Moaren Ao debuts with ‘The Armour of God’

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 2 

Moaren Ao, a multifaceted professional working as a counselor, wedding planner, wife and mother, has released her debut children’s book, The Armour of God. The book aims to make the biblical concept of spiritual armour accessible and engaging for young readers.

The book’s inception traces back to the author’s involvement in her church’s activities. ‘The idea originated from a request to speak at my church’s annual kids’ revival programme,’ Moaren stated. “I wanted to do something different, something that would resonate deeply with the children, so I crafted a story that would help them grasp the profound truth about the Armour of God.”

Moaren described the writing process as a journey of spontaneous creativity. “As a first-time writer, I was clueless but confident. Creating scenarios and breathing life into characters was an experience of pure, unadulterated freedom. The joy I found was more spontaneous than anything I had planned,” she stated. 

Leveraging her experience as a mother and teacher, she crafted a narrative that follows a relatable father-son duo on a quest, seamlessly weaving profound lessons into an imaginative storyline. ‘The most significant challenge was overcoming my own self-doubt. However, my experience as a mother and a teacher allowed me to tap into my imagination naturally, helping me craft the plot, characters, and lessons with ease,’ she said. 

The author expressed that the most significant reward for her journey from concept to publication is the prospect of children grasping the core truth of the story. “That would mean everything to me,” the author remarked. 

Moaren expressed hope that young readers would identify with the characters and discover a profound inner strength through the narrative. She added that the core story came to her fully formed, and credited her publishing team for seamlessly translating her vision from concept to print. “I had an incredible team who made bringing it to life so much easier for me,” she added. 

The narrative, which features a father-son duo on a spiritual adventure, is brought to life with illustrations from the team at Wandering Minds. Moaren praised the illustrators, Wandering Minds, as a “God-sent” team. She described the collaboration as a deeply supportive and fraternal partnership, where the illustrators understood her vision completely and dedicated themselves to the project as if it were their own. She expressed eagerness to work with them again.

When asked about future projects, Moaren revealed that another story is already complete and “patiently waiting in the wings.”
For the young illustrators at Wandering Minds, their first foray into children’s book publishing with The Armour of God. 

Principal of Wandering Minds, Lanutemsu described the project as a “valuable learning experience” that required navigating the demands of academic life alongside professional creative work. “The journey came with many ups and downs. But in the end, we were able to see it through. We are especially grateful to the author, mentor, seniors who guided us throughout the process by providing references, explanations, and constant support.”

The team, composed of college students, revealed that their biggest challenge was ‘time management’ and as college students, balancing academic responsibilities with the demands of the project. However, they acknowledged the understanding shown by their studio authority in allowing them to focus on work after classes.

The creative process itself was extensive, with the team losing count of the numerous rounds of sketches and revisions undertaken. ‘We often felt there was something missing, so we kept refining it again and again until it felt right,’ the illustrator explained. 

The illustrators employed a hybrid approach, combining both traditional and digital mediums to best bring the story to life. “Each came with its own unique strengths, and combining them gave us the flexibility to bring out the best in the illustrations.”

Lanutemsu credited the author’s clear guidance and patience as crucial to the project’s success. “The author was exceptionally kind and patient with us,” they said, noting that Moaren’s provided clear explanations and unwavering support throughout the collaborative process. ‘There were moments when our illustrations didn’t turn out as expected, but instead of getting upset, the author guided us, explained things clearly whenever we were confused, and supported us with unwavering patience throughout the entire process,’ the illustrators stated. 

The Armour of God, priced at just Rs 250, is now available for purchase, offering families a resource to explore faith, courage, and a touch of Christmas magic. 

It will be available from next Thursday onwards at the following locations in Dimapur: Shamakok Dental Clinic in Half Nagarjan; Tanemi Pottery, near Eden Hospital; and ZarAri, below Daisy Boutique, Duncan Basti.