Inspiration comes from a variety of sources –  personal adventures, observations from our surroundings, and spiritual experiences.

The inspiration behind my book, The Boy with the Magic Thumb, came from watching my mother interact with my son Garrett when he was a small child.  Garrett was diagnosed with autism at age three which was a surprise to our whole family.  Fortunately, we were able to rally around Garrett by gathering information and support and consulting doctors to help us navigate the world of autism.  My mother chose to embrace this challenge, drawing from her skills as a former teacher to find creative ways to interact with Garrett.  For example, while he was engaged in sucking his thumb for comfort, she kindly suggested that he might want to be careful as the chocolate in his thumb might run out if he kept it in his mouth too long.  After observing her do this several times, I watched as Garrett would instantly smile at her and then remove his thumb to continue playing.  Her gentle ways with him were a significant contrast to how she and my Dad dealt with this when my brother was a thumb-sucker.  (Example:  Tabasco sauce on his thumb and covering his hand at bedtime with a sock and secured using duct tape.)

Seeing Garrett clearly enjoying the game of removing his thumb, I began to picture an initial title for my book, The Boy with the Chocolate Thumb.   However, providing full-time care for Garrett at that time prevented me from finishing my story.

Twenty years swiftly passed before I decided to dust off my old manuscript and work on my book again.   My motivation to complete the book intensified after the passing of my mother, particularly as a way to honor her memory.  In the process of trying to secure a publisher, I contacted  Michael Garland, a veteran illustrator of children’s picture books, who helped me bring this book to fruition.  During this collaboration with Michael, the book’s title changed to The Boy with the Magic Thumb.  There have been three pivotal moments in my life – meeting my husband, Ron, the birth of my son, Garrett, and holding my first book in my hands.

I am so proud to bring my readers a beautiful story that teaches the importance of embracing challenges with confidence and perseverance.  In this case, recognizing thumb-sucking as a natural choice children use to relieve anxiety.  It offers parents a more compassionate and skillful way to assist their children in facing obstacles similar to those faced by the boy with the magic thumb.

I’d love to hear your personal stories about thumb-sucking or other life challenges in the comments below.

If you have had the opportunity to read The Boy with the Magic Thumb , please share what the story meant to you.  Your insights and feedback are greatly appreciated!