Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author
of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction
that honors pagan spiritual practices. My stories show you what life could be
like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted,
supported and loved. And where, with this support, you do overcome obstacles and
find your happily-ever-after.
You may
wonder what Romancing The Genres is doing celebrating Children’s Book Authors.
The
answer is simple:
The earlier a child
appreciates books,
understands the value of getting lost in a story,
comprehends that answers to all questions can be answered in the
pages of a book,
experiences the joy of holding a book, turning the pages (paper
or digital) and losing track of time and the myriad of challenges of day-to-day
life
The more likely that child will be a
life-long reader.
However,
while that is mostly true, it isn’t 100% true. I’m a life-long learner and early
reader. I read to my son from the time he was born until he was in elementary
school. I read to both my granddaughters and also to my great granddaughter.
Are
they life-long learners? Yes
Are
they life-long readers? No
While
my dyslexia is minor it was more severe in my son and even more so in my
granddaughters. The truth is it’s easier to become a life-long reader when
reading is easy. And it’s much more daunting when those letters and words have
a life of their own.
My
life-long love of books means I have book shelves full of keepers, stacks next
to the couch and then the most important ones next to my computer.
Is
there a children’s book next to my computer? Yes
What
children’s book have I read over and over and yet over again?
The Velveteen Rabbit, by Marjory Williams with
Illustrations by William
What is it about this book
that touched my heart the first time I read it enough that I’ve read it over
and over again?
Love makes us real. And that love always sees us as
beautiful in body, mind and spirit.
As I add years to my age, I
look for the me I used to see when I
looked in the mirror. She’s there – I see glimpses in the smile, the look in my
eyes, the way I hold my head. But I also see the me with white hair and extra pounds. The me who no longer jogs and is thankful she can still walk
unaided.
My favorite passage is when
The Skin Horse is talking to The Velveteen Rabbit about Nursery Magic and what happens
to make a toy real.
“It doesn’t happen all at
once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. … Generally, by
the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop
out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. … Once you are Real you
can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
While I may cringe when my
granddaughters call me “cute” I do know that they see me as Real. Not as an old
lady with white hair who doesn’t move as fast as she once did. They see the
grandma who loves them for now and for always.
Looking in the mirror, I can
see her too. She’s got wisdom in those Rawson blue eyes, her heart beats strong
and loves rushes through her veins. Love for her grands and great grands but
also for the memories of reading Dr. Seuss, singing the alphabet song a
bajillion times, celebrating first steps and first words and all those life
events one has to grow old to experience.
What are your favorite
memories either of your own early reading experiences?
You can
find all of my books at your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local
library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.
Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series
at JudithAshleyRomance.com
© 2020 Judith Ashley
