Exeter Author, Maine Illustrator Release New Children's Book

Local author Stephanie Workman of Exeter and illustrator Tim Raynes of Kittery, Maine have published their first children’s book, “Lucy’s Amazing Friend.”

“Lucy’s Amazing Friend,” tells the story of eight-year-old Lucy who befriends Daniel, a boy living with autism.

Lucy doesn’t understand why the new boy in Miss Reed’s class doesn’t like her.

“I said hi and he ignored me,” she said.

“Lucy, that’s Daniel. He has autism,” Miss Miller responded.

“What’s autism?” asked Lucy.

From that moment on Lucy works to make friends with Daniel in this bright, upbeat book about autism. Once she succeeds, Lucy becomes determined that the other kids learn to accept Daniel as well.

With an estimated 1 in 68 now falling somewhere on the autism spectrum, “Lucy’s Amazing Friend” is just the right book to help children understand that we are all different, and while those differences can be challenging, they also make us each special.

“Over a year ago I went to a reading at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth for Ellen Walker who wrote “Bringing Up John,” says Workman. “She wrote a memoir about raising her son John, who lives with autism. It wasn’t until shortly before the reading I found out my husband Tim was friends with John in high school. There is a section about Tim in her book about the impact he made on John just by being his friend. Tim had no idea. To him, John was just John. That night at the reading, “Lucy’s Amazing Friend” was born.

“Lucy’s Amazing Friend” retails for $10.99 in paperback and $3.99 for Kindle. It is available online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Piscataqua Press. You can also find it at RiverRun Bookstore, Water Street Bookstore, and Calef‘s Country Store. To find it through your local independent bookstore visit indiebound.org.

Workman is a graduate of Emerson College, receiving her BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She is currently working on her second children’s book. You can find out more information about the author at stephanieworkman15.com or her Facebook page facebook.com/stephanieworkman15.

Raynes is a former tattoo artist who has been drawing since he could pick up a pencil. This is his first time illustrating a children’s book. You can check out more of his art work on Facebook.

Submitted text and courtesy photos.