I write from Seattle, Washington, where God’s beautiful creation, from mountains to sparkling water—and the occasional whale—is a constant source of inspiration.

Like many authors, I grew up reading–a lot. I always thought it would be fun to read every book in the school library, except for one problem: when I found a book I liked, I read that one book over and over again. My dad would walk by my chair and ask me how many times I had read that one—and wasn’t once enough? Of course not! Once is never enough when you really, really like a book.

My favorites were Heidi, Mandy, The Village that Slept, The Littles, and all the Nancy Drew books. I still enjoy reading them, and I’ve added new favorites, like the Harry Potter series. My husband now will sometimes walk by my chair and ask me how many times I’ve read that one—and isn’t once enough? As you and I know, though, once is never enough, when you really, really like it.

It’s sometimes hard for me to believe that my dream of writing a book—several books—has come true. What’s even more special for me is to see kids checking my books out from the library for the second, third, or tenth time! Could once not be enough?! Amazing!

Working as I do in an elementary school library, I sometimes feel like a spy as I listen to kids talk to each other about what they like—and don’t like—about recently-published books. I hope that as I listen, I write books that will have kids talking about what they like!

The germination for Sophie’s Quest, my first children’s novel, began several decades ago when I taught at an international school in Tokyo. I’m so grateful for the ways that living abroad and writing a book like Sophie’s Quest have increased my sense of both mission and compassion.

My sense of mission was honed as the Christian Formation Coordinator for the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, a position I held for twelve years. I also earned a master’s degree in Education from Harvard University and studied history at North Park College. All of these experiences helped me to become a researcher who loves to learn about other people and places. My greatest desire is to grow closer to God through these endeavors, and to help as many people as possible to grow closer to God, too.

Thank you, dear readers! You’ve made my dreams come true. I hope that my books will inspire you to make your own dreams come true someday!

Learn more about Sonja and her books, free book club curriculum and kids’ Bible study, and blog on faith and friendship at www.sonjaandersonbooks.com.