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Dixie Phillips is a pastor’s wife of 31 years, mother of four grown children and a ghostwriter. You can find out more about the ministry she and her husband Paul are involved in at www.floydslighthouse.com.  Dixie has been published by Standard Publishing, Abingdon Press, Eldridge Publishing, Live Publications, Guardian Angel Publishing and ghostwritten numerous books.  She loves tea parties with her girlfriends and has been given a genuine gift of love for people everywhere.

It’s a pleasure having you here at Book Talk Corner, Dixie. Tell us, do you consider yourself to be a born writer?

Yes and no! I remember in second grade my teacher had given a writing assignment. We were to write a rhyming poem. I had a knack for rhyming and was so excited. The next morning I handed my assignment in. After recess, my teacher called me to her desk and asked if I had copied the poem out of a book. I told that I hadn’t. She didn’t believe me. I guess my rhyming skills were ahead of my math skills! As I look back, the classes I excelled at were English composition and creative writing. I realized God had given me a writing gift, but I never thought anyone would be interested in reading what I had written. I’m still in shock that people are willing to pay for something I have written.  

Tell us about your last book, Stubby’s Destiny. What was your inspiration for it?

“Stubby’s Destiny” is an inspirational tale about a donkey named Stubby. He feels he was born wrong and is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Stubby constantly compares himself to the stallions and feels he never measures up. He is convinced that the stallions will carry royalty on their stately hindquarters, and he will be a pack mule for the rest of his life. After an extremely rough day, the defeated donkey cries himself to sleep. When he wakes up he goes to get a drink of cool water from the well. Two men tie a rope around his neck and say, “The Lord has need of him.”  When he carries the King of Kings on his back he squeals, “Finally I am in the right place at the right time.

My husband and I have been in fulltime ministry for thirty years. One day a beautiful teenage girl, who was being raised by her grandparents because of her parents’ drug addictions, came into my office. She was distraught and had convinced herself that she was born wrong and her future was bleak. After this meeting, I felt something should be written for children who felt they had no Divine destiny. “Stubby’s Destiny” was born that day.

Tell us a bit about your other children’s books.

“Angel Eyes” is a heartwarming tale of two cherubs – Kennedy and Tristan. The angels are curious and can’t figure out why Prince Emmanuel would have to leave the comforts of Heaven, where He was loved and adored, and go to Earth and become one of “them.” It gives children a peek behind the scenes of Heaven and let’s them see what the angels might have felt when Jesus left Heaven and came to Earth. Kim Sponaugle illustrated “Angel Eyes.” Her colorful illustrations take the book up another level.

“One Noble Journey,”  “Baby Jethuth is Mithing” and “The Furry Godmother” will be released by Guardian Angel Publishing some time this year.

It looks as though you keep pretty busy! Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your works?  

Yes, people can read more about my books at www.writing4littleones.blogspot.com and www.floydslighthouse.com

Where are your books available?

www.guardianangelpublishing.com or www.barnesandnobles.com or www.target.com

What was your experience in working with an illustrator? 

Kim Sponaugle illustrated “Angel Eyes,” “Stubby’s Destiny” and “One Noble Journey.” She burned the midnight oil to meet deadlines and bent over backwards to make sure each illustration matched the text. People actually oohhh and ahhhhh over Kim’s colorful illustrations. I cannot sing her praises enough. You can see more of Kim’s work at www.picturekitchenstudio.com.

What is the best advice on writing you’ve ever received?

Edit! Edit! Edit! When you think your manuscript is the best it can be…. Edit again! I remember at one writer’s conference an editor told us that after we had polished our manuscripts to lay them aside for a couple days, then go back and read the story again and give it one final edit.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

I would like to be someone’s cheerleader. Maybe there is a person reading this interview that has a dream of writing a children’s book, but hasn’t had the courage to step out and achieve their dream. Don’t let another year go by without making your dream become reality. Take the plunge! You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you, Dixie!

Check out Dixie’s charming children’s book trailers…