Loveland woman authors second children’s book

Kay Bolin brings back Memories from ‘Luce the Goose’ in her second book release

By Chuck Gibson

LOVELAND, OH (July 2, 2021) – We first met Luce the Goose when Kay Bolin shared the story of a real live goose in her first children’s book “Luce the Goose: Searching for Love” released in March 2019.    

Kay shared Luce’s story in Loveland School classrooms when she visited the kids as part of her responsibility serving as Loveland Valentine Lady that year. Her biggest thrill was seeing the kids attentively listen to the story and then ask questions about Luce. Just a little over two years later, “Luce the Goose: Memories on Dream Street” marks the return of Luce with Bolin’s second children’s book. She’ll share the latest lessons from Luce with the public for the first time as the featured author at the Loveland Museum Center book signing event Sunday, July 25, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

“It’s a little different than the first book,” said Bolin. “I didn’t use a self-publisher or publisher of any type. I wanted to have a book that is fun for the kids to enjoy and something affordable for the kids and their parents to buy.”

With the self-publisher on her first book, Bolin explained she had no control over the fixed pricing. This time she did all the bookwork on her own using two local artists for the illustrations and a local graphics company for the printing. Doing the writing and layout on her own allows her to offer the 20-page soft-cover book for just $8 per copy. That was an important difference for Bolin to make sure kids will have a chance to share the story. The second difference in this book, and Bolin says the most challenging in writing it, is the story has a most unique narrator. 

“I wrote the book as if Luce himself is telling the story,” Bolin explained. “Luce is the narrator and that was a tricky thing to do. You’re used to telling a story, but you’re not used to being the goose in the story. I’m the goose.”

Those are the two main differences in the two books. Becoming Luce to narrate the story was tough. Because it comes from a true story, and Bolin was part of that story, the challenge was writing about things she did or said from Luce’s perspective. She had to write about things her husband Tim did or said also.  It was a learning experience for her, but she’s happy with the result.

“We are part of Luce’s life when he was here,” she said. “On one page I might have Luce did, or said . . . and then on another page Luce says Kay did this, or she was so funny. It’s all true just like the first book, except for the end of the book.”

Bolin didn’t want to give away too much, but she did say there is a part in the book where Luce tells about seeing Kay doing something for him. He comments in the book on how he felt about it. Like the first book where she used Luce’s search for love to teach wonderful lessons. Her second book has some lessons too. This time they come from Luce telling his own “Memories on Dream Street” experiences.

“The message has changed,” said Bolin. “The first book was to share love and kindness. This second one is to take care of our planet. We have to protect our wildlife and our homes; our homes and homes of our wildlife friends.”

It is exactly what this second book is about. Quite a few of Luce’s memories are about what happens if somebody doesn’t take care of our planet. Some of his kids (the goslings of Luce) were injured when people didn’t clean up after themselves. After all, it is a children’s book and Bolin made sure there is some light-hearted funny stories within the overall story.

“I think maybe the last sentence sums it up and is what I like the best about the book,” Bolin said. “Basically, the last sentence says no wonder this city is called Loveland.”

Bolin absolutely would not give away any more than that. You’ll just have to read it to get the whole story from Luce. While Luce the Goose remains the inspiration for the stories, the motivation for the book came from a most unlikely place.

“It was my COVID therapy,” Bolin said. “I had all the time in the world during the COVID. During 2020, this is what I did. It was good. It was something fun. It was exciting, something challenging and it was something I could do at home. That was my COVID experience. I enjoyed it for that reason.”

Bolin wrote the first book while recovering from injuries sustained in an accident. This one was her way through the coronavirus pandemic crisis. She’s not sure if another incident, crisis, or recovery may motivate her next book, but she does know it is about finding the time – taking the time to write.

“The coolest thing is Luce makes us remember how life should be,” said Bolin.

The Book is: “Luce the Goose: Memories on Dream Street” by Kay Bolin.

Illustrations by Gregg Litchfield – Digital Watercolor artist transforming photographs into illustrations through “Paintography” 

Illustrations by: Nancy Sullivan using watercolor to bring Luce’s dreams to life.

Books will be available during the Sunday, July 25th Book Signing with Kay Bolin at the Loveland Museum Center from 1:30-2:30. 

Author Kay Bolin is still in the progress of scheduling future appearances as well as book sales at local shops in Loveland and surrounding communities.