New Book News!
!!!!!!!
Hi! I’m Meredith, and things around here have been “Saint-y” lately. This will explain why…
My new book, Eucharistic Saints, will be released on May 20!
(This is the part where I mention that you can pre-order now [and that pre-orders are a great way {dare I say the best way?} to support a new book])
If the link doesn’t work, here’s the URL:
https://tanbooks.com/products/books/eucharistic-saints-twenty-stories-of-devotion-to-jesus/
LOOK!
I wrote twenty stories (note: stories, not histories) of Saints and their love for the Eucharist. The stories were beautifully illustrated by Adalee Hude (check her out, she has several other titles). The primary audience of this book is children who are around “first communion” age (in the words of Pope Pius X, “about the seventh year, more or less”). But I had families in mind, too.
This all leads up to a question… There are so many books about the Saints already. Why write another one?
So glad you asked! I’ll answer three ways: statement, extrapolation, anecdote.
Statement:
Learning takes place within relationship.
Extrapolation:
The Saints have a unique capacity to help us grow in our faith because they are people, not ideas. Kids around that age of reason have questions that can only be addressed by people they trust. Of course, parents and teachers are indispensable, but all of us benefit from the accompaniment of the Saints. My hope is that, when it comes to the Eucharist, these twenty stories will help families look in the direction the Saints are pointing.
Anecdote:
A few Decembers ago, I signed A Saint a Day books at our parish craft fair. And this boy—he was maybe ten or twelve years old—ran up to the table and pointed at the books on the table.
“Did you write that book?”
“Yes, I did.”
“I love your book.”
And then he ran away.
I sat there stunned for a few moments. I suddenly remembered crumpling over in front of my laptop, cursor blinking at the beginning of a blank page, with another fifty Saints to go. How am I going to do this? Why am I doing this anyway?
Back to the parish craft fair, with me, a few dozen copies of the book, and some sharpies.
Well, I thought to myself, I guess I’m doing this again.
I’d be so honored if you clicked over to the page on the TAN website to check it out what “again” looks like. Also, if you want more of an insider scoop on this thing and how it could benefit your parish or your family, I’d be delighted to answer an email. If you’re reading this from your email inbox, just click “reply.” (If you’re reading this in Substack, drop a comment, we’ll figure it out.)
And finally, I want to end with some encouragement from tomorrow’s Gospel, the story that draws us into relationship with the Word Himself. Parents of young children (or anyone who is responsible for taking care of people), Jesus really does see you. He knows what it’s like:
May you, in the peace of Christ, find an excellent hiding spot for a few brief moments sometime this week!
-M
This looks amazing! Congratulations!
This looks like a wonderful book to read to my grandchildren and an excellent First Communion gift!