The Story Behind the Story

This month, something special happened—I helped a 10-year-old publish her very first book.

It all started when a friend of mine—Oakleigh’s grandmother—told me her granddaughter had been writing stories for years. One in particular stood out: it was imaginative, funny, and surprisingly structured for a kid her age. It had characters, conflict, even a three-part arc. She was serious about her storytelling, and her grandmother wanted to do something meaningful with it.

That’s when she reached out to me.

I took Oakleigh’s typed-up story and turned it into a real book. Edited it, formatted it, designed the cover, and added playful illustrations to match her voice. The result? A fun, fast-paced three-part story that’s equal parts creativity and chaos (in the best way).

The book is called Phone-Stealing Felines—and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
Watching Oakleigh’s reaction when she held her book for the first time? Pure magic. There’s something powerful about giving a young writer a platform. It’s a reminder that stories matter, no matter your age. And that creativity, when nurtured, becomes confidence.

Phone-Stealing Felines is available on Amazon until December 1st only. After that, it’s gone. This was always meant to be a special, limited release—just for fun, just for her.

You can check it out here and if you know a young storyteller with a wild imagination, maybe this will spark something in them, too.