Author’s ‘Soup’ recipe

Tuesday morning was dreary and gray at Huntington Beach Pier, but the weather didn’t bother Surf City resident and published author B.J. Taylor, whose inspiration comes from the bright spots in her life.

She uses these musings, which she said come from her family and heart, as a way to arouse creativity in those who read her work.

Taylor’s stories have been a natural fit for the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, and she’s been published in six different “Chicken Soup” books. In the most recent edition, “Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son Soul,” Taylor, who is now a grandma twice over, pulled memories from days when two of her sons were 5 and 6 years old to write “Popcorn and Dirty, Bare Feet.”

She delved into her early days of motherhood when she came to the realization that perfection wasn’t necessarily the most important aspect of family life.

“When you’re a mom, you want everything to be perfect, but nothing is ever perfect,” Taylor said. “Actually all the kids are perfect just the way they are ? it’s just that moms have to accept the way their kids are.”

The “Chicken Soup” books contain a collection of short stories that are familiar and inspiring to readers, said co-author and story acquisitions manager Barbara LoMonaco. The books frequently appear on the New York Times’ bestseller list.

Personal essays and inspirational stories are Taylor’s forte, having also been published in John Gray’s “Mars and Venus in Love,” which came after his bestseller “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus,” and is a regular contributor to Guideposts magazine. She holds a special place in her heart for the “Chicken Soup” books because of the book’s quick pace and short stories.

“As a reader, I love to read stories that touch the heart,” she said. “I love ‘Chicken Soup’ because they’re quick reads and busy people can read the stories easily, and they have a nice message.”

This particular edition is important to Taylor, who has three sons and one daughter, because of the special bond she has with each of her sons.

“There is a special connection” between mothers and sons, she said. “There is a special bond, a pride in watching them grow up and be self-sufficient.”

The book series was started by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, and was first published in 1993 when they wanted to put the messages of their speeches and workshops down on paper. Because of their hectic schedules, they came up with a format that allowed budding writers to tell their familiar stories.

“For each title, we get approximately 2,000 to 3,000 story submissions, and we read through everything,” LoMonaco said.

Taylor’s story was one of 101 true stories chosen for the book, which was released last month.

“People can relate to the stories,” LoMonaco said. “We’ve had more people write in and say, ‘I thought I was the only one who was this way or had this problem,’ and then they realized they weren’t alone in the world.”

LoMonaco said everyone is encouraged to submit their stories to the book series.

“You could be a really famous published writer or the guy next door and everyone has an equal chance” for publication, she said.

For information on how to submit a story, visit www.chickensoup.com.hbi.18-chicksoup-CPhotoInfo6U1R17C320060518izdrlxncKENT TREPTOW / INDEPENDENT(LA)Author B.J. Taylor has stories published in the book “Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son Soul.”