A Wisconsin author has written a book that she hopes will be a home run with children.
Marla McKenna, a Wausau native living in Waterford, visited Shawano public and parochial schools this week, talking with classes and area residents about her new book, “Mom’s Big Catch.” The story is based on an experience McKenna and her family had at Miller Park in Milwaukee.
“It was just something crazy that happened, and the idea was literally dropped in my lap, and I ran with it,” McKenna said.
To give the book universal appeal, it can be customized to feature any baseball team. McKenna said versions of the book feature the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and other teams.
She is talking with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to see if they are interested in sponsoring a version of the book.
“They can have advertising through the book, so it’s really a win-win for everyone,” McKenna said.
The book’s main characters are girls, based on McKenna’s two daughters, now 12 and 14.
But the book has wide interest from both genders, she said.
“Lots of kids love sports, but it’s important to promote literacy, to promote reading and writing and the importance of teaming up together,” McKenna said.
While she’d always wanted to write a book, McKenna didn’t have the special idea she needed until that fateful day at Miller Park.
Even after McKenna wrote the book, it still took some effort to get it published.
“I sent it away to publishers for two years and continued to get rejected over and over again, which is pretty normal,” McKenna said.
McKenna has a second children’s book coming out in June, titled “Sadie’s Big Steal,” a story based on her dog and other dogs in the neighborhood.
Some of the proceeds from the book are going to the Linda Blair World Heart Foundation, an animal rescue shelter, and singer-songwriter Rick Springfield is matching McKenna’s donations dollar for dollar.
“This has changed my life. This is what I do now, go to schools and meet the kids,” said McKenna, who has a journalism degree for advertising and public relations. “We talk about the writing, illustrating, publishing processes. My message to the kids from this whole journey is don’t ever give up.”
Categories
