Girls encounter many challenges and awkward moments growing up.
Auburn’s Lysne Nolte understands this and carefully explores them in the first of a planned series of children and family Christian books.
“A lot of me is in this book. I completely intertwined my own childhood … my everyday personal experience,” said Nolte, a stay-at-home mother and a first-time author with the recent release of “Big Sister Babysitter, I’m going to be a WHAT?! (Lulu.com and Smashwords.com ebook publishing).
The book tackles trying preteen girls issues in a sensitive and entertaining way. Readers follow the main figure – exuberant fourth-grader Lake Ashley (LA) Payton – as she confronts, manages and accepts changes to her life and family.
“Big Sister Babysitter” – an eight-chapter book intended for middle-grade kids (ages 8-12) – was written especially for fun, curious and youthful girls wanting to learn more about Christianity, human development and blended families.
“(It’s about) going through the emotional struggles, life’s ups and downs, and (LA) coming to grips with becoming a big sister,” Nolte said. “She eventually accepts this idea of a new sibling to the family.”
As Nolte explains, LA is a typical 9-year-old girl who is used to being the sole spotlight in her parent’s world. But her world is jolted when she learns that her mother is going to have a baby. She fears the worst.
LA captures every moment in a video diary and uses Bible verses to help her cope with emotional struggles. She becomes curious and learns the process of a baby’s development. But when the new sibling arrives prematurely, something happens to her.
“She feels a need to protect the baby,” Nolte added. “It teaches her many lessons about being a big sister.”
Nolte’s fictional story is based on actual events, paralleling aspects of the author’s life growing up in the Bonney Lake area.
She plans to continue the series by following LA as she deals with other stages in her fast-changing life, such as personal development, early womanhood, boys and dating. Nolte expects to release the series’ second book in about six months.
“It’s a good way for young girls to get a sense of confidence, not only of who they are and what they are becoming, but also for them to enjoy their families and to just love everyone,” she said.
Nolte’s random project eventually became a book, fueled by her passionate drive to bring awareness to and support for the March of Dimes Foundation. Nolte’s 2-year-old son, Isaac, was born prematurely.
Nolte also wrote the book to encourage and excite her daughter, 12-year-old Ellaysia, about having a new baby join the family. Nolte is soon expecting another baby, the family’s fourth addition. She and her husband, Drew, share a stepson. They live in Lakeland Hills.
The book has received good reviews and interest abroad. Nolte’s book will be featured at an international book fair in Frankfurt, Germany come October.
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To read more about Nolte and her work, visit www.bigsisteridol.com.
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“Big Sister Babysitter – I’m going to be a WHAT?!” – Lulu.com and Smashwords.com publishing ($8.95 paperback, $5.99 download). Available through Barnsandnoble.com, Amazon.com, iBooks, Sony and Kindle.
