Book Signing at Divine Inspirations

Here are some pictures from the book signing today at Divine Inspirations.


Below is an article that was in the Globe Gazette today.

Saturday, November 22, 2008 12:52 AM CST
Just for children ...
By MARY PIEPER, mary.pieper@globegazette.com
Dixie Phillips of Floyd holds one of the children's books she has written, "Angel Eyes." (Globe Gazette photo by Mary Pieper)
FLOYD — When Dixie Phillips’ youngest child, Libby, was a little girl, she always asked her how the angels felt when Jesus came to earth and was crucified.

“She was concerned about that,” said Phillips, the wife of the Rev. Paul Phillips, pastor of the Gospel Lighthouse in Floyd.

So Dixie wrote a play telling the story of Jesus’ birth, life and death as seen through the eyes of two cherubs.

It was one of the many Christmas and Thanksgiving programs she wrote for the church, beginning not long after she and her husband arrived there 27 years ago.

Some of the scripts were published so other churches could use them.

Now “Angel Eyes,” along with another tale by Phillips entitled “Stubby’s Destiny,” have been adapted into children’s books.

Guardian Angel Publishing in St. Louis published “Angel Eyes” in August and “Stubby’s Destiny” in October. The company will publish two more children’s books written by Phillips next year.

“Stubby’s Destiny,” based on the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, is about an orphaned donkey who wants to be a stallion so he can carry kings on his back.

He is sad when his efforts to be like a stallion fail, but in the end he is the one chosen to “carry the King of Kings,” Phillips said.

She said she wrote “Stubby’s Destiny” because “We saw so many children that come from difficult circumstances who felt they were born wrong.”

Phillips said she wanted them to see that “God has a place for every life.”

Kim Sponaugle from New Jersey, one of the illustrators for Guardian Angel Publishing, did the illustrations for “Angel Eyes” and “Stubby’s Destiny.”

Sponaugle sent drafts of her illustrations to Phillips to get her opinion on them.

Phillips sent pictures of deceased relatives to Sponaugle so she could use them for models for her illustration of people passing through the gates of heaven in “Angel Eyes.”

She also sent Sponaugle a photo of her 4-year-old niece, Kennedy Muhammad, as the model for one of the two cherubs in the story. Kennedy is the daughter of Muhsin Muhammad, a member of the Carolina Panthers football team.

“I wanted an African-American angel,” Phillips said.

Both “Angel Eyes” and “Stubby’s Destiny” are being sold at the Olive Branch Christian Book & Gift Store in Mason City.

Those who purchase the books from the Guardian Angel Publishing Web site have the option of buying them as e-books that can be downloaded.

“Guardian Angel,” Phillips said, “is on the cutting edge.”

Dixie Phillips will participate in a a book signing from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Olive Branch Christian Book & Gift Store in Willowbrook Mall, Mason City.

Her books also may be be purchased online at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or www.guardianangelpublishing.com.
There

Enjoy,
Dixie