Debra Langton lives in my little city of Laconia, New Hampshire, less than a few miles away. Yet, she might never have found me if not for the local paper, The Laconia Daily Sun.
Several years ago, Deb clipped out my ad for Beetle Books and tucked it away. She had a book idea she was toying with and wanted to keep my contact information, just in case. Last February, she reached out, and we agreed we were a good fit to work together.
Deb’s book, Every Kid Needs a Rescue, is for children and families, and her hope is that her story inspires them to adopt a rescue dog. She’ll help you see why every kid really does need one.
I loved working with Deb, and I love her book. The time that I spent editing her manuscript and designing her book’s pages was a gift. The story is so genuine—a child’s tale of growing up with a dog that makes her feel special and begins to help her learn the importance of dedication, commitment, and compassion. In the editing process, I read Deb’s book two or three dozen times, but it never got old. It always made my spirit feel light.
Deb and I had the most fun on her project while picking out photographs of Ollie, the dog featured in the book, during a torrential summer rain storm. Deb had hundreds of photos on her iPad, and we sat outside on my patio—until the rain came down, and we moved under cover but stayed outside. As the thunder boomed and the rain splattered all over the patio, we looked at photos of Ollie and paired one photo for each page of the book.
We thought carefully about the photographs and how each would enhance her words—and boy do they. As you read through Every Kid Needs a Rescue, the photos of Ollie will evoke sadness (as he waits in a cage to be adopted); pride (as young Deb walks Ollie after school so he will feel better, even though she just wants to rest); and joy (when Ollie, wearing sunglasses and a life preserver, goes for a boat ride).
I believe in Deb’s message. I’m a person who grew up with snooty cats and learned the love we get from dogs later in life. They absolutely teach us things that people sometimes can’t. So, I agree with Deb that every kid does need a rescue, and every rescue sure needs a home.
Deb herself is a joy. She was always upbeat. She was professional, thought with her own mind, and was clear, direct, and always kind. I will miss the sweet cards she sent me, each one with a silly dog on the front and a lovely note of thanks inside.
Stay tuned for more about Deb, her book, and our editing and design process. Learn more about the book here.
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