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Kansas homeschool graduate and certified music teacher Natalie Wickham is now a published author. The oldest of six children, five girls and one boy, she was homeschooled from fourth grade through her college years alongside her five siblings. She has a passion for challenging and equipping upcoming generations of homeschoolers to be godly leaders. Natalie owns and operates a successful piano studio and music educator’s blog and is the current Director of Adventures in Character. Wickham received a completed copy of her published work, Pajama School, at the beginning of March. The book may be purchased and chapter one can be read for free at the Pajama School website: www.pajamaschool.com.
Guardian Readers may also be interested in viewing on the website, some of the endorsements Wickham’s book has received. A few of her endorsers include Mike Smith,President, HSLDA, Bill Gothard, Founder, Institute in Basic Life Principles, and Jan Bloom veteran homeschool mom of three and author of, Who Should We Then Read? The following are questions and answers from an e-mail interview Natalie conducted with The Guardian News.
Can you give Guardian Readers a little background about yourself?
It’s becoming more and more common to homeschool all the way through high school, however most people are still astonished when I tell them that I homeschooled through college. After considerable prayer, counsel, and seeking the Lord, I decided not to pursue a traditional path toward higher education, but to remain at home and continue my education through short-term intensive courses, clep tests, and correspondence work. This approach enabled me to become a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), while also pursuing interests in web development, character education training, graphic design, business and financial studies, and writing. I think often of Proverbs 16:9, “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” I have had to learn to die to my own dreams over and over again, but God faithfully replaces them with what He knows is best, and I have grown so much closer to Him as a result of it.
Now, I am so thrilled with the different avenues the Lord has given me in which to invest my time and energy. I run an independent piano studio with approximately 30 students that I just love! MusicMattersBlog.com is a website I developed several years ago that has become a wonderful way to connect with other music teachers, share ideas and resources, and convey a vision for running a studio and teaching in a way that glorifies the Lord We are also getting ready for our tenth year of Adventures in Character – a children’s program that a group of friends and I started under the direction of the Teaching Parents Association (TPA) Board to provide a way for children to attend the annual TPA Convention with their parents. We have a core staff that develops a new theme each year, complete with an original drama script, curriculum, student workbook, and songs. It is a ton of work, but it’s so exciting to see the enthusiasm of both the children and parents as they express how much they appreciate the role AIC has played in encouraging them in their homeschooling endeavor. The heart of AIC is best expressed in our mission statement: "Coming together to support parents in instilling the principles of God's Word in the lives of the next generation." You can find out more about this year’s jungle adventure at our website: www.adventuresincharacter.com.
How many years were you homeschooled?
My parents started homeschooling my sisters and me the year that I was going into fourth grade, and we’ve continued homeschooling ever since. I graduated from high school in 1999.
What is your book about?
Pajama School is a collection of stories that begins with our first day of homeschooling. Subsequent chapters tell of our struggles transitioning to this new lifestyle, the experiences I encountered, my journey beyond high school graduation, and the many things God taught me along the way. Ultimately, it’s an account of God’s personal and faithful work in my life, and how homeschooling was the vehicle He used to teach me important truths about life.
When did you decide to write Pajama School and how long did it take?
At the end of 2006 as I was thinking through what goals I wanted to set for the next year, the idea came to me suddenly. I wrote sporadically throughout 2007, but then really buckled down and worked on it consistently starting in June of 2008. What was your desire or goal in writing this book? The primary impetus behind writing Pajama School came from Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” My heart’s desire is that those who read Pajama School will see the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to work in each of our lives to accomplish His purpose and mold us more and more into His image. I also want others to see what a beautiful way of life homeschooling is – not because it is without struggles, but because it is such a natural extension of God’s design for the family as we live together, work together, and learn together, all with the end goal of loving the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Has writing always been something that interested you?
I’ve always loved writing! A shelf full of overflowing journals will attest to this. Growing up, I also wrote short stories for fun, participated in writing contests, and even sponsored a short story contest for local homeschoolers when I was in my early teens. Both of my parents helped me develop my writing skills. My Mom is a big fan of creative writing and had a collection of random ideas that she would pull from each day to give my sisters and me a creative writing assignment. The topics covered a wide range, and this exercise helped us learn to think more clearly and communicate more effectively. Dad has always been my editor. I talk about the role he played in my life as the bearer of the Red Pen in my book, but suffice it to say that his high standard of excellence forced me to greater heights than I ever would have attempted without his influence. Even with all of this writing background, though, I honestly had never thought about writing a book until the idea for this one popped into my head a couple of years ago.
Is this your first published work?
I’ve written (and had published) numerous articles over the years, but Pajama School is my first published book.
How did you go about getting your work published?
Did you have prior experience with publishing? Now that could be another book in itself! When I started writing Pajama School, it was with the assumption that once I was done I would submit my manuscript to a publisher for consideration. But as I spent more time researching the pros and cons of traditional publishing versus self-publishing, I became hooked on the idea of self-publishing. It seemed like it would be a huge amount of work, but I decided to give it a try – hoping that it would be worth it in the end. When I first started doing my research, I didn’t have a clue about anything publishing related! But there are a lot of resources available, and after an intense summer of “vigorous self-education,” I had a better idea of what I was getting into, and what steps would be required. I still have many moments of feeling clueless and overwhelmed, but it has been an incredible learning experience and the Lord has provided so many people and resources that have been an invaluable part of this project. When I began my intense summer of work on Pajama School, I also launched a blog – www.JourneyToSelfPublishing.com – and invited others to join me on the journey. Journey to Self-Publishing takes interested readers through the self-publishing process one step at a time. My hope is that it will continue to be a valuable resource for others who are also interested in traveling this route.
What are your future aspirations?
There are always lots of ideas swirling around in my mind! It’s just a matter of deciding what’s most important. Someday I would love to be married and have children that I can homeschool, carrying on the legacy that my parents have given my sisters and brother and me. But until that time, I trust that the Lord will continue to guide my steps according to His will. Some of the things I’m considering now include: starting a foundation, publishing several music-related ebooks, researching some new business developments, or maybe just lounging around in my pajamas reading books all day…!
[Click here to download a pdf version of this issue of The Guardian News.] |
