A young girl named Sylvie who hides behind a door because she is scared of all the “what-ifs” outside. A small crack in the door gives her little glimpses of the world outside and allows her to meet with different visitors who come to the door, each with their own motives. Some, like Curiosity and Love, try to convince Sylvie to venture outside and find adventures past the door. Others, like Self-Pity and Regret, taunt Sylvie, telling her to stay be-hind the door where she feels safe. But is Sylvie really safe behind the door? What does she give up for a life of isolation? And when her other visitors have left , can the Good Shepherd fill Sylvie with the hope and courage that she needs to go beyond the door?
The Girl Behind the Door is an inspirational story for children and adults who allow fear to control their lives.
Christie Miller grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where her second-grade teacher sparked her love for storytelling. As a child, she would often be found with her nose in a mystery book or writing short stories where her best friends were the heroes. Ever since then, stories have woven their way into her life through writing plays, performing in and directing theatre productions, or reflecting on life through her blog beautifulstuff617.tumblr.com. The Girl Behind the Door is her first book.
Christie graduated from Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, with a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry. Since then she has worked for Salt ‘n Light youth ministry—a non-profit that partners with local churches to provide relevant programming and resources for their youth ministries. She works as a creative arts director, seeking to develop creative avenues to portray the gospel through the arts.
As a child and into adulthood, Christie’s parents always encouraged her to be fearless and take risks. This book was a chance for her to come face to face with the kinds of things that have often kept her (and all of us) from leaving the safety of the familiar things in our lives and running fearlessly toward true adventures. Christie hopes to encourage kids, teens, and adults alike, that there is more waiting for them as they overcome their fears and push past their own doors.
When she’s not writing or on the road with Salt ‘n Light, Christie loves hosting her friends for home-cooked meals, going on epic road trips, and wandering old book shops. Christie lives in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with her roommate and her faithful cat and writing buddy, Nacho.
You see, even though the door could not protect her from much of anything, she believed that it could. She believed that if she added more locks and built stronger walls, surely no monster could harm her, no nightmare could find her. Behind that door she built her entire world—a little bed, a simple chair, a worn suitcase and an old blanket—just big enough for her and nothing else.
“Giants?” Curiosity said with awe, “I’ve never seen a Giant up close. But I sure would like to. Wouldn’t you?” The question hung in the air like the boldest of dares for the bravest of heroes. And Sylvie didn’t know how to answer when her mind screamed “no” but her heart screamed “yes.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to try anymore, Sylvie,” Self-Pity breathed sweetly, so close to the door it was as if she was becoming a part of it...or even a part of Sylvie herself. “You deserve to be safe behind this door. You can stay here as long as you want. Forever if you like.”
“Really?” Sylvie asked, her eyes uttering closed as the tangled greens snuggled closer.
Christie Miller
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christie@thegirlbehindthedoor.com
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