Children’s Book Blooms With “Hope” For All Ages

Nashville Author Finds Success Through Life Lessons

It is not loneliness and fear that bring all love and life near,
But happiness and grateful tears that give you friendship, real and clear.

–Wisdom, the worm from the book, Hope

Hope.

A simple title.  An inspired tale.  A needed reminder.

Author and illustrator Shawn-Michelle Nelson. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Dreier, ©2007)

It was a sincere desire to explore the most basic needs that prompted Shawn-Michelle Nelson to share her story of a fragile and lonely flower confronted with hopelessness and fear as she makes her way through life’s struggles.

Through a beloved friendship with a bespectacled worm named Wisdom, our flower learns the value of inspiration in the face of doubt.  She learns to find strength through hope.  She learns that the greatest of gifts are often already present…if we look hard enough.

Nashville author and illustrator Nelson considers it a privilege to be able to carry this message to her readers.  “If I can be that vehicle,” says Nelson, “to remind people that there is always hope…to re-inspire that feeling in people…that’s what this book is doing.  That is my reward.”

The book, Hope, has been wonderfully received by readers of all ages.  Its pages are adorned with hand-painted illustrations by the author herself, and this self-published labor of love continues to find new audiences through its universal messages.

This book is for children everywhere, big and small.
May you always know Hope and may you always give and receive it.

                        –Hope author and illustrator, Shawn-Michelle Nelson

Nelson maintains that it is its message that resonates at the heart of her readers.  Still, she has begun to make her own mark as a notable children’s author.  Among local audiences in Nashville, the book Hope was the top requested book by students, teachers and parents on “Dr. Seuss’ Read Across America” Day, where Nelson served as guest reader. 

On a larger scale, Nelson and Hope continue to gain notoriety throughout the country.  In 2006, she was invited to appear as a special guest author at the Southern Festival of Books, a three-day literary festival welcoming some of America’s foremost writers in a variety of genres.

With growing demand and constant requests for additional copies of the book, it is clear that Hope is much more than a cute little story about a flower and her little worm-friend.  It is a touching tale of enlightenment that can remind all of its readers, young and old, to embrace and maintain hope…and in doing so, find the joy of receiving it.

We appreciate Shawn’s choosing to share the message of Hope with the Tug McGraw Foundation, and we invite you to learn more about this wonderful book by visiting her website at www.thehopebook.com.