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HOME TOWN Couple Ben and Erin Napier: ‘We Want the Girls to Be a Part of Our Lives in Every Way’

Photo courtesy of HGTV

HOME TOWN Couple Ben and Erin Napier: ‘We Want the Girls to Be a Part of Our Lives in Ever Way’

By Movieguide® Contributor

In a recent interview, HGTV star Erin Napier shared details about her new children’s book and her youngest daughter’s upcoming first birthday. 

Her new book, called “The Lantern House,” tells the story of a house that different families call home over the years. 

“I want to teach our girls why we do what we do,” Napier explained. “Why do we care so much about restoring old houses?” 

The book was illustrated by friend and artist Adam Trest, who has appeared on Napier’s show HOME TOWN. While Napier herself is an artist, she said she needed someone with a “totally different skill set” to illustrate the book. 

“I do a painting of a still life, and I guess that tells a story in one way. But illustration literally tells a story, and it requires a totally different skill set than what I have,” Napier explained. “That’s what Adam specializes in. All of his paintings he’s ever done felt like they could be illustrations from a children’s book.” 

Napier’s daughters are already big fans of “The Lantern House.”

“She’s basically memorized it,” Napier said of her oldest daughter Helen. “We read it so much when I first was writing the proof that now that the actual book is here, she has memorized the story and is not as interested in reading it which just kills me. It’s like, ‘No, baby, this is a real book. Before, that was just typed pages with words, but look at this!’”

Despite everything that is going on in Napier and her husband Ben’s lives, from home renovations to writing books, the couple always put their daughters first. 

“Every day at lunch we come home and eat with the girls, and we see them at least once or twice between 8 and 5,” Napier explained. “It’s a very strange career we found ourselves in, and we want the girls to be a part of our life in every way.” 

Movieguide® previously reported on “The Lantern House:”

HGTV star Erin Napier is known for her home improvement skills, but now she’s adding “author” to her list of accomplishments.

Napier recently released her first children’s book, “The Lantern House,” a story about how houses can be homes for many different families over the years.

“The reality about our houses is, they go on after we’ve left them, and imagine if houses could talk, what would they tell us about the things that they’ve seen. That’s fascinating to me,” Napier toldPeople “Something I think about a lot is that the house I’m sitting in right now will outlive me. Isn’t that crazy?”

In one part of the story, the Lantern House has no one living inside it, and wonders who its next occupants could be. One dreamed-of person is a trapeze artist, which is a sweet nod to Napier’s oldest daughter, 4 year-old Helen.

“The trapeze artist’s house is Helen’s. If she could do anything, this house would look like a circus tent and she would be the star trapeze artist,” Napier explained. 

“When people tell me that it made them get emotional, then it feels like it did its job. I think we should be emotional about our houses. They’re more than just buildings,” Napier concluded.

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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.