April
Erwin wrote her first book in Kindergarten and although the happily ever after
story of a rabbit family wasn’t a success, her recent stories have been. A full
on nerd, April will study whatever strikes her interest in the moment and her
Internet browsing history can prove it. She holds an Associate in Graphological
Science (the study of handwriting analysis); tutors dyslexic and reading
challenged individuals, enjoys photography, and is a singer/songwriter
recording original music with her sister, Angel. My Passions:
Just like my
character, Kianna, I love to write songs. Music has been an integral part
of my life for as long as I can remember. I was making up songs that praised
Jesus and teaching them to my dolls in "Sunday School" before I was
old enough to go to Kindergarten. I started singing as part of an A cappella
trio called, The Erwins, with my mom and sister when I
was about 11.
Music is
just one of my loves, telling a good story has been a part of me for just as
long. I started writing my first "book" in First grade. It was about
bunnies. My second attempt at a novel started in the Fifth grade and I filled 3
notebooks by hand telling my suspense story. Then, my senior year in high
school, I saw a scene in my mind. In it, a young woman sat in an attic
exploring a trunk that had been left to her as part of an inheritance. While digging
she finds a journal that belonged to her mother and a Book of Mormon. That
scene set my mind whirling and I began writing a story. At first it was just
the scene, but soon it expanded and after several years of writing classes, I
published Missing Pieces. Missing Pieces was well received and even adapted as a school play by my high school Alma Mater where the story was first born. Talk about coming full circle!
My Education:
I've been very blessed to have attended private Christian schools. This was by my personal choice and I loved being a part of them. The first was a small school that was housed in two double wide trailers next to the congregation we attended in Atherton, MO. It was called Eagle Hills, and it housed K-8th grade. That school closed my Eighth grade year and I knew a new school was being opened in Independence, MO very close to my home and I wanted to attend there very much. So I home schooled two years until Center Place Restoration School opened its doors in 1992 to K-12th grade. I was the very first student enrolled! Yes, I was a nerd and that excited about school! CPRS was a fantastic experience for me. They're a fantastic school that I still support in any way I can.
Here is where I have been
blessed the most. I have a wonderful and supportive family. My parents were
foster parents for many years, fostering more than 28 children and adopting
two. A third aged out before adoption, but is still family after all these years.
It's through my family that I have learned and experienced so much, both good
and bad. That is what my stories most often come down to, regardless of the
fictional plot or crazy ideas; it's the lessons and love that come from
the heart that fill in all the spaces. Love that came from parents who loved
God deeply, loved each other deeply, and sacrificed whatever necessary to care
for and love us.
An Epitome of Faith and Doctrine
We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions.
We believe that through atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
We believe that these ordinances are, first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God by "prophecy, and by laying on of hands" by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church; viz., apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes, that Zion will be built upon this continent, that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisaic glory.
We claim privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, "we believe all things, we hope all things," we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Respectfully, Joseph Smith, Jr.
(From "Times and Seasons" Vol. III, page 710, 1842)