Submitted Photo Local poet Rachel Rippel is the author of “The Inspiration Within.” She will sign books from 3-5 p.m. Dec. 17 at Gideon’s Trumpet in Minot.

Gideon’s Trumpet will celebrate “Jesus’s Birthday” on Dec. 17 and local poet Rachel Rippel will be part of the big event.

Rippel will be signing copies of her new poetry collection, “The Inspiration Within,” from 3-5 p.m.

“I’ve been writing poetry since I was about 12, so a good 25 years or so,” said Rippel, who lives in rural Minot with her husband, Wade, and their two young daughters. “I’ve always wanted to have a book of just my poems published.”

Rippel said she prayed about her desire to publish and searched online for a Christian publisher. She found Tate Publishing, which has published the first of her poetry books and will soon publish another.

“It’s a collection of poems I’ve written over the years … based on my experiences, good and bad, and how relying on God and my faith really got me through some tough times,” she said.

Her second book of poems, which will be published soon, were written when she was a teenager.

Rippel said she started writing as a way to safely express her feelings when she was young and going through tough times.

“It’s kind of a vulnerable feeling but a good one at the same time,” she said about publishing her poetry. “If even one single poem can reach one person, then that vulnerability is worth it.”

Rippel said her book is available at Gideon’s Trumpet and at tatepublishing.com. They will also be available at some point at online booksellers like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.