FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carrie Freyer, Marketing Director | publicist@loyolapress.com
CHICAGO, November 7, 2023 — Audacious Ignatius is not your grandmother's saint biography. It's a boisterous and brainy telling of the life of St. Ignatus Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, or, the Jesuits.
Written by Paul Mitchell and illustrated by his sister Katie Broussard, Audacious Ignatius is set to reach a much larger audience with its new release through Loyola Press. The author/illustrator team, who originally self-published the book, decided to leverage the strength of a larger publisher to get their creative telling of the life of St. Ignatius into many more homes, schools, and parishes.
Audacious Ignatius tells the story of the transformation of Ignatius of Loyola from self-involved nobleman to saint, dedicated to serving God and others. Mitchell presents the historical background as well as the theological concepts in a way that is not dumbed down or glossed over, yet still age-appropriate. Presenting Ignatius as possessing an audacious spirit encourages children to dream big and take risks, while the story of his conversion invites them to explore their spirituality and grow closer to God through imaginative prayer.
The lively and engaging rhyming scheme uses vocabulary words that kids will find fun and interesting. Lines like, “His love of adventure was simply voracious” and “His style of dressing? Just a touch ostentatious” will give kids, families, and classroom students a great opportunity to look words up to understand their meaning.
Audacious Ignatius will also encourage discussion around spiritual topics, especially Ignatian spirituality and themes such as discernment, prayer, reflection, and finding God in all things. It introduces young readers to a spiritual framework that fosters personal growth, resilience, and love for others, and yet is for readers of all ages!
For interviews with Paul Mitchell and Katie Broussard, contact Carrie Freyer, publicist@loyolapress.com.
About the Author and Illustrator
Paul Mitchell (author) and Katie Mitchell Broussard (illustrator) are both stay-at-home parents and former Jesuit educators who deeply value teaching children about Ignatian spirituality. Paul and Katie are the creators of The Examen Book: Exploring Every Day with God, which introduces children to the cherished prayer and invites them to find God in the big and small things of life.
About Loyola Press
An apostolate of the USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus, Loyola Press embraces the Jesuit passion for helping people find God in all things. We continue the Jesuit tradition of excellence and service by providing inspiring content for children and adults and by being people for others.
Audacious Ignatius
Written by Paul Mitchell, Illustrated by Katie Broussard
November 28, 2023
Loyola Press | $14.99 | Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-8294-5803-9
ISBN: 978-0-8294-5803-9