Diane Stortz

 CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

With 50 years of experience in the Christian publishing world, Diane Stortz has written numerous books to spur children to read God's Word. As Diane transitions into a new season—retirement—we have a chance to glean some insight from her long writing career. 

Let's jump into our interview with Diane to learn more.

1) Which children's book has most impacted you? Why?

Oh, it's way too hard to pick just one! Several stand out, each for a different reason. The first is a picture book in the children’s section of the public library in Anaheim, California, that I checked out when I was six. I’ve long forgotten the title, but I can see the book in my mind, and I LOVED it. 

The second is The Very Best of Friends, a picture book by Margaret Wild, illustrated

by Julie Vivas. It has several themes, but one is the power of forgiveness—yet the word forgiveness is never used. It’s a perfect example of “show, don’t tell.” 

A third standout is a book I had a hand in creating when I was an editor, The Young Reader’s Bible. It has the characteristics of a true easy reader and artfully told stories that read well out loud. I think this is the book that showed me it’s possible to write well, appeal to children, and stay true to Scripture.

2) What do you love about writing for kids?

I enjoy sharing Bible stories and biblical concepts in truthful yet age-appropriate ways. Sometimes it’s hard work, but so worth it. I also love the challenge of developing a book parents will see as a good value and kids will love reading that also fills an open space in the market and publishers want to publish. And working with editors, designers, and artists has been a joy. I love the whole process.

3) What sparked your idea for I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God?

Truthfully, I’m not sure! Reading through the Bible with a women’s group many times, I discovered the joy of reading Scripture simply to get to know God better. God’s many different names and descriptive titles in the Word are one of the ways he tells us who he is and what he does. Sometimes, but not always, they are linked to specific events, such as when Hagar calls God “the One who sees me” in Genesis 16. I began to wonder if Bible stories could help children understand God’s names as a way of getting to know him better and trusting him more. And at the time there weren’t many children’s books about God’s names.

4) How does your book, Stop-and-Go Devotional, help busy families grow in their faith

together?

God gave parents the responsibility of teaching children to know him, but parents often feel ill-equipped. Following an easy-to-use devotional is one way parents can learn and grow spiritually as they lead their kids. And Stop-and-Go Devotional is designed to use in snippets and snatches of time throughout the week: maybe the Bible story at breakfast, talking about one of the questions on the way to soccer practice, the prayer or Bible verse at bedtime or going out the door to school, and the activity on the weekend. This plan also works if a family has children of varying ages. 

5) In addition to writing for kids, you have written devotions and books for parents and grandparents. What role can grandparents play in shaping their grandchildren's faith? 

The most obvious answer is prayer, of course, and we should never overlook or neglect it. Some grandparents are estranged from adult children and their families, and prayer is their only recourse, but God is faithful. Our actions matter too. When my grandsons who live nearby see my husband and I at church week after week, they realize that worship is important to us, for example. And be alert to opportunities to pray with grandchildren or talk with them about God’s love and his Word. My father died recently, and talking about burial with one of my ten-year-old grandsons opened the way to share with him what the Bible says about the new bodies we’ll receive when Jesus returns.

6) What is one practical way parents can make the wonders of God’s love known to their kids today?

Deuteronomy 6 has the prescription: Love and enjoy God yourself and talk about him. Point out God’s love and mercy as you go through the day with your children. Enjoying nature, the world God made, is a good place to start, especially with the littlest ones.

Be sure to keep an eye out for more author interviews! Swing by on October 15th to meet the next author in this series. 

DIANE STORTZ writes best-selling books for children and adults. Her goal: making God’s wonders known to the next generation.

Her books include I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God, I AM Devotional, and I AM: The Names of God for Little Ones; God’s Words to Dream On: Bedtime Bible Stories and Prayers; and Say & Pray Bible (all Tommy Nelson); The Sweetest Story Bible (Zonderkidz); and A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year (Bethany House).

In 2008 Diane coauthored Parents of Missionaries: How to Thrive and Stay Connected When Your Children and Grandchildren Serve Cross-Culturally.

Diane and her husband, Ed, a retired juvenile court probation officer, have two married daughters and five grandchildren—all boys!

A SAMPLING OF DIANE'S BOOKS