School Visits
on returning to the world
In 2017, I wrote a book that was published in 2021—A picture book biography about Brenda Berkman and her career with the FDNY. I talk about it every March, so here we go again, but this time I have some fun tidbits to add!
Send a Girl! has remained my favorite of my books for two reasons:
One, because the work Brenda did—fighting the FDNY to allow women to test to become trained firefighters—happened during my blissfully unaware childhood. Learning about what she went through and how she persisted, was a reminder of what women have gone through globally, throughout history in order for the next generation to (hopefully) have an easier time.
And two, because Brenda was a big part of making this book happen. Without her blessing, contributions, and advocacy of it, I doubt it would still be on the shelves now, four years after publication. If you’re not familiar with the publishing world, a very high percentage of books—possibly the majority—don’t stick around that long. And especially so with picture books, because they are chock full of expensive-to-print art, but aren’t big money makers. Unless they win awards, publishers aren’t as keen to keep printing them.
The pandemic stalled out pretty much all of my books, and therefore my “career” as an author before it even had a chance to go anywhere. And then in 2023, just as we were preparing to return to the world and I was gearing up to try to get back to all things “kidlit”, my husband’s health had to become the priority. Not only was authoring put on hold, our entire lives were paused. I have not finished a single project for kids since 2020. (I have been writing consistently for adults, however.)
But Send a Girl! kept chugging along even when I couldn’t. I’m yet to see a penny in royalties, but I know the book is still getting around. I get tagged in librarian or bookstore posts from time to time, especially in March for Women’s History Month, which I’m very grateful for otherwise there’s no way to know if anyone is reading it!
2025, pandemic in the rear view, husband doing well, I decided I really wanted to try to get back to some of the things other authors get to do—school visits in particular. And I had an idea to pair up with a woman firefighter from West Virginia for Women’s History Month, and my local bookstore Wordplay, which has an amazing nonprofit called Wordplay Connects in which they raise money to donate books to local kids and classroom libraries. Send a Girl! is such a great story for elementary and middle school students. It’s historical, inspiring, and who doesn’t love firefighters!
I found Mystik Miller the same way I found Brenda Berkman. A google search. Not only was Mystik 100% on board to collaborate, she already knew the book and had used it as a door prize at a conference for women in rescue. So, we made a plan and Wordplay Connects made it happen.
While I was pretty anxious the day before the event—because I’m just an anxious person to begin with—visits to both schools went fantastically. We had such a great time together and the kids were so attentive and sweet. They especially loved Mystik’s dog who had a cameo in our slides, but we got a few great questions too. And after the first visit, I even got a hug from one student that pretty much made my day.
In between schools, we stopped at a coffee shop in a small town for a bite to eat and to kill some time. Part of our conversation was about how women in rescue services are so important for a variety of reasons: they think differently, they can get into small spaces easier, they’re lighter and therefore easier to haul out of tricky place, and can be more nurturing and welcomed by victims, especially other women and children. As we talked, a woman sitting next to us leaned over toward Mystik and asked what department she was in, and after some initial chit-chat, told us that she had been the first woman firefighter in that town back in the early 80’s. The coincidence kind of blew us away and Mystik got her contact information because she’s working on a research project that highlights the first woman in each West Virginia county to serve in the fire service.
Later, on the drive home Mystik talked a lot about West Virginia and the people here, how proud folks are of their long family heritage and how skeptical of outsiders they can be, rightfully so considering the state’s unfortunate history of being taken advantage of repeatedly. But before the first school visit, an older woman had come up to me to introduce herself and let me know she knew I’d inquired over a year ago about becoming a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which was both a touch unsettling and sweet that people clearly had been talking about me. Small towns will be small towns. But she was welcoming me with open arms, and wanted to know if I could come to the next meeting despite not being an official DAR yet.
I have never been the kind of person to put down roots. I’m a bit detached, distant, and sometimes too independent-minded to think about being part of a community. But the whole day was a huge reminder of the importance of feet-on-the-ground work, as simple as a children’s book, and genuine connections and conversation, and how it can influence minds, and open hearts. Maybe the most of all, mine.
If you would like to order a copy of Send a Girl! I encourage you to order from your local independent bookstore, or you can contact Wordplay.