By Sandra Kay Chambers
Fingerprint Devotions: 40 Devotions To Help You Realize You Are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose (Ages: 8-12); Ambassador International Publishers, Nov. 7, 2023.
Writers are often asked when they first considered themselves a writer.
I guess my answer is when I won an essay contest in elementary school. In high school I had a very inspiring English teacher who inspired me to major in English in college. After earning my teaching degree, I went on to get an MA in Education, focusing on Learning Disabilities. Teaching kept me pretty busy, so it wasn’t until a few years after getting married and having my daughter, that I began to do some freelance writing and have since published hundreds of news stories, profiles, lifestyle stories, travel and feature stories for various publications. In 2014 I self-published a book on prayer.
While sitting by my fireplace one morning, I decided to write a picture book about my daughter just for fun. I liked doing it so much I kept writing more picture books and when one book won an award at a writer’s conference, it inspired me to keep going.
During COVID, I discovered some interesting fingerprint facts online and kept researching the topic and writing these facts down. Then the idea came to me to put them into a kid’s devotional. I had read a few current award-winning devotionals that paired fun scientific facts with a related devotional, a scripture, a journal activity and a prayer. I decided to do the same. I started pitching my idea and finally received a contract from Ambassador International Publishers in May 2022. As every writer knows, it’s a long journey from contract to publication, but my book is scheduled to launch Nov. 7, 2023.
I think this book is important, because we’ve all heard the news of a mental health crisis among our children and teens since COVID. Not only that, but cyber bullying is on the increase, and social media has been shown to play a roll in making children and teens feel like they don’t measure up. As a Christian, I believe that God created every person to be unique, one-of-a-kind, with gifts and talents they can use to make the world a better place. This book helps kids discover their worth, value and purpose in life. Each devotional contains an interesting scientific fact about fingerprints, a scripture, a devotion, a fun journal question or activity and a prayer. There’s also a free downloadable activity packet available to download from my website when the book is purchased. (https://sandrakaychambers.com)
I’m also excited to be partnering with 7Homes foster and adoption agency to donate books for their “care bags” they give to kids who have to be taken out of their homes, sometimes suddenly. The devotionals will also be used for Christmas gifts for their foster children. I’m hoping people will purchase one for their child or grandchild and then donate one directly to 7Homes. There’s a link on Amazon to send a book directly to 7Homes: https://rb.gy/uvsry. (People can also purchase the book and mail it directly to them at: Seven Homes, 4270 Piedmont Parkway, Suite 109, Greensboro, NC 27410.
Author Bio
With a personal goal to “Pray Often! Inspire Others! Create Beauty!” Sandra pens articles, blogs and books to encourage children and adults in their personal walk with God. She has a passion to help kids understand how uniquely created and loved by God they are and help them discover their God-given purpose in life.
Sandra is the author of Fingerprint Devotions: 40 Devotions to Help You Realize You Are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose (ages 8-12) Ambassador International Publishers, release date: Nov. 7, 2023. Sandra is also a prayer encourager and the author of a small group/personal study on prayer: Lord, It’s Boring in My Prayer Closet: How to Revitalize Your Prayer Life. She is also a contributing author to two book compilations: Pray a Word a Day (Guidepost) and Abba’s Lessons (CrossRiver Media Group). Sandra is also the host of the 5-Minute Parenting Podcast.
Sandra has been a teacher and writer for most of her professional life. She taught English, journalism and special education in both public and private schools. As a journalist and writer, she has published hundreds of news, profiles, travel, and lifestyle stories for various publications.
She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI); Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA); Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers (BRMCWC); and Serious Writers Club.
Sandra lives in coastal North Carolina and enjoys spending time with her husband, their daughter, son-in-law and their grand-French bulldog puppy. When not writing, she enjoys traveling, photography, walking on the beach and curling up with a good mystery or historical fiction book.
Website Link: https://sandrakaychambers.com
Facebook Author Page: https://facebook.com/SandraKayChambersauthor
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/PrayWaves
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Travel_Sandra