Tell us about yourself!
I’m a content creator for children—books, magazine articles, and curriculum. I currently edit books for David C Cook.
Tell us about your chapter books.
My series is The Imagination Station. My main characters, Patrick and Beth, travel in a machine that sort of travels through time.
These books look at events that have shaped Christian history. They are exciting and have great artwork inside.
These books are for kids ages seven and up. Most of my fan mail comes from boys in third and fourth grade, who, up until they discovered my series, didn’t want to read.
What kind of child are you trying to reach with your books?
I try to include as many exciting things in my books a possible. Anytime I can include an animal, I do. I would call them adventure books with a dose of Christian courage.
Give us a little flavor of some great characters or the setting.
I love that these books introduce readers to great Christian heroes: Lief Ericsson, Bible smugglers, missionaries, St. Patrick, Corrie Ten Boom, circuit riding preachers, Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, politicians, scientists, knights, and kings.
I also retell some exciting Bible stories such as David and Goliath and Noah’s Ark.
I’m writing book number 33 about George Taplin, a missionary to Australia, and of course we’re going to include bushrangers and snakes!
What inspired you to write this series?
One of my sons couldn’t read well, but he liked The Magic Tree House series because they were easy to read. So, with the help of radio drama script writer Paul McCusker, we developed a book series at the same reading level.
The books explore history by use of John Whittaker’s invention called The Imagination Station. This invention was already a really popular feature from the audio dramas Paul worked on: The Adventures in Odyssey.
Patrick and Beth are named after Paul’s children. I decided we needed a puzzle at the end of each book because I was a former magazine editor, and I had learned that kids love puzzles.
How did you know you wanted to be an author?
I didn’t want to be an author. God wanted me to be an author.
Every time I try to do something else, writing jobs just keep popping up. I did have a few college professors tell me I was a gifted communicator, so I guess God equipped me long before I knew I’d need that skill.
What’s one chapter book you always recommend?
I recommend Amanda Eastep’s Jack vs. the Tornado. Jack, the main character, has got a great group of friends who solve mysteries.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Hire a book coach (critique groups can fail you!) and learn point of view and tense before trying to get published.
What formats are your books available in?
- Paperback
- Hardback
- Ebook
- Audiobook
Find them all here.
What’s next for The Imagination Station series?
New books usually come out in January and July. The title of the next release will be Disagreement Down Under or Disaster Down Under. It’s set in Australia.
How can parents find you?
People can find me at mariannehering.com.
My books are available on Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, and the Focus on the Family website.
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If you’re in the market for chapter books, I’d love to share my series with you!
Collar Cases is a Christian mystery series for readers 7-12.
Join investigative reporters Mittens Meow and Alex Digger as they solve mysteries in their small town and learn lessons about character.