In August I picked up some Chicken Soup for the Soul® books at the used book sale at our local library. It had been years since I had read a Chicken Soup book, but I remember the stories, real stories, delightful, heartwarming, encouraging, inspiring – the kind of stories I liked to read – the kind of stories I liked to write.

As I read through the first book, “Believe in Angels”, I thought of some of my own similar stories. Divine interventions, encounters with spirits, messages seemingly heaven sent. More than just coincidences. Some of my stories were written and published on my personal blog and read by a handful of people, others were still trapped in my head waiting to be written. I wondered if some of my stories belonged in these books.

When I came to the end of that book, I found information on how to submit stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul to be published in their books. I decided I would check it out on their website. After browsing the “how to submit” pages I thought this might be worth considering. I mindlessly took a notebook out of my desk and set it next to my computer to remind me to come back later and write down the story topics they were looking for and the dates that submissions were due.

Wondering if my writing was really good enough to be published I mentioned the idea of submitting some stories to my husband and my sister who have read my writings. Both of them encouraged me to do it. After all the worst that could happen is they would not be accepted.

“Lord, should I really do this?” I thought as I sat down with my laptop, ready to organize some stories for possible submission. When I picked up the notebook that I had retrieved from my desk, I recognized it as a gift my daughter had given me for Mother’s Day. It had a pink cover with several rows of chickens on it. In the center of the cover it said, “Chicken Scratch.” Thank you, Lord, Message received!

The above story is true. In November I began reviewing and editing some of my stories, preparing them for submission. Thus far I have submitted eight pieces for three of the books they will be publishing this year.

On Tuesday I received a message informing me that one of my stories has made it to the first phase in the selection process for an upcoming book, (only a small percentage of the stories submitted have made it this far) and asking me to sign an agreement giving permission for them to include my story in the book. I AM SO EXCITED!

This book is scheduled to go on sale on 4/28/26 so I should know for sure sometime in March if my piece will be included. I’ll let you know when I hear more.

Thanks for reading.