Author Spotlight: Natalee Creech

April 12, 2019

Today we are excited to feature author Natalee Creech and her two picture books, WHEN DAY IS DONE, illustrated by Robert Dunn (Beaming Books 2019) and NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD'S LOVE, illustrated by Joseph Cowman (WorthyKids 2019). 

Enter to win a copy of both books!

Tell us about yourself and how you came to write for children.

I have always written poems and stories for myself and my students, but it took me until 2015 to decide I wanted to try and get published. That’s when I declared it to my family and joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Congrats on your two picture books, WHEN DAY IS DONE and NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD'S LOVE. Tell us about them and what inspired you. 

WHEN DAY IS DONE grew out of a line that popped into my head when I sat down to write one day. That line was, “We sleep when day is done.” and it became the ending line of each stanza.

I started writing NOTHING because I teach at a Christian school and I was looking for books based on specific Bible verses (which we were studying) to share with my class. I found lots of picture books about Noah, Daniel, and other biblical heroes. I found lots of picture books retelling parables or stories from the Bible, but not many concept books introducing a specific verse or point of theology. NOTHING is based on the promise in Romans 8:38,39 – that nothing can separate us from God’s love. It’s a book I wish I had been able to read with my own children when they were small enough to fit in my lap! 

Was your road to publication long and windy, short and sweet, or something in between? 

Overall it was short and sweet. The part that took longest was me deciding that writing for children was something I wanted to pursue as more than a hobby.  

What projects are you working on now? 

I always have multiple picture book manuscripts going. Right now I’m focusing on revising a companion book to NOTHING and fine-tuning some non-rhyming manuscripts. 

What advice would you give to your younger self? Is this the same as you'd give to aspiring authors?

Continue taking steps towards your goal, focus on things you can control, and don’t obsess over things you can’t. Any action toward your goal is progress! 

What is one thing most people don't know about you?

I have an older brother and two younger sisters. For most of my life, I shared a room with my sisters – which I loved – but I’m also an introvert. Sometimes I would tuck myself into the bottom shelf of the linen closet in our hallway and read with a flashlight just to get some peace and be alone. (I’m not sure my family even knows I did this!)

Where can people find you online?

Website: nataleecreech.com

Twitter: @nataleecreech

Facebook: nataleecreechauthor

Natalee Creech is a children's author who is equally at home in Canada, (where she grew up) in the U.S., (where she studied education) and in South Korea (where she taught for many years). Regardless of where she lives, she is probably sneaking more children's books into the house, much to the delight of her children and the dismay of her husband. Oreo, the family cat, remains indifferent.

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