More About Holly Bea
Holly Bea was inspired to write her first children's
book when she found out she was going to become an aunt. Thanks to the
inspiration of her many nieces and nephews, she has published seven children's
books, with more on the way!
Her latest book is Lucy Goose Goes to Texas , her first mainstream children's book, which affords her the wonderful opportunity to visit public schools for the first time! The story is about a strong-willed Canada goose named Lucy, who learns the value of teamwork and cooperation while migrating to Texas on her own. Holly's first six books are non-denominational spiritual books for children, including the best-selling classic Where Does God Live?
Holly is a military brat, who lived in seven states before she hit 6th grade. Her family moved to Texas when she was 11, and she had a Texas accent within the first week. She grew up in Arlington , TX and attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock , where she received a degree in Advertising. She started her advertising career in Dallas , and has lived in Houston , Chicago , Silicon Valley and Tampa , as well. The self-proclaimed "beach girl" is now land-locked in Colorado .
She has worked as an advertising copywriter/creative director for more than 20 years, and is also a freelance writer for magazines. She uses her advertising and marketing skills to promote her books, and to teach other writers about "guerilla marketing tactics" –otherwise know as “how to get lots of attention without spending a lot of money."
Holly is married to her soulmate, playmate and partner Steve Weaver, a newspaper executive. She lives in the Front Range of Colorado with her husband Steve, Lizzie the high-strung Sheltie (who is featured in My Spiritual Alphabet Book ) and Buddy, the goofy-but-lovable star of God Believes in You .
More About Her First Six Books.
Both Holly and her brother had walked away from the organized religion in which they were raised. She had continued on an active spiritual path and found a church home, while her brother was content with just "believing in God." Determined to make sure her niece would know the "basics about God," Holly decided to write a story for Katie. The result is her best-seller, Where Does God Live?
"One of my greatest joys is that every time one of my books is sold, I know that there will be at least one conversation between an adult and a child about God-and what they believe in-outside of a place of worship," Holly says. "I believe God should be integrated in more of our every day moments, not just inside a church or synagogue.
She was inspired to write My Spiritual Alphabet Book while stuck in traffic in Silicon Valley . A friend encouraged her to write a book called Good Night God . It is her shortest manuscript and took the longest to write. Bless Your Heart was inspired by the words a favorite teacher used frequently. Her belief in the power of gratitude resulted in Thank You God . And God Believes in You was a story that "popped out" when she sat down to work on an entirely different manuscript.
"Since much of my writing is divinely inspired, I always feel like God whispers and I just happen to be the one who is sitting in front of a computer," she says. "With this book, it was more like God shouted."
The award-winning author has been featured on an NBC "Keeping the Faith" segment, on numerous television talk shows, in magazines and newspapers nationwide. She speaks at schools, bookstores and churches, and joyfully teaches writing and marketing techniques to other authors
