Thursday, August 30, 2012

Meet author Mukkove Johnson as she talks about her new book - Easter is About Jesus!




Mukkove Johnson, author of Christmas is About Jesus, has a new book called Easter is About Jesus.  I have gotten to know Mukkove over the last couple of years and am thrilled to be able to interview her.  She lives in Alaska, which I find to be so interesting because she gets to see real moose all of the time!  Before our interview, I'd like to tell you more about Mukkove's books. (Make sure you read to the end for a chance to win a personalized copy of Easter is About Jesus).


Easter Is about Jesus

Easter is About Jesus is a book of family devotions for the Easter season.  Johnson does a great job making the devotions meaningful, interactive, and fun.  She takes common Easter themes like eggs and bunnies and shows how these symbols can remind us of Jesus.  All devotions begin with a scripture followed by an explanation. Then to make a deeper personal connection there is a section with discussion questions and activity ideas.  This is a wonderful book to use each Easter season to help set the focus that Easter is About Jesus.
Though Easter is About Jesus is a stand-alone book, it makes a great companion to Christmas is About Jesus! 
Christmas is About Jesus
I have always loved the quote, "Jesus is the reason for the season" and one of my favorite images is Santa Claus kneeling over baby Jesus in the manger showing that even he knows the real reason Christmas is celebrated.  These thoughts came to mind while reading Mukkove Johnson's book Christmas is About Jesus-An Advent Devotional.  These devotions begin on December 1st and continue through Christmas Eve.  For each devotional, Johnson takes traditional Christmas items like holly, Christmas lights, and cookies (just to name a few) and shares how each of these symbols can remind us of Jesus.  She does this through scripture, prayer, and thought-provoking questions that are good to promote family discussions.  I recommend Christmas is About Jesus for families who want to keep Christ in Christmas!  


And now I'd like to introduce author Mukkove Johnson!



What inspired you to write this book? 

A combination of things inspired me to write Easter Is About Jesus. It really starts with why I was inspired to write my first book, Christmas is About Jesus.

How did you get started writing these devotionals?

I wanted to teach my children that Christmas was really about Jesus, not wish lists and being good to get gifts. I also wanted a countdown to Christmas, like that advent calendars I had used as a child. I really wanted everything we did in celebrating Christmas to point to Jesus though, to enforce that this holiday and celebrating was truly about Him. CIAJ was the end result.  EIAJ was inspired because the Easter holiday seemed to have a similar confusion about what we were really celebrating. I mean what do rabbits have to do with Jesus rising from the dead anyway? I came up with something - you can read the book to see J. (Well okay, two things really: Easter Bunny: Jesus gives good gifts, chocolate bunnies: Jesus has good thing to say)

Tell us about your family? 

My family is wonderful. I have three preteens (10, 11, and 12) whom I have always told “We’re not doing teenagers. You are children and then you will be young adults.” Many are waiting to see how that works out for me! I homeschool them and always have. My husband is my favorite person to hang out with, no matter what we’re doing.




What it is like to live in Alaska? Have you ever lived in the lower 48? If so, how does it compare?

I was born in Minnesota and went to college in Oregon. I forget how different Alaska can be to people who don’t know. I recently had family visiting from Minnesota and their thoughts on the differences included:

·         Every road is a dead end. You go somewhere and have to turn around and go back the same way.
·         To do anything up here you have to get in and drive.

I live in the Matanuska Valley. Being a valley there are mountains all the way around. There are 3 main ways out of the valley, all of which can dead end at the ocean pretty easily – if you drive long enough. Everything is farther apart here, but that tends to make people closer together. Certainly not everyone, but most people are more like family because their own is so far away. 

We regularly have moose in our yard and I now always think of you, Lisa.

Thank you for having me here Lisa!
Blessings,
Mukkove Johnson

I was thrilled when Mukkove shared this picture -
how cool to have a real moose in the backyard!
Mukkove is generous enough to have a Book Giveaway right here on my blog! One lucky reader will win an  autographed copy of Easter is About Jesus.  To enter, just leave a comment or question for Mukkove in the Comments Section and one winner will be chosen on September 4th.  Please be sure to leave an email address so we can contact you!

Purchasing Information:
Signed copies are available only @ Kove's Cove
Available from Tate Publishing and by September 18th most online retailers

To contact Mukkove:
email: Mukkove@KovesCove.com
website: Kove's Cove
facebook: Mukkove Johnson - Christian Author
blogs: Kove's Blog and Focus on Jesus
mailing list: Kove's Cove

Thank you so much for talking with me Mukkove and best of luck on your new book!

13 comments:

  1. Thank you so much Lisa! I will be checking back daily to see if there are any questions so please ask!

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  2. Your books look so interesting, Mukkove. Can they be adapted for classroom use? I teach 1st grade and am always looking for ideas to prepare my children for the Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter seasons with the true focus on Jesus. I am looking forward to seeing all of your ideas. Thanks. Also, I want to tell you that I was blessed to go to Alaska in 2003. It was the most beautiful, awesome trip of my life. It is very different from Chicago, IL.
    Judy Wedryk teach1st@wowway.com

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    1. The books would work well in a classroom setting. There are questions written right in for discussion. I have coloring pages and ornaments available on my website that would be easy projects. I also post additional ideas and links for both seasons @ http://christmasisaboutjesus-devotion.blogspot.com/ There are a few complete Easter devotions there also. If you try it in your class I would love to hear how it goes!
      I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to Alaska. I've only ever been in the Chicago airport for a really long layover when I was really tired :)

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  3. You are quite welcome Mukkove! @Judy Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. I would love a copy of Easter is About Jesus for my granddaughter Nellie. She is such a blessing to us and we want her to grow up knowing jesus. Thanks,
    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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    1. I'm sure you are a blessing to Nellie as well, Kathy. Thank you for reading.

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  5. Mukkove, thank you for sharing your gift with the world. You are truly an amazing person, especially in your spirit and willingness to give so much to the world!! Your devotionals are easy to read and good for all ages. Growing up, I knew the meaning behind Christmas and Easter, but I was not as familiar with the symbolism of many things. Helping me understand an even deeper meaning helps me guide my children in understanding Christmas and Easter celebrations in a whole new light :)
    Many blessings to you!!

    -Julie Rahm

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  6. Kathy and Julie,
    Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. These books look wonderful! I'll be getting them for my grandchildren.
    Judith Haberland

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    1. Thank you, Judith! If you get them from me I'd be happy to put their names in them :)

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  8. Not sure if it is too late to enter this or not. I was able to briefly look at your books up at the Palmer fair but I didn't get to look through them because my daughter was having a fit. I would love to get these books for my little sisters. My family are not Christian so I like to provide as many tools for them that they can go through on their own and then come to my husband and I with questions.

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    1. Wonderful Alexandria! I'll be doing a few more events if you make it back to Palmer. If you don't win you can always buy books @ http://www.kovescove.com/apps/webstore/

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