Look what I won!!!

Hi! My name is Pudge and I had the pleasure of reading Paul Hewlett's first book Lionel and the Golden Rule.  I liked it to so much I entered a contest to try and win a copy of Paul's second book Lionel Turns the Other Cheek.  I never thought a little moose (well maybe not so little) would win but I did!  I just found out today!!!  I really like the character of Lionel and not just because some of the other moose think I resemble him a bit.  Lionel always has a good message in his stories and I can't wait to see what he has to tell us in Lionel Turns the Other Cheek!

Hi! I am Pudge the Moose and I LOVE to read books!  

Here is a picture of Paul Hewlett's first book.  

You can check them both out on www.amazon.com 

And the Winner is...

Thanks to those who participated in the Giveaway of author Mukkove Johnson's new book - Easter is About Jesus!

It would have been too hard for me to pick a winner, so we had Ol' Reliable do it anonymously!

First we put the names in a hat...

Then he mixed them up and closed his eyes and picked a winner!

And the winner is Kathy D!  Congratulations!  Mukkove will email you directly so she can send you your autographed copy of Easter is About Jesus.

Remember, if you are still interested if Mukkove's books visit her website directly!

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 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! 

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!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I am Lisa, the author of The Moose at the Manger, and the moose gave me the opportunity to write today because I have such a "funtastic" story to share with you! Over the weekend while at an art fest in Huntley, Illinois, a dad came up to the tent with his two young children.  The dad was telling them that I was an author and I wrote the books that were on the table.  

The daughter looked up wide-eyed through her glasses and looked amazed.  She told me she was going into first grade and she had some questions.  She first asked me if I would show her how I wrote the books.  Then while looking at a copy of The Moose at the Manger she pointed to the text on one of the pages and asked if I had written "all of that myself".  She was such an articulate girl and had so much enthusiasm as she spoke.

When she looked at my other book My Hero, My Ding, I explained that the picture of the little girl on the cover was me when I was 9 years old and the man was my grandpa.  I told her the story was about the two of us.  She looked right at me and without missing a beat said, "So it's a non-fiction story".  I was so impressed I told her that I wish she could be in my 6th grade class, and she very innocently told me she couldn't be because she's not old enough.

I knew she wanted to get a Moose book, but I didn't want to pressure the dad, so I offered to give the girl a picture I had with both of my book covers on it.  I told her I'd sign it for her.  She proudly told me her name was Ella and proceeded to spell it.  I also signed one for her brother and she told me he was Evan and spelled his name for me too.  She asked if the pictures were free, and when I told her they were and that free was the best price something could be, she started to giggle.

By this time, the dad asked if Ella would like a Moose book and again her wide eyes smiled. As I signed the book for the kids, their mom approached the booth and Ella took off repeating most of our conversation to her.  

As they walked away, the girl turned back to wave good-bye. Ella was polite, a great conversationalist, smart, and full of enthusiasm!  Her parents should be quite proud! What a nice experience that was! (And I really do wish I had a classroom of students just like her:)