Author Interview with Janis Cox

Today I welcome Janis Cox to Word Salt.

What is the name of your book? What is special about it?

Tadeo Turtle is a children’s picture book for ages 3-7. It is a full-colour picture book in watercolour. Children will love to cuddle up with someone and read this book; check out the pictures and repeat the rhyming words. There are fun activities in the back of the book. I wrote the story and painted the pictures.

 Who are you and how did you get started in writing?

I am a retired teacher/small business owner. In retirement I started to journal and in my first year wrote 150 poems. All of this writing centred around my new found love of Christ. I continue to grow each day as I study and learn more about this God I serve.

What was the inspiration (motivation) behind the book? (Why did you write it in the first place?) 

I had painted a turtle while in my painting class. I loved him so much, I thought about him a lot.  

Then, one morning, while sitting in my usual morning chair for meditation and prayer, the story of Tadeo came to me in poem form. Although the turtle’s name at first was Tommy, the poem stayed quite close to the first version.  

Before I printed the first trial copies I googled Tommy Turtle and found there were already too many Tommys. I tried other names – and found the same thing. I went to a baby name register and started to look – there was the name Tadeo. I loved it from the beginning. It means “praise” and comes from the name Thaddeus. Thaddeus was one of Jesus’ disciples.

What do you hope this book accomplishes? 

As a children’s picture book I hope that a parent and child will cozy up together and read the story; talk about the pictures; discuss why Tadeo wanted to be different and how he learned to like how God made him.

Who is this book written for? 

This book is written for 3 to 7 year olds. 

Do you have a “life verse” that you have claimed? If so what is it and why is that verse so meaningful to you? 

I have two verses that spoke to me when I became a new believer. The first one is Proverbs 3: 5-6: 

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. 

And also Philippians 4:6-7:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Who (or what) is your greatest encourager when you write and why? 

I have to say that I write for God. Reading His Word encourages me. Reading on the web also gives me ideas. My contact with others gives me connections and ideas as well. Listening to what God has to say about things gives me a reason to write.

Is there anything else that you would like your readers to know about you that would give us even more of a glimpse into your personality and passions? 

I like to do anything and everything. I paint, I do a little sewing, I have done pottery, I write, I read, and even play a little piano. I love to journal. Every morning I write in my journal – talking to God about my life. I am passionate about people and leading them to Christ. I love my mission trips to Poland with International Messengers. I blog at Under the Cover of Prayer (
http://underthecoverofprayer.wordpress.com
) and on my website http://www/janiscox.com