Former Reserve resident pens middle-school children’s book
Published 12:03 am Wednesday, February 28, 2018
- "The Wish I Wished Last Night," penned by former Reserve resident Shelley Chollett Pierce, follows the story of 11-year-old Jase Freeman as he struggles with life's twists and turns.
RESERVE — Shelley Chollett Pierce, a former Reserve resident, is tackling the troubling growth years of middle school in her latest book, “The Wish I Wished Last Night.”
The story follows 11-year-old Jase Freeman as he struggles with life’s twists and turns, only to be left with an understanding far greater than himself.
In “The Wish,” Pierce takes readers through Jase’s world as he copes with life without his dad, faces the school bully and struggles to be the peacemaker.
Retired St. John educator LaRue Speights said Pierce’s novel demonstrates an understanding and love of middle-school-age children.
“Parents and teachers alike will have no difficulty getting even the most reluctant readers to delve into this story, because it deals with issues they and their friends often confront,” Speights said. “As a retired teacher of 37 years and most importantly, a grandmother, I recommend that caring adults also read this novel, for it can serve as a marvelous springboard for discussions on grief, bullying, and heroism. Definitely, a good read and time well spent.”
Shelley has donated copies of “The Wish” to public libraries in Reserve and LaPlace.
Elk Lake Publishing announced “The Wish” is available in paperback and eBook formats.
The book recently won first place honors in Children’s Literature at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
“The Wish I Wished Last Night,” is 174 pages in paperback and retails for $9.90. It is available from www.amazon.com in both paperback and eBook.
Shelley Chollett Pierce
Pierce grew up in Minnesota and moved to St. John Parish when she was 10, attending Leon Godchaux Jr. High and East St. John High School. Today, she and husband Tommy live in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, where they raised their four children and now enjoy time with their grandchildren.
Tommy Pierce is the senior pastor of Towering Oaks Baptist Church. Shelley Pierce serves alongside him on staff as the director of preschool and children’s ministries.
Her writing experience includes various curriculums for LifeWay Childhood Publications, known as “LifeWay Kids,” “The Upper Room,” “Power for Living’’ and as a contributor to “The Mighty Pen, Short and Sweet” and “Guideposts: The Joys of Christmas 2016.”
She blogs at shelleypaperbackwriter.blogspot.com.
