book about hockey safety. “Safety Stars” led to another sports book (this time about soccer) and now Sue has her first board book.

Hey There, Blue Bird, Why do you Chirp? Is a delightful story inspired by Psalm 145:10 which says, “All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.” Brenda and I got to talk to Sue about her new book, her writing journey, what Time2Write is, and how important critique groups are.

They say never meet your heroes. But I made an exception. Bob Smiley has been making me laugh since I was a kid reading the Clubhouse Magazine. I’ve seen almost every standup special he’s made. But when I read Average Boy’s Above Average Year, I became an even bigger fan. Bob Smiley and Focus on the Family have created a brand that has exploded recently. Average Boy books, articles, and an award-winning podcast. Bob has seen a gradual change, as more families come to his comedy shows because they are Average Boy fans. In this episode, Brenda and I ask Bob questions about comedy, the writing process, and his super-secret trick to get into the mind of a 12-year-old boy. If you find my laugh annoying, I apologize. It’s in this episode a lot!