ESTEVAN — Estevan's Daralee Kittelson, the owner and operator of Jewels and Jems Furniture and Interior Redesigns, has recently tried on a new project.
Her first children's book was just published, with the big announcement being made on March 25, and hardcopies coming available at Impressions Gift Co. in Estevan starting April 11.
Addie's Enchanted Glasses is geared for kids ages four to eight, but it also carries a big message, and some takeaway information for everyone. It's all inspired by a true story of a brave little girl.
Kittelson says she's had thoughts of becoming a writer throughout her life, but didn't proceed until the right story came around.
"I've always wanted to write a book. I wrote short stories and poems when I was younger, and I took journalism in university, so I always had that background," Kittelson shared. "I just didn't know what my book would be about. So, this book is loosely inspired by a real-life family member who was born with a visual impairment."
The illustrated children's book is 30 pages long and tells the story of Addie, a fictional character who is visually impaired. The book follows Addie's adventures and her search for ways to overcome her challenges. Additionally, the book aims to raise awareness about biofeedback therapy for visually impaired individuals. This treatment is available in a clinic located in Toronto and had a significant impact on the life of the main character's real-life counterpart.
"It wasn't until she started going for her eye treatments that I found the narrative that I was looking for and started writing about her journey as the youngest person in the world to undergo this biofeedback treatment," Kittelson noted.
Hardly anyone, except for her closest family, knew that Kittelson was working on the book, and it came as a big surprise for the child who inspired it.
"I read it to the real-life girl myself the other day. And she knew it was her right away. She picked out small details that I included in the illustrations," Kittelson shared. "Her reactions were really priceless when she figured out that the book was about her."
The real-life transformations she witnessed inspired her and made her want to empower the little girl and also spread the word about the treatment.
"When she started this clinical trial, I witnessed firsthand the remarkable transformation in her vision after she did one round of the biofeedback treatment. So, watching her progress, I saw how the hurdles that she faced, the struggles … with her confidence with her vision and the fact that she wears glasses. So, I decided to craft this narrative that would celebrate her incredible resilience but serve as empowerment for her and others that face similar challenges as young kids with disabilities," Kittelson said.
"In telling the story, I wanted to emphasize that her visual impairment doesn't define or limit her. It's a testament to her strength. And I wanted to also shed light on the ground-breaking work of the doctors, who are pioneering this biofeedback treatment, and their dedication and innovation, and the importance of making people aware of the options for the visually impaired."
She noted that in the book, there is a link to the University Health Network (UHN) where the treatment is done.
"I've included it, so people can read more information about the research that they're doing and the biofeedback trial, and learn more about the foundation. And they can also donate on there."
Biofeedback treatments were initiated for the girl in November, and Kittelson began working on her book in January. The writing process was quick, but she chose to self-publish, which always means a lot of work for the author.
"There was a lot of research that I had to do to decide what I was going to do. I had a few publishers interested in traditional publishing, but it potentially would take a long time, eight to 12 months at the earliest. So, given that I wanted to highlight the biofeedback treatment and give the book to [the real-life girl], I didn't want her to be 10 when I gave it to her, so I published it myself," Kittelson said.
"The past few months I have been down a rabbit hole of writing a manuscript, getting illustrations done, researching publishing a book, getting ISBNs so it's a legit book – it's been intense, but I am so happy with how it came out," Kittelson shared in her post, announcing the book's release.
Receiving her first book felt "surreal", and she and her family are proud of how it came out, she said. Kittelson also hinted that there might be a sequel to the book, inspired by another family member, coming in the future, but it hasn't taken shape yet.
Addie's Enchanted Glasses is currently available on Amazon in paperback and e-book formats, and will be available in paperback at Impressions Gift Co. in Estevan starting April 11. People can also pre-order signed copies now for pickup April 11 at jewelsandjemsfurnitureredesigns.com. Hardcover and paperback will also be available in the coming weeks in bookstores and retailers globally.
Follow Jewels and Jems Furniture and Interior Redesigns' Facebook page for updates on potential author readings.
To learn more about biofeedback therapy, go to the UHN Foundation website at uhnfoundation.ca.
