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GRETNA, LOUISIANA – Debut author JoAnn Vicknair of Reserve will tell  some of her stories that became a book, as well as tell the story of how the book came to be, this Saturday, March 5 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at The Gospel Book Store in Gretna.

Vicknair loves to share the stories from her book,  It’s Storytime, Memaw!, a collection of short stories for children ages 4-14 that compel them to draw closer to God.

The invitation to do the book signing at The Gospel Book Store came from owner William Roper, who took the book home with him to his family. “It’s grandkid approved!” Roper later commented.

Vicknair’s event on Saturday will also include a book give away in addition to her reading stories and signing books. The Gospel Book Store is located in the Westside Shopping Center, 91 Westbank Expressway in Gretna.

Vicknair “loves to brag on God,” as she puts it. A retired nurse, she had a passion to share with her grandchildren the faith that sustains her. She asked God to tell her His story she could share because the children “needed God in their lives.”

She says she never expected the answer to that prayer would become a published book.

 “I am not creative, and really never thought to write anything, but I did have family stories of faith and answered prayer,” Vicknair explains. “My grandchildren loved hearing the stories, and continued to ask for more, saying, ‘It’s story time, Memaw!’ How could I say no to that?”

Vicknair considered herself “a normal grandmother,” at least until the book happened.

Over the past few years as she was telling her grandchildren the family stories, she began handwriting them in a journal. During the shutdown from the pandemic, she had more time at home so she created a digital document to preserve the stories and so the children could practice reading with the stories they knew and loved.

Then, she shares, during that process she had the experience of God working with her directly giving her more stories and guiding the development of them with instructions to publish them.

That started her on her unexpected journey as an author – finding a publisher, an illustrator, a website designer, a videographer to do a book trailer, and other people to guide her on publicity and social media.

Then, those contacts made led to creation of a well-received podcast for children, also called “It’s Storytime, Memaw!” which is hosted by The Truth Network and has already reached listeners in 44 countries around the world.

She’s also getting rave reviews, including one from Midwest Book Review that describes the stories as “extraordinary and inherently engaging.”

And now she’s writing more stories.

“I am an ordinary grandmother stepping out in faith to do that which God has led me to do,” Vicknair explains.

“I would like to tell my story of how this was of God’s doing. How He blesses and answers our prayers beyond all we could hope for or imagine! The stories compel a child, and the reader, to celebrate and brag of God Almighty,” she said.

It’s Storytime, Memaw! features 44 stories written in a child’s voice, simply told with details children love.

More about JoAnn and the book is available at www.JoAnnVicknairAuthor.com. A book trailer that describes the book and her journey is on the website, as well on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxabWGvoBF8.

Vicknair is available for storytelling and speaking events. For more information, visit www.JoAnnVicknairAuthor.com.

It’s Storytime, Memaw! (ISBN: 978-1-952025-19-8, $19.99)  from Carpenter’s Son Publishing. It is available from selected bookstores and online retailers.

For more information about the book signing, contact The Gospel Book Store at 504/362-7770.