| When disaster strikes the family farm, Lauren gets a big job. She has to milk their cow, Clarabelle, all by herself! Her only help might come from her new feline friend Meow Meow, but how can such a little kitten help with such a big job? This read-aloud will help you share the timeless truth from the Bible that God can use the least of us to solve big problems. Genre: Christian Fable Release date: March 15, 2025 Click here to get your copy! |  |
Interview with Allen
#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
A couple of years ago I hired a family friend, Heather Freeman, to be my virtual assistant. In our first official business meeting, she told me she thought Towers of Light needed stuffies and picture books. While I thought it was a fun idea, there’s a huge difference between writing novels and picture books. Plus, I was working on book 4 in a series of 6 and didn’t see how I would ever get around to writing a picture book.
However, there was a scene that I really liked in my first book, Light of Mine, that my editor made me cut out because it didn’t flow well from a storytelling perspective. It basically pulled all of the intensity from the story, so she insisted that I pull it. So, I followed her advice, and that scene was left on the cutting room floor. But it always bugged me. So one day I was talking to a picture book author, Pam Halter and she said she could help me adapt that scene to a picture book format. All I needed was an illustrator.
Well, my soon-to-be daughter-in-law had just drawn a nice set of characters depicting the children in the Towers of Light series and I thought, WOW that style would be perfect for a picture book. So, I had my story and my illustrator.
A couple of years ago I hired a family friend, Heather Freeman, to be my virtual assistant. In our first official business meeting, she told me she thought Towers of Light needed stuffies and picture books. While I thought it was a fun idea, there’s a huge difference between writing novels and picture books. Plus, I was working on book 4 in a series of 6 and didn’t see how I would ever get around to writing a picture book.
However, there was a scene that I really liked in my first book, Light of Mine, that my editor made me cut out because it didn’t flow well from a storytelling perspective. It basically pulled all of the intensity from the story, so she insisted that I pull it. So, I followed her advice, and that scene was left on the cutting room floor. But it always bugged me. So one day I was talking to a picture book author, Pam Halter and she said she could help me adapt that scene to a picture book format. All I needed was an illustrator.
Well, my soon-to-be daughter-in-law had just drawn a nice set of characters depicting the children in the Towers of Light series and I thought, WOW that style would be perfect for a picture book. So, I had my story and my illustrator.
#2. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
Of course! The kids in the story are my kids. That was very intentional since I was writing a story about their adventures. But Meow Meow is really the star of the show and I was so glad to be able to make a story starring this loveable feline.
Of course! The kids in the story are my kids. That was very intentional since I was writing a story about their adventures. But Meow Meow is really the star of the show and I was so glad to be able to make a story starring this loveable feline.
#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
In God’s creation, big help often comes in small packages.
In God’s creation, big help often comes in small packages.
#4. How did you name your characters?
The kids in the story are named after and based on my kids, so it was only right to name the kitten after Lauren’s real-life favorite stuffed animal Meow Meow.
The kids in the story are named after and based on my kids, so it was only right to name the kitten after Lauren’s real-life favorite stuffed animal Meow Meow.
#5. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I am a husband and father who works full-time and keeps busy pursuing my career as a Christian author on the side. All of my children have graduated from college and are out on their own, so the house is a bit different. I’m working on several projects right now for Towers of Light that are super exciting and have the good fortune to actually work with my kids on my side business.
I am a husband and father who works full-time and keeps busy pursuing my career as a Christian author on the side. All of my children have graduated from college and are out on their own, so the house is a bit different. I’m working on several projects right now for Towers of Light that are super exciting and have the good fortune to actually work with my kids on my side business.
More from Allen
Sometimes, a story just HAS to be told. When I first wrote the book that became Light of Mine, book 1 of the Towers of Light series, there was a scene in which the main character, Lauren, and her newly found kitten are trying to milk the cow. It was a sweet moment in a chaotic story, and I had fun writing it as an homage to my kitten squeaker, who made trying to work around home very challenging at times. However, my editor was pretty clear that as cute as the story was, Meow Meow’s interlude with the milk cow Clarabelle just didn’t fit the story’s action. So, unfortunately, that scene found its way to the cutting room floor.
After a few years, I started having mothers of children who loved the Towers of Light Series ask the same question over and over….”But what about my littles?” Do you have a story for me to read to my younger children? After thinking about it, I realized Meow Meow’s adventure might be a perfect read-aloud. So I reached out to a fellow Realm Maker, Pam Halter, who has a really fun series of books with Willougby the Dragon, to see if she could help me turn my 2500-word novel scene into an 800-word picture book…and she did a fantastic job! So now we have Meow Meow Milks the Cow.
Another fun fact is that the character Ethan in this book is all grown up now and engaged to be married to Reace Erbe, and this is her first illustrated work in print. So we all hope you enjoy this Tower of Light read to me.
After a few years, I started having mothers of children who loved the Towers of Light Series ask the same question over and over….”But what about my littles?” Do you have a story for me to read to my younger children? After thinking about it, I realized Meow Meow’s adventure might be a perfect read-aloud. So I reached out to a fellow Realm Maker, Pam Halter, who has a really fun series of books with Willougby the Dragon, to see if she could help me turn my 2500-word novel scene into an 800-word picture book…and she did a fantastic job! So now we have Meow Meow Milks the Cow.
Another fun fact is that the character Ethan in this book is all grown up now and engaged to be married to Reace Erbe, and this is her first illustrated work in print. So we all hope you enjoy this Tower of Light read to me.
 Allen Brokken | Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media and through his blog. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
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Blog Stops
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 9
For the Love of Literature, April 10 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, April 10
By the Book, April 11
For Him and My Family, April 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 13 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, April 14
Hannahbandanarama, April 15
Blossoms and Blessings, April 16 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 18
Labor Not in Vain , April 19
Texas Book-aholic, April 20
Pause for Tales, April 21
A Reader’s Brain, April 22 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, April 22
For the Love of Literature, April 10 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, April 10
By the Book, April 11
For Him and My Family, April 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 13 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, April 14
Hannahbandanarama, April 15
Blossoms and Blessings, April 16 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 18
Labor Not in Vain , April 19
Texas Book-aholic, April 20
Pause for Tales, April 21
A Reader’s Brain, April 22 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, April 22