Contact:
Shelby Sledge, (512) 478-2028 x227, ssledge@phenixpublicity.com
Children’s Author Explores the Loving Sacrifices Parents Make for Their Children
GRAND RAPIDS, MI., April 1, 2009 – Lots of changes happen when kids enter the picture. Briefcases are traded for diaper bags. Silk business scarves are set aside for fluffy dress-up boas. When career women have kids, it isn't just their schedules that change: they get to be kids again, too.
Karona Drummond can relate to changing her world to accommodate the arrival of kids. Her new book, Along Came You (Zonderkidz, April 2009, 978-0-310-71508-5, $15.99, Hardcover), celebrates the joys of having children and how big changes come with parenthood.
“Our lives have many chapters,” says Drummond, mother of two elementary-aged children. “If we're blessed to have a chapter called ‘parenthood,’ enjoy! It's busy, exhausting and fun. It’s like nothing else in the world.”
Along Came You is a children’s picture book following a mother who tells her daughter what life was like before she was born and how she makes her world rich. Drummond draws from the new things her own children brought about, from the stylish home décor that once graced the walls to the handmade art her kids replaced it with.
“There are many moments I have cherished with my children,” Drummond says. “For example, the look on your child's face when she's finally big enough to ride the roller coaster is priceless. I love huge, 100 mile-per-hour loop-de-loop coasters, but it was an even bigger thrill to sit next to my daughter as she rode the little 10 mile-per-hour, one teeny-hill coaster in kiddie land for the very first time.”
Brightly illustrated with endearing images of the mother-daughter relationship, Drummond and illustrator Estelle Corke show the beautiful transition from life without kids to the richness kids bring.
She hopes Along Came You will help kids understand the special bond they share with their mothers and be a story parents and children can read together and enjoy as a family.
In an interview, Drummond can discuss:
- Perspectives of motherhood: Celebrating the joys of children
- Five ways to honor mom on Mother’s Day
- Finding balance in your new role as a mom
About Karona Drummond, author of Along Came You
Named after the heroine of Scott O’Dell’s award-winning novel Island of the Blue Dolphins (Yearling), Karona Drummond’s passion for children’s literature has been a source of joy throughout her life. Though slightly different in spelling, Karona’s namesake served as a constant reminder to pursue her dream of becoming a children’s author.
In her literary debut, Along Came You, (Zonderkidz, April 2009, ISBN 978-0-310-71508-5, $15.99), Drummond writes about a mother and her daughter, two colorful characters that will not be easily forgotten. As a mother of two elementary-school children, she knows well the changes parents make to accommodate the additions of little ones in their lives. In Along Came You, she explores the loving sacrifices parents make for their children, transforming a simple life into one of abundance. Combining perspectives on life before and after kids, Along Came You teaches children about the simple pleasures they bring their parents.
“Before becoming a parent, I wondered what it would be like,” Drummond says. “A few years into it, I looked back and pondered all the changes they brought to my life, such as a house filled with joyful noise, dancing in the rain and story books read again and again.”
Born in Edmond, Okla., in 1965, Drummond is the daughter of two elementary school teachers. With a degree in elementary education and almost 20 years of teaching experience herself, Drummond enjoys both teaching and learning from her students. After several years with the child development lab at Texas Woman's University, Drummond received her certification in early childhood education and began working with preschoolers. Drummond currently enjoys the flexibility of home-based schooling and serving as an instructor for a home-school enrichment program.
Drummond’s works includes stories for preschoolers and K-6 children, as well as inspirational poetry for adults. Her story “The Running Years,” about the memories she has of exercising with her father, was chosen for the “Hats Off to Dads” section of the Tejas Storytelling Festival.
When she is not teaching or writing, Drummond enjoys coaching her daughter’s soccer team, throwing crazy-manner dinners for her family and spending time with her husband, two kids and their family dog. She lives in Denton, Texas.
About the Illustrator
At 8 years old, Estelle Corke’s teacher suggested she begin drawing more and writing less, leading to the discovery of her life’s passion. By the time she was 12, Corke won the highly sought after $1 prize at her local art fair. Corke considers her career as a children’s illustrator the privilege of a lifetime, and she continues to eagerly pursue projects — something the 8-year-old in her still enjoys. She resides in Bath, England. Visit www.estellecorke.co.uk for more information.
Zondervan, a
HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling
Bibles,
books,
audio,
video,
curriculum,
software, and
digital products through its
Zondervan,
eZondervan,
Zonderkidz,
Youth Specialties,
Editorial Vida, and
National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by
Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at
www.zondervan.com (mobile site:
zvan.mobi).
Zonderkidz™, a division of
Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children's communications, it produces bestselling and award-winning
Bibles,
books,
board books,
graphic novels,
audio,
video, and
digital products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 16 and the people who love them, from family members to educators. Zonderkidz is the publisher of the
NIrV (New International Reader's Version) Bible translation, the 3rd-grade reading level edition of the
NIV that is ideal for children and those who speak English as a second language. Visit Zonderkidz on the Internet at
www.zonderkidz.com.
