Children’s book author Cindy Lynn Sawyer chats with me about her new picture book on friendship and forgiveness, Remmy’s Sticky Situation.
Bio:
Cindy Lynn Sawyer is a Christian children’s author, speaker, and brand storyteller with over 400 published articles featured in Clubhouse, Clubhouse Jr., INMichiana, Write2Ignite, and other print and online outlets. Her two self-published picture books, The Wonder of Under and Remmy’s Sticky Situation, fill a unique space in children’s fiction by blending STEM and social-emotional themes into imaginative, character-building adventures. She earned her degrees in Professional Writing and Communication from Bethel University and pours both heart and skill into everything she creates. She’s active in SCBWI, ACFW, ACFW KidLit, and serves on the Write2Ignite planning team.
What do you enjoy most about writing short stories/children’s books/novellas?
Through storytelling, I get to blend imagination, heart, and hands-on discovery. My stories often weave together STEM and SEL themes—helping kids explore both how the world works and how kindness, empathy, and forgiveness shape their experiences. I love that balance between sparking curiosity and nurturing character.
But maybe the very best part is watching kids having fun with my book. Interacting with the story and the activities I include in the back of the book.
Can you give us a little insight into a few of your short stories – perhaps some of your favorites?
I wrote a fun story for Clubhouse, Jr magazine (coming out in 2026) about a pretzel factory machine that goes wonky and begins to spit out odd flavors. One young boy must find a way to fix the machine before all the wrong flavors are released to the community.
But my favorite right now that I am working on is based on a beagle we had when my kids were young. Zoe, like all beagles, loved to eat everything. One year she ate all of the candy canes off the bottom branches of our tree, at 3 dozen Christmas cookies we had left on the table after decorating and managed to get ahold of a slab of bacon while preparing Christmas brunch. And lived to gloat about it without any notable digestive issues.
What genre are you inspired to write in the most? Why?
I’m inspired to write faith-based imaginative stories for children ages 5–8, an age when curiosity is endless and the world still feels wonderfully big. Every day holds a new mystery to explore, wonder to behold, and a new lesson to learn. I love helping kids discover that learning can be an adventure all its own.
What exciting story are you working on next?
I have two picture books that I am working on simultaneously. Working titles are Daisy Finds Her Voice: A Pebble’s Easter Journey, about a pebble who travels in various ways through the week leading up to the first Easter morning. And Hark! It’s Harold, about a hungry little beagle who struggles to figure out the meaning of Christmas as he searches for the joy that he sees in his family.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I wrote my first story at age 8 and always enjoyed writing. I did not consider myself a writer until I enrolled in a writing major at a local college as an adult student. This is when I began to write for publications. It was freeing and fulfilling to realize I could really write and be published.
How do you research markets for your work, perhaps as some advice for writers?
As for magazines, I search for magazines that fall in line with what I enjoy writing. My range of what I write goes from nonfiction to fiction. I use the Writer’s Digest Market Guide and Christian Writer’s Market Guide to find publications that would interest me, but default to the publication’s website for submission guidelines since those often change and, sometimes, will even state that they are not taking submissions.
For my books, I made the decision to self-publish for a few reasons. First, I’m impatient. I didn’t want to wait years to submit my books to various publishing houses until one or more were accepted. If they ever were. And once a book is accepted, it’s another year or two before it is actually released.
Second, publishing houses made this decision easier by making it difficult to find one that accepts stories like mine. Many are looking for books written by marginalized voices or feature protagonists who are considered marginalized. Unfortunately, I don’t fit into either of those categories.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Getting distracted during a conversation because something someone said made a good title or topic for a children’s book. Everything they say after that is lost as I dream about the possibilities.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An author, although I was told you couldn’t make money from being a writer. And they’re right, of course. Unless you’re a celebrity or happen to write a best-seller, you have to keep the side gigs. So, I am also a marketing strategist, which enables me to use my writing in other ways.
But I also always wanted to be a mom. Both callings let me do what I love, most—experience the joy of childhood every day and create moments where kids can learn, laugh, and discover something new about themselves and the world around them.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I truly believe stories can build bridges between faith and everyday life. My hope is that the books I write encourage children to see God’s fingerprints in the world around them—whether through science, imagination, or simple acts of love.
If you’re interested in learning about other picture books that offer story adventures mixed with STEM and social-emotional learning from various authors, I have some great recommendations. Check out my Step into Story blog for book reviews. I even include several links to activities paired with each book to help you extend the story. And, since I love sharing good books, I give away a copy of each one I review. When you subscribe to my monthly newsletter (through my website), you’ll see which books are available to win that month and how to enter.