Neighbor News
A Story I Wrote for My Children Became a Published Book
A Cary father's 15-year journey from a personal manuscript to a children's book now available at the Cary Area Public Library.
Fifteen years ago, I wasn't trying to become an author.
I was a father raising five children, and I had begun to realize how quickly childhood was passing by. My oldest son was 11 years old. My youngest was just 2. Like many parents, I assumed I would always remember the little things—the bedtime routines, the funny mispronunciations, the trips to the hardware store, and the feeling of holding a child who still fit in one arm.
Then I realized those memories were already starting to fade.
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So I sat down and wrote a short story. Not for publication. Not for anyone else. Just for myself and my children.
After I finished it, life moved on. The manuscript sat untouched for more than 15 years.
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Recently, I decided to revisit it. What began as a personal reflection eventually became a children's picture book, A Little Boy Lived Here: A Father Remembers.
The response has been one of the most rewarding surprises of my life. Parents, grandparents, and even young parents with babies have reached out to tell me how much the story resonated with them. Many have shared their own memories and stories of watching their children grow up far too quickly.
One reader told me she cried while reading it to her infant son. Others have said it reminded them to appreciate the ordinary moments that often become the memories we treasure most.
The journey has also led to opportunities I never expected. The book was recently added to the Cary Area Public Library collection, is available at Magical Forest Bookstore in Fox River Grove, and I was honored to speak with students in Sharon Anderson's creative writing class at Cary-Grove High School about storytelling, creativity, and the process of turning an idea into a published book.
One thing I shared with the students is that you don't have to write something important. You simply have to write something true.
For me, this story was true.
It was never really about publishing a book. It was about preserving a moment in time before it disappeared.
If you'd like to learn more about A Little Boy Lived Here: A Father Remembers, it is available on Amazon:
Thank you to everyone in the Cary-Grove community who has supported this unexpected journey.
