New dates announced for LittWorld conference in Hungary: April 24-29, 2022

MAI announces new dates for the LittWorld global publishing conference in Hungary. The conference will be held April 24-29, 2022—six months later than previously announced. “Holding the conference in April 2022 offers many advantages,” MAI President John Maust said. “It will allow more time for participants to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, to regain their confidence
Read more
19 Comments

Eyes of Faith in Francophone Africa: Interview with children’s author Ivanova Nono Fotso

“I have been considered a perfect failure in my society,” confesses 34-year-old author Ivanova Nono Fotso of Cameroon.  “Still single, living in my parents’ house, and writing children’s stories from home don’t meet for the criteria for success here.” And yet, despite her challenges, Ivanova’s writing career has flourished over the last decade with international
Read more
6 Comments

Exploring good vs. evil in Christian fantasy

Interview with award-winning author Joan Campbell Learn how author Joan Campbell of South Africa got started writing fantasy novels for young adults. Her first novel, Chains of Gwyndorr, won a gold medal for young adult fiction in the 2017 Illumination Book Awards. Recently the MAI trainer was interviewed about how her family and faith journey
Read more
No Comments

Blast Off!

This children’s activity was submitted as an entry in our LittWorld 2018 writing contest. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” -Psalm 19:1 By Alison van Tonder, South Africa YOU’VE GOT MAIL!                           ARE YOU
Read more
No Comments

He whispered, “Write for Me”

By Beng Alba Jones Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” Exodus 4:2 Growing up in the province with my grandmother and aunt, I lived a simple life. Although deprived of fancy clothes and pretty dolls, I did not feel lacking in anything. At age eight, I learned how to
Read more
No Comments

A Writer in Wonderland

By Ivanova Nono Fotso, Cameroon I know a young woman who has many grown-up responsibilities: university studies, work, chores, volunteering and church. Yet unbeknownst to the rest of the world, this young woman has a secret room in her heart. In that room, she revisits the world of a five year-old girl, filled with wonder
Read more
2 Comments

A Comic Strip That Borders Heaven

Timazi Magazine of Kenya recently featured part one of “Big Day,” a comic strip birthed by friendships made at MAI’s LittWorld 2012 conference. There John and Maggie Gathuku, who lead the Christian youth magazine, met Mexican illustrator José Carlos Gutiérrez (right in photo below) and author Ivanova Nono Fotso of Cameroon (left in photo). José
Read more
No Comments

Sometimes God Surprises Us

By John D. Maust, MAI President Sometimes God surprises us by doing something we did not imagine.  Has such a thing happened recently in MAI’s work? A friend wanted to know. One country came immediately to mind. Several years ago, we began doing some behind-the-scenes writer training in a closed nation of Southeast Asia.  Some
Read more
No Comments

Unique challenges of creating kids’ books

A lot of people think creating kids’ books is easy. After all, they’re short, right? Not according to Stephanie Rische, senior editor and team manager for children’s books and nonfiction at Tyndale House Publishers. Kids’ books come with unique challenges. Watch this 3-minute video to learn more. Consider the audience. For adult books, the same
Read more
1 Comment

Producing Biblically-centered, Culturally-relevant Children’s Curriculum

Jeanette Windle is an award-winning novelist, author of 16 fiction titles, missions journalist, editor and collaborative writer. She grew up in South America, has lived in 6 countries and traveled in more than 30. Jeanette represents BCM International, whose core Genesis-to-Revelation children’s curriculum, Footsteps of Faith, and children’s ministry leadership training curriculum, In Step with
Read more
No Comments