By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
Local writer and poet Tracy Moore has always written poetry about her life, specifically how God has touched her life.
Conversation with a Penguin began as a poem about a penguin named Pete who realizes that unlike other birds, he cannot fly. After being teased by others he goes to God, his creator, and asks why he is different from the other birds. Pete is afraid he is a mistake, but God reassures Pete that he is not. Pete, as a penguin, is special, because all the other birds use their wings to fly, but only penguins use their wings as flippers to swim.
Moore was inspired to write this lyrical tale by struggles in her own life. Of her three biological children, two suffered from a unique type of hearing loss that prevents them from hearing the full range of pitches. They asked why God wanted them to have the condition.
“I took their questions not just hard as a mom, but to God in prayer,” said Moore.
Moore was inspired to write her stories through prayer and the Bible.
“I’ve never written anything that wasn’t inspired by God,” said Moore.
Moore wrote Conversation with a Penguin 10 years ago. Five years ago she was inspired by her favorite Bible verses to write three more stories, which will be released later this year.
Inspired by the Bible verse, “I can do all things through God who strengthens me,” an aardvark named Henry is fascinated by the strength of an ant named Anne. She tells Henry her strength comes from God. The tale ends with friendship between the former enemies.
Inspired by 2 Timothy 4:7, Timmy the turtle, who loves to race, is scared he will embarrass God when he has to race the fastest animal, the hare. Encouraged by God, Timmy runs and succeeds.
In the last tale, a small kitten is bullied and afraid of everything. She cries out to God, and He tells her to not believe the lies of others.
In times of questioning, all the animals ask God for help. The take away from all the stories is that “God doesn’t make mistakes, He makes masterpieces.”
Moore’s friends encouraged her to try to get published. After many rejections, the books were published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises
The book is available through the author at mom3290@hotmail.com, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore or by visiting online websites such as barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.
Moore is also open to speaking engagements. She has previously spoken at Westbrook Christian to kindergarten through 3rd grade students.
Moore lives with her husband, Todd, of 30 years, in Springville. She has three biological children, and 43 children in ministry work. She has an education background in Christian Living and Family Studies from the BBN Bible Institute.