“A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.” Samuel Johnson, from Works of Samuel Johnson

Mother’s Day approaches and it has occurred to me that in much the same way that children learn about life and beauty from their mothers, we readers are inspired and taught by writers.

My sense of observing and processing the world around me has evolved over time. As a younger person, I was enthralled with gifted speakers of the 1960’s: John Kennedy and his brother Robert, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X. Even my parish priest in New York captured my attention with his message, delivery, and presence. I cannot discern even now whether this attraction was personality driven or simply how I related to the world around me. Nonetheless, the spoken word captivated me during those early years.

I recently had a conversation with someone who was interested in writing Orthodox children’s books; however, she was primarily interested in writing fantasy. We talked for a few minutes, and it got me to thinking about this. We pray to the Theotokos to help us with “wicked memories and fantasies.” So it seems appropriate to me to ask the question: Is it Orthodox to read and write allegory/fantasy?

In the United States of America, we celebrate all the different cultures that exist. Then we change them into something anachronistic. For instance, when I went to Venice, I discovered that it in fact did not look like a Disney resort or the “tunnel of love” ride depicted in so many cartoons. It was in fact so much more and authentic. Nothing can replace authenticity.

When I first saw Jefferson Bethke's “Why I Hate Religion but love Jesus” video, I loved it. I loved that it had 20 million viewers and I loved that it proved something I’d been trying to find a way to say for a long time as a convert to Orthodoxy. This generation is primed and waiting to become Orthodox. The Response to Jefferson Bethke is so profound because he either resonates with you or completely offends you. Either way, if you watched his video, you counted as one of those 20 million viewers. So first, we shouldn’t assume that all 20 million would give this video a “thumbs up.” One question needs to be asked though. Is his message lost in translation? Might we agree with him if we actually meant the same things by the common words we use?

When I trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Britain’s National Health Service, I knew that I wanted to work exclusively with children. I had the ideal job, working at the oldest children’s hospital in Europe. Several years later I moved to Cambridge and never wanted to leave there. Those were the best years of my career as a child psychologist. My work had been richly varied and I always loved working with children in pediatric settings. I researched and published on the assessment and hypnotic treatment of children in pain, which remains an interest of mine.

Theology is a beautiful and wonderful thing. I love reading it; however, one does have to admit that it takes a certain level of education and understanding to really appreciate some of the more complicated theological ideas. However, if you are Orthodox, it’s the theology of the simple that strikes me most.

One of the Bible passages that first resonated with me as a newly "born again" Christian was from Chapter 12 of Romans: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will."

I stifle a laugh whenever someone asks me about my writing life. As if there’s any rhyme or reason to it. Hollywood movies that depict writers effortlessly penning bestselling novels into fine leather journals while sipping cappuccino’s from the balcony of isolated villas, have tainted most people’s idea of a writer’s life. At least, this writer’s life.

I cook, clean, change diapers, and build forts. And I write. Sometimes simultaneously, sometimes not. My villa looks more like an ’08 Honda Odyssey; my fine leather journal, a spiral Vera Bradley notebook. Isolation is a term unbeknownst to this writer mama of three, who does most of her work in car line and doctor’s office waiting rooms.

When I was asked to write for this blog, it had not occurred to me that by deciding to produce a series of children’s books, I was making a career change. Suddenly, I was a writer. Writers are people who look at the world and think profound things, then find ways to string words together to evoke complex emotions and thoughts in others. That’s not me. I decided to write for an entirely different reason.