Q&A With Josie Siler

Mickey Mikkelson has connected me with children’s author Josie Siler. Josie is the author of the children’s book Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw! 

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Josie! Would you please give a brief description of Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw? 

A: Thanks so much for having me! 

Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw is about a young donkey who has a broken Hee-Haw – and it makes him MAD! No matter how much he practices, he can’t get it right. Howie’s book is a new take on the story of Palm Sunday. Kids (and maybe us big kids too) will laugh through silly hee-haws, feel sad with Howie when he sees himself as a failure, and cheer him on as he faces his fears and carries Jesus into Jerusalem. 

Q: Josie, your bio says that you are passionate about Jesus. I always love it when an author loves God and Jesus whether they are Catholic like I am or non-Catholic. Do you believe that Jesus called you to be an author like he called me to be a blogger? 

A: It’s funny because my original calling in life was to be a missionary and share the love of God with people in other countries. But then chronic illness happened and I couldn’t go. My life journey has been filled with so many twists and turns, and they have led me here. God has given me this beautiful gift of being an author and now I can share His love through books that can travel to places I can’t. I don’t think my calling has changed, but it looks different than I expected. God’s plans are always bigger than mine!  

Q: How long did it take you to write Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw? What lessons do you hope children learn once they finish reading the story? 

A: I started writing the book one night when I was struggling with insomnia. I was lying in bed and had this idea for a book about a donkey with a broken hee-haw. I grabbed my phone and right there in the dark tapped out the start of a story in my notes app. The next night I again couldn’t sleep and added more to the story note in my phone. That ended up being the first half of the book and it changed very little in the editing process. I shared the start of this book with some writer friends and in a writing group. Maybe a couple of months later people kept asking me about it so I sat down one day and finished the story. Honestly, it felt a little like cheating because the idea came to me so fully formed. It was as if God dropped this story in my head and I had the honor of writing it down!  

My hope is that kids will learn to look to Jesus for encouragement and help when they’re afraid or feel inferior, just like Howie does. I hope they’ll learn that they aren’t broken either, but unique and of great value because Jesus made them. Howie learns that he was made on purpose for a purpose, and I hope kids learn that they are too. 

Q: As children’s author, what advice do you give parents who want to get their children to read more? I think it’s sad that we live in a world where not only adults do not read but children don’t read either. 

A: I agree, the statistics out there about reading make me sad because kids (and adults) are missing out on so much. I can’t claim this advice as my own, but I don’t remember who I heard it from. The basic idea is to let kids be bored. This means limiting screen time and allowing kids to find ways to occupy their own time and use their imagination. If a child can’t use their screen, they are more likely to pick up a book. That being said there needs to be books to pick up. So put books everywhere! Make them easy to find and easy to access. If you’re going to be a new parent, start reading to your child in the womb. Keep reading to them until they can read to you. As they grow, read with them until they’re smuggling books and flashlights under their covers at night and reading all on their own! 

Another idea is to read together even as they get older. Maybe have a Sunday afternoon reading time where you make a blanket fort or pick your favorite comfy spot in the living room and settle in. Provide snacks and drinks and read a book together. Or if your kids are older, everyone can read their own book but still be together in the room. If you can make reading fun, it will be something everyone looks forward to. 

Q: Are you currently writing a sequel to Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw? Or will your next children’s book be about something totally different?

A: This is a fun question. Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw is currently out of print, but it’s going to be released with a new publisher in March (2027) with brand new illustrations. At the same time, we’ll be releasing a devotional for kids tentatively called Howie and Friends. It will feature the same loveable donkey and many new animal friends. I’m so excited to work with Dressed in Love Press on these projects. 

If you can’t wait that long, I have good news. Poppy Possum and the Midnight Forest Games will be released in November of this year, also with Dressed in Love Press. I cannot wait for readers to meet Poppy and read her story! 

Q: Would you please provide your social media links so the readers of the blog and I may follow you and your work?

A: With pleasure! I would love to connect on social media. You can find me at:

https://www.facebook.com/JosieSiler

https://www.instagram.com/josie_siler/

https://www.threads.com/@josie_siler

https://x.com/josie_siler