Dear Diamond Mine Readers,
Thank you so much to the owners of this blog for having me as a poster. I appreciate the opportunity to get to know you all better--and introduce you to some of my author friends--and to perhaps make some new friends!
First up is a fellow Low Country of South Carolina American Christian Fiction Writers member. We're both charter members!
Hello. Melissa Henderson here. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this blog message.
I asked Melissa to introduce herself and learned some details I hadn't known before...
I was born in Hampton, Virginia and lived in the same house until I married my husband Alan. Young love continues to last. We celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary on March 3, 2025. Alan was 21 years old and I was 18 years old when we married. My parents never felt a desire to move. So, when Alan and I married and we moved into our first apartment, I was excited about decorating and taking care of our home.
One thing I find so endearing about Melissa is just how sweet she is--there's this feeling of meeting a good friend the first time you see her. I asked her what she thinks the first thing people notice about her might be...
People often say the first thing they recognize about me is my smile. I have the joy of the Lord in my heart and that makes me wear a smile most of the time. Yes, I have sad times and the tears flow. However, the good outweighs the bad and my smile shines for the Lord. Another reason for my smile is that I am a 20 year breast cancer survivor. Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord that he extended healing to you.
So, Melissa, we loved getting to know you better, but we're also here for the books. Tell us about your writing?
I’m an award winning author of children’s books, “Licky the Lizard” and “Grumpy the Gator”. I write for many online and in-print publications. I’m also published in many anthologies. My messages are inspirational and uplifting, sometimes humming with a bit of humor. Writing has always been a passion for me and I am thankful to continue to write every day.
Visiting schools, medical offices, vendor events, and other venues gives me opportunities to connect with readers and share my stories.
Where do your ideas come from, if you don't mind me asking?
“Licky the Lizard” is based on my personal experience with lizards. Moving from Virginia to South Carolina eight years ago brought new experiences. When we first arrived and I noticed lizards everywhere, I was afraid of the little creatures. The more I saw the lizards, the more I wanted to learn more about them. In the story, the lady becomes friends with a lizard and names him “Licky”.
Blurb: Licky the Lizard is one nice lizard and just like you and me, he’s one of God’s own creations. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget that we’re really all the same—-
because He created everything in our world.
In Licky the Lizard, author Melissa Henderson offers parents, grandparents, and educators a tale that teaches young children a simple, yet important message: There is no need to fear any of God’s creatures because we are all created by Him—-and He loves us all.
People might think children's books are easy to write. Did you have any challenges?
One difficulty while writing this book was researching lizards and learning there are various types of lizards. Those fast running little lizards can climb through the smallest of cracks and sometimes find their way into a home. Yes, I screamed more than once upon finding a lizard in the house. I prefer the lizards over the snakes.
I’ve also learned about alligators since moving to the Lowcountry. Gators are a normal sight in our area. Stay away from the gators and they will stay away from you.
Do you have lizards in your neighborhood? Have you found a lizard inside your home? How did you react? Or perhaps there is another animal that makes you pause and wait for it to move. Share your story in the comments.
How can readers get in touch with you--or perhaps learn more about what you're doing?
Please connect with me at these links. I look forward to hearing from you.
My Writing:
Have a blessed day!
Melissa Henderson, Author
Thank you, Melissa--and I wish you a blessed day as well. Christina
2 comments:
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to share about my writing. :-)
You are so welcome--and thank you for being my first guest!
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