Telling the Truth
Author and St. Barnabas parishioner, Louise Borden, has spent the last 33 years creating stories that feature ordinary people who do amazing things. A prolific children's book creative, Louise has published thirty-two books which are read around the world in over 10 languages.
In the beginning....
"I grew up in a house at the top of a steep street in Cincinnati, Ohio, the kind of street that is a big challenge when you are pedaling uphill on your bicycle. My two sisters and I used to ride our bikes down, down our street, and then to the local dime store to buy candy bars or meet up with our friends. But coming home, we had to pedal up our long hill. (This was before mountain bikes!) Pedaling slowly up my street may be where I learned perseverance, something all writers need when they are working alone at their desks.
"Some of the stories in my books are made up, and others are true. A few of my books are non-fiction biographies. All of my writing comes from within: I care deeply about the people, the places and the events that I write about. I hope that all my books celebrate what I think is important, and what I care about in life."
My first book “Cats hats socks and mittens” is still being published after 30 years and is in 10 languages. It's a very simple text and it came out of my work with first graders. So that book started me on my road. And then I wrote another book and then another one, I wrote my first 7 books with scholastic.
Stories that Inspire
On October 11 @ 7pm, the St. Barnabas book club will welcome Louise to share her journey in writing The Journey that Saved Curious George.
The true wartime escape of Margaret and H.A Ray, who, in 1940, fled their Paris home as the German army advanced bicycling through Southern France with children’s book manuscripts among their few possessions. The Journey that Saved Curious George as well as an introduction to her other books will be the focus of this evening and we would love for anyone who wants to learn more to join us. RSVP here.
"My love for history as well as themes of escape and rescue are themes which run through my work. I write about people with integrity and courage and ordinary people who do amazing things."
"In my book, Across the Blue Pacific, I focused on a great humanitarian, who saved thousands of people. It was my uncle who was a young naval officer and his submarine was missing in action and he never came home. So I wrote a fictional book about this from the point of view of the kid next door. Missing is such a small word for a big thing. And for all these years my uncle was missing in action. In 2008, I was asked if I knew Clement O'Brien as he was on multiple patrols with my uncle. Both of these men were the top officers under the Captain of the Albacore and they plotted torpedoes. But Clem wasn’t on the fatal patrol so I was able to visit him in upper Arlington in Columbus, where he told me
countless stories and shared photos he had taken out of the submarine."
"In May of 2022, I got an email that they had found the submarine off the coast of Japan in 800 feet of water. So, months go by and the Navy had to make sure it was the sub which was found by a Japanese professor. They were able to identify it by the features on the submarine that Clem had told the Navy about before his death in 2015. They verified that it was the Albacore and in February of 2023, all the families got a letter from the Navy saying, 'I hope this will bring you closure. The sub was found off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan and we honor the service and sacrifice of your family member.'" A true story of courage which has joined Louise together with other family members who now travel throughout the United States to attend memorial services honoring her Uncle and the 85 men lost on the Albacore.
"Keeping the heart of the book with you as you type each word and each page keeps me focused. Telling the truth is a composition, the music of your words showing the drama or the inspiration or the tragic ending through voice."
"I receive many letters from children who have read my books and one second grader wrote, "How can you hear the sad ideas and not cry?”. Because, each of my stories are filled with perseverance, courage and integrity, which gives us a reason to hope."
"When I write, I have to believe in myself and my words as a creative person. – always.
Each time I sit down to write a book, explore new ideas or speak to a room of 500 children, I say, 'God, give me the energy and courage to articulate my story to inspire these children.'"
Telling the truth is never easy but it is Louise's passion and we are so glad that she has chosen to share it with all of us.
Telling the Truth
You have to care about the truth to tell it
Finding the truth may take you on distant travels
To search for the pictures
You’ll give to your reader
Through words
Telling the Truth
Gathering with your writer’s net
The best details to draw the reader in -
a younger reader and an older reader
because the truth is for all of us.
~ Louise Borden
To learn more about Louise please visit her website: https://www.louiseborden.com/index.php