Hi Reader Friends,

I’m excited to introduce you to my guest, Tonya Matthews, an energetic, enthusiastic, God-loving writer. She just released not one, but two new children’s books.  Early readers will identify with Portia and Bobby, the main characters in the books. These children’s books are perfect for preschool children up to age seven.

A Girl’s Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong,  is a sweet reminder Christmas isn’t about receiving a long list of gifts and Christmas events. Portia learns the best gift is the one that wasn’t on her list.

Tonya’s other Christmas book is Boys Need Santa Claus Because… It is a sweet story about Bobby, who like Portia in A Girl’s Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong thinks boys need Santa because boys need lots of toys. As the story progresses and Bobby gets older, he discovers even though Santa is a “cool dude” Jesus is the real reason for Christmas.

For a chance to win free copies of the children’s book, leave a comment about your favorite Christmas book.  I’ll announce the winner of the drawing on Friday, November 11, 2022. 

Tonya is also the author of two inspirational novels, Treasure Atop the Mountain and Roxie Applesauce. I highly recommend these heart-touching stories of hope.  Now, I’m going to turn it over to Tonya, and let her tell you about her journey.

THE STORY behind the story—Tonya L. Matthews

It’s a blessing to know Shelia Stovall, and it’s exciting to connect with you on this God-Given Journey!

In this season of life, as I turned 50 years old and experienced an earlier-than-expected empty nest, I am so grateful for what God has for me today, though not exactly what I had anticipated. Our two girls have chosen life on their terms—figuring things out the hard way when they wouldn’t have had to.

These years haven’t held the traditional successes and celebrations others post on Facebook. The question, “So how are your kids?” isn’t simple to answer. We’ve loved beyond what we could have ever imagined. We know God had them before we did, and He still does. (We adopted them from foster care at 5 and 3 years old.)

I had to grieve what could have been, before I could reach out to take hold of what God has for me now. What’s kept me sane—is this unexpected and healing book-writing adventure.

Treasure atop the Mountain is the first book I wrote. Since its release, I can say the greatest joy has been the people that I’ve met! We all struggle. The emotions are the same, though the circumstances may be different. We need to know that God’s plan is at work, even in the difficult times, and we aren’t alone. I wrote the first draft of Treasure before adopting our girls with the sole purpose of trying to find something that would take my thoughts away from the never-ending cycle of worry, anger, and confusion over why we experienced failure after failure trying to have a baby when for so many it was simple. My sister—and both my sisters-in-law—were pregnant. I was covering three people on maternity leave at work—and daily it felt like a friend or couple at church announced their “good news.” I wrote into the book the message of hope that I needed—that God brings broken pieces together for something beautiful.

A few years later, book writing now on the back burner as we became foster parents, Haley joined our home first and then Aleya. My sister called me and said, “It’s odd how their names go together.” I’d been too busy to notice. HALEYA. I thought at that moment—“Okay, God! So you are in this!”

Haleya moments though aren’t ‘top of the mountain experiences,’ but they are instead—that out-of-no-where message—when we so desperately need it. They are the moments—when everything is all messed up—and God sends that sign that says—He’s a part of this. I hold on to that! Every day!

These kids have an uphill climb from day one. They are often born with little or no prenatal care and substance abuse prevalent throughout their brain’s development. Attachment issues begin right away when they don’t receive needed love and care. They spend these important developmental years tossed around, confused, and fearful. The feelings of abandonment—and the many academic challenges that arise—lead to anger, anxiety, and defense mechanisms that get in the way of potential and lead to life-long challenges. Teen years today are difficult enough, add mental health issues and learning disabilities—it’s forever complicating.”

I remember hugging Haley one night when she was little after a tough day with tears in my eyes. Tears of sadness in my heart for what had brought us both together and tears of hope that we could help each other move forward. Roxie Applesauce, second in the TREASURE SERIES, is dedicated to her. Again, I wrote into it the encouraging message I needed: Life’s road isn’t always fair, but along the way there are those undeniable, unexplainable occurrences where without question the only answer is that it had to be God.

Now, I write the third novel in the series, Get Will—What if lost can actually be a path to God’s Plan?

I appreciate Shelia sharing the children’s books with you! Again, this has been a completely unanticipated part of this God-given journey as He continue to remind me that ‘He is in this!’

About the Author

Tonya L. Matthews

Tonya enjoys writing inspiring books with an encouraging message. In Roxie Applesauce, her second novel in the TREASURE SERIES, A Girl’s Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong and Boys Need Santa Claus Because are mentioned in a scene. She decided it would be fun to bring these children’s books to life. Portia was created, along with Bobby, and then all of their friends—inspiring more children’s books to be released in 2023.

In A Girl’s Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong, Portia has the perfect Christmas plan, including lots of presents from Santa and a special spot in the parade. But when everything goes wrong, what will Portia do? It shares a message of what Christmas is really about. Same with Boys Need Santa Claus Because, Bobby tells his dad all the things he believes boys need for Christmas. When he’s older, his list of what boys need is quite different.

Tonya lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky and is married to Todd Matthews. They have two grown daughters. Read more at https://www.haleyapublishing.com