‘Caitlin’s Star’ Shines After Nearly Four Decades

By D.K. Christi

 

Local author and Estero resident Nancy Range Anderson has recently published “Caitlin’s Star,” an interactive children’s picture book that helps children, families and adults talk about love, loss and remembrance.

Anderson is recuperating in Estero from knee surgery and also beginning another chapter in her life with retirement from her active career in human resources at Johnson and Johnson. Her nature is that of a teacher and learner, reflected in her previously published handbook for job seekers.

Inspired by a conversation with her young child following the loss of a grandparent, “Caitlin’s Star” tells the story of a girl who discovers that the love she shared with her grandmother continues to shine, both in the night sky and in the memories they created together.

In addition to the story, the book includes reflection and journaling prompts which invite readers and caregivers to talk, draw and write about their loved one. These interactive pages help turn the book into a personal keepsake for families.

Although written for children, Anderson has found that the book resonates with adults, grandparents, educators and grief-support groups. Readers have shared that the story opens meaningful conversations and offers comfort during difficult moments.

“The book started as a way to help children,” Anderson said, “but it has become something much bigger — a gentle resource for readers of all ages who are navigating grief or supporting someone who is.”

She founded her own business to assist job seekers at executive levels in 2009. Her only previous experience in publishing was the handbook, “Job Search Skills for Moms.”

She always tried to answer children’s questions honestly and at their level of understanding. When her daughter, Caitlin, asked where her grandmother went when she died, “Heaven” was Anderson’s simple response.

However, Caitlin wasn’t done with her question. A short time later in the car with her mom, she asked again with emphasis, “Where did grandmother really go?”

Continuing to drive, Anderson thought for a moment and, on the spot, created a children’s story for dealing with grief that was so loved by her own child, it was requested many times across the family and among friends. Anderson jotted it down and put it in a drawer.

The urban legend among English teachers is that each has a “novel in the drawer” just waiting for the would-be novelist to finish. Anderson had her children’s story in the drawer for nearly four decades. Caitlin was 40 when her mom retired, needed knee surgery and was looking for something productive to do while in recovery. Anderson remembered the little family story and found it in the drawer.

Thus began another chapter in the accidental author’s life: polishing the story, publishing it and making it available to the public. While all three were within her skill level, dealing with the volume of details and rejection was difficult. With no experience in the world of children’s book publishing, she thought it would simply require a publisher and she’d be on the way. Nothing was simple.

Luckily, she had a friend who was an artist and encouraged her to go forward with self-publishing her children’s story. Anderson’s friends began to think she was obsessed with getting her book finished. To do it quickly required self-publishing. The tasks were more than expected. To top it off, she was also responsible for marketing the books she bought.

“Initially, I gave away more than I sold,” said Anderson. She discovered that it not only helped children work through their grief, but adults were reading the book they thought was for their children.

“The story suggests the next activities of a loved one who has died, a positive thought process to treasure the person still,” she explained.

“Caitlin’s Star” is reminiscent of books that became classics like Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince,” which appeared as a children’s tale of love, loss and friendship and now is enjoyed by readers the world over as an allegory bringing these feelings to light for adults.

“I was surprised by the number of adults who told me the book helped them through the loss of a brother or other family member,” said Anderson.

“The story is interactive,” she said. “As the reader reaches a certain part, the story asks a question that takes the story deeper. The journaling and activity space is designed for teaching use or sharing in a group so that it is more of an interactive experience that engages the reader. When I began promoting the book, I learned many presentation options, from reading to an audience to sharing the reading in a group sharing meeting.”

The artwork and colors of the book are very child friendly, done in a style that could be proudly displayed in a children’ s library.

Anderson is just getting started sharing “Caitlin’s Star” in Southwest Florida. She has added a section to her author website (nancyrangeanderson.blogspot.com) where local events will be posted. She already has a presence on Facebook and other social media sites and a blog where she shares nuances from the story, along with thoughts that may help someone on their life journey when encountering the unexpected.

Anderson welcomes contact at nancyrangeanderson@gmail.com. “Caitlin’s Star” may be purchased on Amazon.