Episode 92 :: Amanda Cleary Estep :: Stories of Faith, Growing Up, and the Moral Imagination

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Today on the podcast, we have book editor, author, professional encourager and just all around amazing human, Amanda Cleary Eastep. I got to meet Amanda several years ago at a writing conference when she was part of a panel representing Moody Publishing. During this conversation she shares what it's like to be a book editor at Moody Publishers, as well as a middle-grade books author, which means she writes books for kids ages 8-12, and we look at what draws us as people to stories that captivate children and adults alike with their unique humor, whimsy, wonder, fun and freedom.

We talk quite a bit about the concept of the moral imagination, and how stories can touch parts of us and unlock parts of our imagination and our faith, how we engage good and evil and more. The master of this process is Jesus Himself. His stories affect us emotionally, intellectually, and hold space for us to place ourselves in a story and decide who we will be because of it.

Amanda is such a kind and wise woman who is still figuring out how to surrender her life and her dreams to Jesus, and I loved getting to hear how modeling honesty, humility, and just imperfectly but persistently expressing love to the kids in your life matters more than we know. As a Mom, step-Mom, working Mom, and all the things, I love Amanda’s reminder that kids may bear witness to some of your greatest failures, but they also can have a front row seat to grace and redemption in your life and that’s a story they need to know.

I also appreciate how Amanda brought up how to engage kids who are NOT readers with stories whether that’s about discussing movies, stories of people in your family or historical stories from where you’re from or somewhere they’re not, we are surrounded by stories that can engage the hearts and faith of kids.

We also round out this episode with my daughter coming on, again, to interview “Ms. Amanda,” and it's sweet and hilarious to hear our girl’s insights. Amanda very patiently talked with NB and me about her real life experiences with tornados, feelings and faith and it's just the sweetest.

I hope you’ll love this episode, here is my conversation with Amanda Cleary Eastep.

Episode Partner: Armor Up, Warrior Princess

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Connecting with Amanda:

-The Tree Street Kid series

-Facebook

-Instagram

References:

-Ann Swindell and the Writing with Grace Conference

-Moody Publishers

-Maggie Combs - Motherhood Without All the Rules