Ideas are like Snowflakes.

Last week I was doing an Author Visit in a nearby school when a second grader waved his hand wildly until I called on him and then asked me "Where do your ideas come from?" I remember feeling a sudden panic and deciding quickly that "I have no idea" was probably not the response he was looking for! Where do my ideas come from? Sometimes they come in an orderly fashion when I'm actually working on the manuscript for a new book, but just as often they come into my head from out of the blue when I'm standing in line to pay for groceries, walking into the library or driving my car. I carry notebooks with me at all times and jot down the ideas just as quickly as I can, even if it's just a scrap of a rhyme which has woken me up in the middle of the night.

I remember going to a concert and hearing Kenny Rogers sing and walking into my hotel room and writing the words The I Believe Bunny down in my notebook. Something about the sound of his amazing voice had inspired me to want to write a story about a bunny who believed in himself and in God's love. So, I took a breath and answered the boy as honestly as I could "I'm not always sure where my ideas come from, but I always write them down because ideas are like snowflakes- if you're not careful they quickly disappear." He nodded and smiled and wrote that down in his notebook.

The I Believe Bunny's 1st Baby Shower

There is no doubt that when you are a full-time children's book author you spend a lot of time living inside worlds you create in your head. Because of that I especially love going to fun gatherings with my family and friends where I can share what I'm doing and catch up on the latest things going on with them. Last Saturday was just such a time as I went to my friend Tony's daughter Lindsay's baby shower. Tony and his wife Debbie were nice enough to buy copies of The I Believe Bunny and Sharing with You for everyone at the shower and when I announced that they all were going to get a signed copy of my book I told them it was my "Oprah moment" thanks to Tony and Deb's generosity. I have done book signings for years, but I always get a kick out of who people want the books signed to, sometimes to themselves, a child or grandchild, sometimes they can't decide so I just sign something general, but I always put the date under my signature. I know not all authors do this, but I remember looking back at my original copy ofThe Cat in the Hat which was signed by my mother as a gift to me in 1958 and it always makes me smile. The I Believe Bunny was a big hit at his first ever baby shower! I'm looking forward to many more- he is too.

What Inspired Tish Rabe to Write The I Believe Bunny?

In this beautiful Easter season it is joy for me to look around and see all the pictures of The I Believe Bunny that fill my office. It is an amazing gift for me to know that on the covers and the pages of these books is a brand new character who first came to life in my mind and my heart.

Over the years I have written over 85 children's books, but always for wonderful characters developed by someone else, Curious George, the Cat in the Hat and Clifford to name only a few, but I've always wanted to create a character that I could bring to life with all the creative ideas and magical stories that dance inside my head.

The world today is a pretty uncertain place, but I knew right from the start that I wanted The I Believe Bunny to live in a world that was warm, secure and beautiful and, for however much time children and their families could spend with him, they would truly feel at peace.

So, this Easter is special for me because more and more each day the gentle messages of The I Believe Bunny stories are going beyond my imagination and out to children everywhere. It truly is the most wonderful feeling a children’s book author can have.

Poems and Prizes

Over the weekend I wrote my next poem in the series I'm creating for The I Believe Bunny and was excited to learn that my book "The I Believe Bunny" just won a Mom's Choice award! My latest poem is a tribute to the beauty of spring and the Easter season and I plan to put it on my web site and www.ibelievebunny.com in the next few weeks. I'm also really looking forward to my upcoming author tour of the U.S. beginning in Tulsa, Oklahoma the first week in March!

Merry Christmas from The I Believe Bunny

Here is my I Believe Bunny Christmas poem for you- I'll add a stanza each day!

One Christmas Eve not so long ago
the Flower-filled Glen was all covered in snow.
The I Believe Bunny and his friends were there
and each brought a gift that they wanted to share.

Christmas Poem for The I Believe Bunny

I am currently putting the finishing touches on a Christmas poem for the I Believe Bunny I'll be sending out next week. The illustrator for the Bunny and his friends is currently creating new artwork to go with the poem and I'm sure it will be beautiful!