Kristen Collier is a critically acclaimed Christian novelist, a columnist for several newspapers, and a feature writer for The Chronicle of the Horse magazine.

Our readers are very familiar with Stanley Bookman, the mascot your husband, Kevin, created exclusively for Stories for Children Magazine. Of course, they will be interested, also, on how you two met, and the fact that you were recently married! Can you give us an insider scoop on what brought you two together?

We met on Christian E-authors almost three years ago. Kevin heard about my novel “King of Glory,” and asked me to write with him. I thought he was this big author, ha, ha, so there was no way I was going to turn down the opportunity to write with someone so talented. We wrote a few books together and it was a wonderful learning experience for me, I learned so much about writing from him. And what was neat was that our strengths were complimentary; his is dialogue and mine is narrative, so what more do you have in a story than that? It worked out really well . . . as does our marriage. 

Can you please tell us about your new book, Joy the Jellyfish, that you wrote and Kevin illustrated? However did you think to write about a jellyfish? What fun!

It was Mister Idea Man’s idea, he—Kevy has more ideas than the day is long! He started talking about a little jellyfish that felt unseen, that was nearly transparent. She was ignored. He meant me. It’s a story to teach kids that a true friend sees what’s on the inside, and that to make a friend you have to be a friend. He so wants the world to love me like he does . . ..  

Will you be writing Joy the Jellyfish into a series? Will each book have a theme?

There are some other online Joy stories and there will be a sequel, as well as some other e-books, etc. It’s fun and I enjoy letting Joy and the others meet new creatures. The best part is putting that little moral in there. The stories are not just entertainment. Each one helps teach a lesson, like friendship, or being content with what you have, etc. 

Have you written any other children's books? Adult books?

There is a book called “Dreamchaser” which is a chapter book. It’s currently an e-book and will go to print next year, I believe. I’ve written some chapter books with Kevin and another picture book, but they don’t have a publisher yet. I also have my first book, “King of Glory,” which I self-published, but then took it off the market to re-vamp. I’ll release that again next year. 

Did you ever think you'd be a children's author some day?

Never  

I know that you've loved horses all your life.  Do you have any plans to write a children's book about horses?

Kevy has an idea called “A Pony Called Promise,” a picture book that we may do someday, but for now I’m working on the Joy stories and “King of Glory.” I also have a book called “Champagne Taste,” about a prima donna who imagines herself a princess. In the sequel Tiffany would meet her equine match, a pony that thinks she’s a grand steed. I look forward to writing that story someday, I think it would be fun. “Champagne Taste” is a manuscript now, no publisher. It’s kind of like Dr. Seuss meets Candide, it’s a sing-songy satire, but lovingly told. Tiffany is based on me seeing all those Princess t-shirts at the mall and the young girls who wear them who have a real attitude of entitlement about them. 

Do you have any funny stories about writing your books?

One funny one was when Kevy and I started writing together. It was a book called “Natalie’s Ark.” It was his story and I helped with it. I’m from Ohio and he, Michigan. We wrote that and a few other stories before we even met, and I was real intimidated by him—he’d been compared to C.S. Lewis after all! So the way we’d do it is that he’d email me a chapter and then I’d add stuff to it. “Natalie” was his baby, and it’s written in a very genteel, poetic manner, which is Kevy’s strong suit, not mine. So one night, we were going over it on the phone and he started taking me to task about the last line of the first chapter. He really played it up, spoke in this condescending voice (he loves to tease!). 

So he started saying, “Oh, Kristen, this line is sooooooo girly,” etc., and I just burst out laughing and said, “Kevin—YOU wrote that line!” I just about died laughing, and he was soooooo embarrassed. In fact, that was about two years ago, and, we just got a good laugh out of it again today!   

What is the very first book you can recall reading as a child? Did your parents read to you a lot when you were young?

I don’t recall the first book, but I do recall two picture books that I’ve never forgotten. One was about an octopus and at the end there were thousands of tiny babies all over the page. It was so beautiful! The other was about the Easter bunny (and I actually found it again at the library a few years ago, still a great book). At the end it shows all these Easter eggs that hatch so the bunny takes the colored shells and lines the dirt in his underground house for his bunny babies. It was so pretty.  

If you could be any character in any book ever written, who would you be and why?

 I’d be the Apostle John because I’d love to be Jesus’ best friend, to know Him that closely. 

What are your favorite hobbies besides taking care of your son and husband? Please tell us about you the person!

I love dressage. That’s my favorite thing to do. And thanks for asking about me personally, ha, ha! As a mom, it’s not often that you think about yourself. One day I hope to afford another horse, as I would love to ride again. Dressage is something you see in the Olympics. It’s where the horses look like they’re dancing and the riders are wearing a fancy top hat, tails, and black boots. It’s called ballet on horseback and is a really beautiful sport when done well. It’s actually done to make the horse easier to handle and athletic, so it’s good for the horse. 

What was the last book you read for children? Other than one by Kevin?

The Silver Crown, I’m actually reading it when time allows. It was my favorite as a child. It’s by the “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH” author and my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Felice, read it to us. She’d read a chapter every day and it was so magical—I’ve never forgotten it. Two years ago I bought it and want to get back to it as time allows. It’s currently on loan to a girl in Jarod’s class who loves to read.  

Is it hard for you to work with Kevin?  Do you share an office space?

Are you kidding? It’s awesome working with Kevin! We have a computer by the TV and Kevy draws sitting on the floor, so we don’t have an office. I think we’re getting a laptop for Christmas (I’m writing this the week before). That would be nice, so that I could write in our bedroom when the guys are in the living room. I can’t do anything creative when the TV’s going, or with other people in the room—it’s too hard for me to concentrate.  

What is happening for the new year with your writing?

Kevy and I just signed a contract with Living Waters Publishing for our Christian chapter book "Natalie's Ark." It's a story we wrote together before we were married over 2 years ago. The book is about the power of faith. One line in it tells it all . . . "dreams are realities waiting to wake." It will be published this year. 

What advice would you give to new writers, especially about marketing a book?

Do a lot with your website. Get out there and read your books at schools, etc. Put free downloads on your website, do some promotional short stories as mini sequels, get reviews, etc. Kevy’s done a lot for the Joy website, so it’s a great promotional tool that kids like to go to. I’ve done some school readings, which were a blast. I also think reviews are invaluable, so get your book out there!    

Is there anything else you'd like our SFC audience to know about you?

That I’m very grateful for my family. Kevy is the best husband and father anyone could ask for. And Jarod is the best son a parent could ever want. I’m really blessed to have those two good guys in my life. They are the best men I know.