Every creative project starts with a dream. One morning during the winter of 2015 my dream was born. As I gazed across the crystal clear water at Blue Spring State Park in Florida, I heard a snort and noticed scores of dark shapes gathering underwater. As the shapes swam closer I realized these were manatees who had migrated to the constant 72 degree water to escape the colder temperatures of the St. John’s River. Inspiration struck and at first I wanted to describe this scene by writing a poem.
While at Blue Spring I read about a dedicated volunteer who canoes the spring every morning during the winter months to count the manatees. Since 1980, Wayne Hartley has reported his manatee count to the U.S. Geological Survey. Mr. Hartley also monitors the animals for cold stress, malnourishment, and injuries.
If a manatee needs medical help, Mr. Hartley contacts the Florida Wildlife Commission to assist with rescue and release. The main threat to manatees is boat strikes. Sadly, a manatee can be identified by the location of scars on its body. Mr. Hartley uses this information to identify many of the “sea cows” he observes during his research operation. He has even given them names.
I decided then and there to write a rhyming picture book entitled, Manatee School. Mr. Hartley became my main character. He symbolized someone who answered a call and found purpose in his life. I gave my character the name, “Mel, the Manatee Counter.” I took Mel’s duties one step further—He would conduct a school for manatees and teach them how to stay safe.
When I started the draft the manatee “students” became my supporting characters. Instead of identifying them by their scars, Mel identifies them by their habits. Mike is always eating. Bertha performs barrel roles. Sherilyn is shy. These ideas contribute to the playfulness of the story. I wanted children to develop a sense of wonder about God’s creation—especially manatees.
Early in 2016 I sought publication for my manuscript at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. I met Jesse Florea, who at that time was editor of Clubhouse Junior Magazine. He suggested I write a nonfiction article and place a child in the canoe with the manatee counter. So I reached out to Wayne Hartley and explained that I was writing an article for a magazine. He agreed to take a friend of mine and her eight-year-old daughter on a canoe ride through the spring to see manatees. The article, Counting Manatees, was published in September, 2016. I shared the child’s reaction to seeing these gentle giants and included interesting facts.
During the next seven years Manatee School remained in a file while I published the Tales of Blueberry Street series with Elk Lake. Every now and then I would take the manuscript out and move some of the words around, determined to write better poetry. During those sessions I remembered the vision I received at Blue Spring and prayed that this dream of a picture book would become a reality.
In 2023 I entered Manatee School in the Florida Tapestry Contest and won Honorable Mention. To me this was a sign God had not forgotten me. But something was missing… I knew the story was not finished.
During the summer of 2024 I remembered the words of Jesse Florea. If this was to be a children’s book, I must make it appealing to children by putting a child in the canoe. I rewrote the story. The manatee counter became a grandpa who takes his granddaughter, Emily, on an adventure to visit his school, where he teaches manatees how to stay safe. In the fall I consulted with author, Michelle Medlock Adams who who advised me regarding how to structure the picture book and write a proposal.
I spent the summer of 2025 crafting a better narrative and sent my book proposal to my agent, Michelle S. Lazurek of WordWise Media in late August. Abundance Books offered me a publishing contract a month later.
My search for an illustrator began in earnest. Bennett Longmire was referred to me by Mickey Leonard who illustrated two of my previous books. Although Bennett lives in Pennsylvania and has never visited Florida, she did a beautiful job of capturing the essence of the Florida landscape from the photos I emailed to her.
What I enjoyed most about writing this book was incorporating facts about manatees into the rhyme. I have to say this was a challenge. When Grandpa teaches Emily about manatees he speaks lyrically.
“Manatees are mammals, dear
They surface to breathe air.”
Grandpa takes a closer look,
“I see a baby there!”
Now, more than ten years after the original idea was conceived, Manatee School is finished! I am thankful for the many people who contributed to the process of fulfilling my dream. I learned a story can change many times before it is ready for publication. My prayer is that children be filled with the same wonder I felt when I visited Blue Spring. Visit my facebook author page for videos and puppet shows celebrating the coming release on August 4. Links for preorders shown below.
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