This last week, I was given the opportunity to speak to Mary Lou Quinlan, author of the book The God Box, releasing this week in print and e-book nationally.

Mary Lou also performs a one-woman show about the story that drove her to write, to perform and to even delve into the world of app development for this single inspiration that began long ago when Mary's mother, Mary Finlayson, picked up a pen, found a small piece of paper and wrote her first prayer to begin her own unique "God Box."

But, this last week wasn't exactly the first time I've talked to Mary Lou about this project. Last Fall, I received an email from my dear friend Beth informing me that a woman she knew was putting together a book based on  her mother's prayers and that this woman, Mary Lou Quinlan, was gathering a group of people who she could bounce her ideas off and who could possibly help move this project from the depths of her heart onto real paper and ink and even beyond. Would I come and hear Mary Lou's story?

Prayer to God, to the Lord, is a dear subject for me, as close to my heart as anything in my life, and the thought of going to New York City where someone there in that big city of skyscrapers, hustling and bustling business people and long sidewalks of cement cared about prayer in whatever way that meant, I needed to know more. Yes, I would go.

Travelling via Amtrak and then cab, I arrived at Mary Lou's address and found a delightful host welcoming me into her lovely NYC loft, a home decorated in style and grace with the perfect combination of turquoise and copper in her collection of home decor. The doorbell continued to sound as the room filled with bloggers, writers, marketers, designers and assistants along with others I am sure I have forgotten. Ears were ready to hear the story Mary Lou stood and shared with us, the story of her mother and her prayers.

Growing up, Mary Lou would often hear her mother say, "I'll put you in my God Box" when she wanted to encourage someone and to let them know they were thought of and cared about. But, her mother didn't stop with words. She would take a small piece of paper, yellow or white or blue or whatever, blank or written on, and find a space to write a prayer and a date. Sometimes, she would go back and edit the prayer. Most importantly, she filled box after box, after box, and stored those dated prayers in various containers tucked high in her closet where someone someday, like her children, like Mary Lou, would find them and be blessed all over again.

After her mother's death, Mary Lou did find those boxes. As she pulled out prayer after prayer, Mary Lou realized she was holding a eloquently collected time capsule of her mother's love and a history of her family and her life. Mary Lou decided to share this development in her life in a magazine article in Real Simple. The response was so positive, Mary Lou knew she needed to do more, take it further, share with more people.

Thus, The God Box came into being   . . . . a book about Mary Finlayson who shared her innermost thoughts scrap by scrap, timestamped so that the journey could once again be followed by those who knew her best. In the box, Mary Lou shares her mother's prayers and then fills in the details behind each customized piece of paper as she shares a riveting, poignant tale of the power of family and the permanence of love. Vivid and colorful images in the book show her mother's prayers written in so many different ways along with pictures of Mary Lou's family as she was growing up.

This book is a delightful read and {SPOILER ALERT} you will need tissues. In our interview last week, I asked Mary Lou about the show and how it was coming and had anything changed since she had begun telling the story to an audience.

"It's like living with Mom. . . . I have a co-developer and she will say to me, 'Wait, tell me what you are seeing right now.' It's becoming more specific and deeper, more interactive . . . . like I am engaging the audience more even without having them talk."

Another person on the call for the interview asked how Mary Lou is spreading the word about the performance and the book. The author answered that she starts with a blank slate, determines who she knows where and starts from there.

Though Mary Lou says she isn't a spiritual guru herself, she has been inspired by her mother's "God Boxes" to help others understand the power of releasing one's worries and the process of healing through writing down one's passions and anxieties. It's also a beautiful way to let others know they have been remembered too. She is open to talking to or reaching any group with her story (Christian, Jewish, or anyone who appreciates the value of prayer).

Mary Lou is also planning to have a related iPhone app ready by Mother's Day. This app will allow you to do digitally what you can also do at home which is to store your prayers in a chronological fashion. The benefit of the app is that in today's digital world, you can even send an email telling someone they are in YOUR "God Box."

Read more below (and/or on the website):

WHAT IS THE GOD BOX?

THE BOOK… 

After her mother Mary Finlayson dies, her daughter uncovers 10 of her God boxes spanning over 20 years of her life.  The boxes are stuffed with tiny notes written by Mary, asking and praying for everything from the right flooring for her daughter’s new home to a cure for her own blood cancer. Mary’s petitions are presented with love and without expectation. Note by note, author Mary Lou Quinlan unearths insights into her mother’s compassion, faith, and perseverance, and revelations of her innermost thoughts—nostalgic, surprising, and even a bit shocking. And through the journey, the author discovers her own more empathetic, more engaged self—the woman her mother had believed in all along.

THE ONE WOMAN SHOW…

Mary Lou has transitioned from successful marketing CEO to actor, taking audiences on a nostalgic and emotional journey back to her past.

Written by nurse and mom of three, Sharon Cramer, The Sneezy Wheezy Day, is the third installment of the Cougar Cub Tales – an award winning children’s picture book series that follows the adventures of a brother and sister cougar cub.

My kids are in their teens at this point and I can why a book about appreciating what your sibling can offer you really comes in handy.

Get the downloadable Kindle Edition ($.99) here: Cougar Cub Tales:The Sneezy Wheezy Day or order the hardback via Cramer's website Talking Bird Books or the Amazon link below.

In The Sneezy Wheezy Day, brother cub isn’t feeling well. As he and sister cub seek help for his cold, they encounter many well-intentioned forest friends who offer silly home remedies. One friend even tells brother cub, “Tickle your nose with the tail of a goose and do it before the next blue moon rise!” Although the recommendations help, the final remedy is a sibling’s love.

The painted pictures are luxurious and delightful to the eye!

Cramer wrote the first book in the series, Lost and Alone about sibling rivalry, when her youngest son was born 18 years ago. As a mom to two older sons at the time, Cramer says she felt like an expert on “brotherly love” already. The second installment in the series, I’m Just Like You addresses intolerance.

Oh, I think I need to get that one!

Cramer illustrates the Cougar Cub Tales books in watercolor, with each picture taking her between 18-24 hours to create. She chose cougar cubs because she wanted to create characters that spoke strongly of the Pacific Northwest, where she lives.

SHARON CRAMER is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and avid competitive equestrian. She is also the author of, soon to be released, Marlo and the Monster, and is working on a new young adult series called The Cerulean Star. She lives in Spokane, Wash.

To learn more and hear audio of Cramer reading the books, please visit: www.talkingbirdbooks.com. You can also follow her on Twitter.