One teacher. One Year. Three books.
Many have asked me how this happened. Let me share with you a story, or two:
“Ms. Stowe, do you have time to talk later? I really need to talk to someone about something important.”
My stomach dropped.
All I could think was, “Please, God. Not another one. Please let her be okay.”
Of course, I said yes. But for the first time in almost two decades of teaching my heart started racing and I felt near the edge of panic. It turned out she was fine, but listening to my body, I realized that I wasn’t.
I was so full of stories. They were searching for a way out.
Teachers don’t just share how to write an essay, an important moment in history, Algebra, or what chemicals we shouldn’t mix in an experiment. Their roles naturally extend beyond learning important phrases in another language like “Where is the bathroom?”
We are storehouses of stories. Shared lives with kids and families. Both the beautiful and the terrible, most educators walk alongside illness, loss, victory, struggle, accomplishment, relationships... It is both an extraordinary privilege and a heavy weight.
From my first day of teaching, I promised myself I would pause if I ever hit a moment like the one that almost froze me. So, I did. I decided to take a one-year leave, and I began writing down memories from all my years of teaching. It eventually turned into In Case No One Told You: 100+ stories to help teens navigate the journey. These great and difficult stories needed to reach beyond my set of 30-150 kids a year. The stories needed to help other kids, families, and educators.
Along this same time, my own elementary kids came home from school discussing leprechauns. Early March we had fun, imagining different types of leprechauns. We wondered together what kind of house a rich leprechauns might build or how they found gold.
The next morning, I woke up at 3 am with a kid's story on my heart about leprechauns chasing gold in a whole different world. Importantly, those leprechauns felt the same way our kids do as they move through life having fun but also harboring larger questions and heart needs. That 3 am story became Pat: The Speedy Greedy Leprechaun. When I read the rough draft to my daughter, her next question was, “What about Patricia!? Why did she do _____? And will they eventually be friends? Or, even... date? giggle. giggle.” And I knew there was more to the story in Leprechaun Valley. Patricia: The Poised Perfect Leprechaun began to take shape. A series of ten is now currently in the works.
So you see, my stories led to writing stories.
But these are significant stories.
Significant stories seep out along the edges of our minds. Lessons and learnings that pop up when we slow down enough to hear them. These stories are a reflection of the life and questions so many are reading. Those stories will always find their way out.
And now, dear reader, that you know why the seeping stories were written, I can answer the next question: how. “How did these stories move from your mind to a computer and out into the world?” or “Most people write one book in three years, and you did three books in one: how!?”
Step 1: In 2022, I went to an amazing Writer’s Conference at The Oaks with Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart. They are fire hydrants of love, encouragement, challenge, whimsey, and humor. And they had a coaching program, so I signed up, ready to dive in.
I truthfully could not have done the work without them. And after difficult counseling focused previous books, I deeply appreciate the permission I was given to let my fun side out.
They cheered me on.
Step 2: Along the way, I had numerous friends who kindly offered to be Beta readers. Apparently, teachers are so used to collaboration that I had more than typical authors. For a burrito, hot drink, or chick-fil-A, my friends gathered around me with challenge and encouragement.
They cheered me on.
Step 3: It was at another Oaks retreat I met Brandon and Blue Hat Publishing. Immediately, I knew this was a good group. They shared the same heart of wanting to help good people with good, encouraging messages to get their words into the world.
Jodi, Rachael, Tim, Brandon, and Paige from Blue Hat showed up in amazing ways. Not only did they believe in and encourage me, but helped with all the things I didn’t know that I didn’t even know. Having grit and googled my way through four previous self-published books just for fun, their help, knowledge, and expertise were invaluable and took great weight off of my mind.
They cheered me on.
And with those great cheerleaders, thus the books were born: standing stones as stories.
What are these standing stones? There are many ancient cultures who would set up a stack of rocks, or a large boulder, when something important happened. Named standing stones, the goal was for a passerby to ask “What happened here?”
Immoveable objects to cheer us on. We are a forgetful people. And these monuments help us remember.
So that is a first ask I have of you: remember.
Remember your stories that are important.
If you are full of stories, pause and sift through those.
Read a few of these stories and hear of great moments where kids learned important, fun, and meaningful life lessons.
Share good stories with anyone you know. It helps us keep our heads up, our hearts steady, and remembering all the good in the world.
And keep smiling, because although the world may only post about the difficult, hard stories, there are amazing, good things happening. Tell those stories. Lift up those people. You may find your soul a little lighter on the other side.
I’m cheering you on.
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