Blyth's Pat Bolen pens new children's book

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Blyth’s Pat Bolen has seen 10 years of work, stops and starts and creativity come to fruition with the self-publishing of his first children’s book, entitled In My Sandbox.

The idea popped into his head about 10 years ago, he said, and it really only took him a few days to write it. His daughter was about two years old and playing in her sandbox and watching her use her imagination to play inspired him. She’s now turning 12 this year and the book is finally ready for shelves.

Bolen did the writing and has worked with local artist Patti Armstrong to create the illustrations and Nikki Cyr for the graphic design of the book. 

He says that this process is part of why it’s taken so long to be published. While he had the story worked out, a children’s book wouldn’t be complete without illustrations and it took him time to find Armstrong, who was the right fit for the book.
Bolen worked with Cyr during his time as a sports editor for The Exeter Times-Advocate and when she came aboard the team was then complete.

The story of the book ranges from ancient Rome to jungle adventures to the outer reaches of space, all by way of a young girl’s imagination in her sandbox.

Bolen said he shopped the idea around to children’s publishers for a while, but that it’s a tough industry to break into, which is why he eventually went the route of self-publishing it.

Bolen says he’s always been interested in writing. Locally, he’s worked in manufacturing at Howson and Howson in recent years. However, this follows time with The Exeter Times-Advocate and having done freelance work for magazines such as Glass Canada, Navy and History.

In My Sandbox is now available at Fincher’s in Goderich and The Citizen office in Blyth.