We are delighted to have Violette Burger with us this month to share some information about the Christian children's magazine The Kids' Ark. Thank you, Violette, and welcome! Would you please start by sharing with us a little about yourself, Violette? My husband and I both work other jobs. He's the Director of a Cardiopulmonary Department in a small town about fifty miles away and I am a Sales Rep. for a Cleaning Supply company. Our "Off" hours are dedicated to publishing the magazine. We have no children but God has many, so we just let Him show us what needs to be done and how He wants it done. I know from your website that you and your husband Jim started The Kids' Ark in 2005. What have been some challenges and/or rewards of that endeavor? One of the greatest rewards has been that children have been coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That is the reason why we do what we do. Every time we receive a testimony from a child that he/she has decided to live for Christ, we are elated. In fact, not only do we rejoice, but our friends, partners, editors, writers, and illustrators all rejoice with us when we share with them the happenings of the magazine through our newsletters. Nothing can beat the feeling that you have impacted a child's life for Jesus. There is a sense of fulfillment to it. One challenge we have experienced is time. Because all of our editing staff have full-time jobs and work on The Kids' Ark on a part-time basis, there are challenges in juggling all that needs to be done for each issue with the time that is available. We are regularly looking for ways to enable the system to work smoother so that our writers, illustrators and most of all our audience do not experience the ramifications of the time crunch. Another challenge we encounter is the choosing of themes. The difficulty lies in being able to coordinate the theme with an animal that can be used to demonstrate the theme. What's your favorite part of your job? Again, it's when we receive a form in the mail from a child saying that they have asked Jesus into their heart and have made Him the Lord of their lives. We then send the child a "Re-Birth Certificate". For those who might not be familiar with The Kids' Ark, please tell us a little about it. What sets The Kids' Ark apart as a magazine? The Kids' Ark is a 36-page, 4-color, quarterly Christian magazine for children ages 6-12. Each issue is based on a theme, such as Love, Faith, Obedience, etc. The magazine offers games, puzzles, and four exciting Christian fiction stories in each issue. A one year subscription is $20 and we are currently mailing magazines to many parts of the world as well as publishing it on the internet as an 'Ezine'. We also give away $100 each month to a child who has correctly answered a quiz in the back of the magazine and has mailed in the correct answers. The Kids' Ark is a non-profit ministry, run by my husband and me and a small panel of editors in Victoria, Texas. The magazine is not affiliated with any particular church, however it is entirely Biblically based. The whole purpose of the magazine is to enlighten children with the love and power of God through Jesus Christ. We believe God wants the best for His children and that through a faith and knowledge of Him, we can be all that He has called us to be. We feel that only through Christ can children withstand the temptations and trials that they are being exposed to in these times. We hope to provide children with a solid biblical foundation on which to base their choices in life. If their lives are impacted in this manner, future generations will be changed for God. How did you choose the name of your magazine? We had been struggling to choose a name for quite a while. At the end of a church service, our pastor made a comment about Noah's Ark. My husband says that at that moment, he knew the magazine was to be called "The Kids' Ark". He had an instantaneous revelation that long ago, God flooded the earth with water to destroy all the evil people, but He supplied an ark to save His children – the people who really loved Him. Now, the earth is again being flooded, but this time by Satan. He's flooding the earth with lies and distractions to keep us from focusing on God and loving Him. And, just as before, God is giving us an ark to save His children. This time, the ark is not a boat, but a magazine full of the truth – the truth about God's love for each of us and the truth about how we can fight Satan and win. What do you particularly look for in a submission? What gets you excited? We are looking for fiction stories or stories based on non-fiction events. Stories need to be inspiring and engaging as well as centered around the theme of the issue. We are looking for the adventurous, the thinking-outside-the-box sort of stories that grab the reader and keep him/her glued until the end. Stories can be contemporary, historical or science fiction, but what we are really hungry for are stories that are outside the normal world of children's stories. To put a finer point on it, we are really excited to see stories that venture toward a place like Narnia, Israel, or Mexico with characters that truly experience challenging adventures that test their faith and the reader can learn about God through the adventure. A submission like that is golden. What things turn you off to a submission? Any pet peeves? If writers do not follow the guidelines simply in the manner in which we ask, it is automatically a strike against them. For example, one of our guidelines is that we only accept stories based on the theme that is open for submission. If writers do not pay attention to this and submit a random story, no matter how great it is, we likely will not be able to use the story. Hence, most stories that are not centered on that particular theme will likely not be used. We are not interested in the submissions that preach the message rather than share it through a developing plot, allowing the character and the reader to discover the truth of God's word as the story flows. We are not looking for stories that include adventures with puppies, kitties or going to grandma's house for cookies and cocoa afterschool. This is not an adventure, nor is it exciting. Those can be great stories, but they will not find a home in The Kids' Ark. Pet peeves? Apart from writers not following guidelines, we regularly receive submissions for items, such as games or puzzles, which we have explicitly stated on the website that we are not accepting. Taking time to respond to individuals who submit without reading the guidelines slows down our response time to others who have followed the guidelines. Any tips for writers or illustrators who might want to break into The Kids' Ark? Suggestions that will increase their chances of acceptance? At the moment, we are not openly seeking submissions from illustrators. As for writers who are looking to see their work published in The Kids' Ark, we suggest they read an issue or two and analyze previously published stories. This will give them an idea what we are looking for. Additionally, they should consider if the plot they are suggesting would be an adventurous movie. While not every story must be written at the level of a C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien, the inspiration should lead the reader to imagine new heights. In a world where technology has drawn many away from the power of the written word, writers must be willing to think outside-the-box, to take from a well-worn cliché, in order to touch the lives of a young audience. It can be done, but it won't reach that level without the writer being intentional. A successful writer will entertain with words, drawing pictures in the reader's imagination that are far beyond what a movie can give. So, how does one successfully submit and get published in The Kids' Ark? First, prayerfully seek what God would have you write. Try not to throw something together at the last minute. Second, follow the guidelines. Third, proofread your work prior to sending it and ensure it covers all that we are looking for. Fourth, ask yourself: can I see this being used as a plot for a movie screenplay? If not, consider what can make your story pop. Fifth, ask someone you trust to read it before you submit. Many times, an extra pair of eyes will see things the writer is blind to. Any recent developments with The Kids' Ark or new directions you have planned for the future? Originally, we were printing on a monthly basis, but due to financial constraints we had to cut back to a quarterly printing. As a non-profit ministry, all our financial resources come from grants, personal and business partners and subscription sales. As our subscription base grows, we hope to start printing bi-monthly. This will not only bless the children, but will allow us to utilize more writers. Do you have any other information about The Kids' Ark you’d like to share with us? This is the Lord's magazine! It amazes us at how He brings in the right people at the right time to accomplish His work. Although the magazine has greatly improved over the years, we know that He is not finished with its development and we are eager to see what else He has in store. We have learned to be open to suggestions and ideas that others may impart. With that in mind, we want to encourage everyone to prayerfully consider how they might contribute to The Kids' Ark. Thank you so much, Violette, for taking the time to share with us this helpful information and for being a part of creating such a wonderful magazine for kids. For you authors who are now inspired to write something for this worthwhile publication, the submission guidelines are here: www.thekidsark.com/guidelines.htm. Writing for Children's Magazines, January 2013