Behind the Words: What Inspired Finally Home
When I read a book, I'm always curious what prompted someone to write it. Finally Home is a new picture book I wrote, launching in May 2025. The talented Tim Deberd illustrated it. While the setting is a modern-day United States Marine Corps squadron, I hope it is a story that resonates with anyone who has experienced longing for a loved one and finally reuniting. If you are curious about where the idea for this book came from, keep reading.
I started the book because one of my favorite editors, Simone Kaplan, asked me to write it. In January 2024, we were on a Zoom call with about five other writers. Simone asked us to respond to a writing prompt (I can't even remember what it was exactly). My response was a short description of the events I experienced in 2009 and 2010 when my husband returned from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively.
Me and Scott in 2010
Homecoming day after the second deployment.
We did not have children at the time, but deployment homecomings can be very long and emotional days, even for adults. After I read my summary to the group, Simone was quiet. Then she said something like, "You must write this as a picture book. Don't think, just do it." Although I appreciated the feedback, I did not have plans to write this story. How would I make such a story relatable to children?
But the idea stuck with me. I started watching hundreds of military homecoming videos on YouTube and jotting down thoughts. Even though I had experienced these events firsthand and remember them vividly, the emotion was not as fresh. But the videos took me back to those two warm days when I held a sign and ran out to the airfield to find my husband. The first script I wrote was from a deployed father's point of view. He was writing about coming home and everything he was excited to do and see with his kids. I love how Simone gives feedback - she quickly told me it "wasn't working." I agreed.
We switched to the point of view of a young girl (Sara) and decided to chronicle the events of the actual day Sara's dad came home instead of the months he missed. Military homecoming celebrations are a visual and emotional buffet. Excitement, nerves, impatience, joy, and, sometimes, sadness fill the days. For this children's picture book, I focused on the anticipation and enjoyment of a family reuniting after months apart, from the unique perspective of a child.
I finished the book for different reasons than I started it. I held discussions with several active-duty families across the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and Air Force. I was never without appreciation for these families, but the discussions amplified my gratitude and again took me back to my emotions and memories from years ago. These conversations help us decide what family preparations to highlight and what emotions the characters would wear on their faces.
I reviewed uniforms, Marine Corps hangars, and airplanes with the families and illustrator to ensure we captured enough of a realistic setting (hint: the setting is inspired by several Marine Corps bases but not meant to look like a specific base). We aligned on highlighting the F35B jet as the plane Sara's dad would fly. The F35 Lightning II is a relatively new family of single-seat, single-engine jets flown by several US military branches and our allies. The F35B is the model flown by the Marine Corps. I had no idea how challenging some details would be until we were in the middle of it. These were essential details such as proper patterns on the uniforms, labeling on the jets, permissions from the Department of Defense to use logos, and more.
In its final form, this book reflects my experience years ago and captures some of the emotions children feel as they prepare, sit, wait, and finally sprint to find their parents in the crowd. There are ~1.6 million children whose parents serve in the US military. More present-day picture books highlighting their experience are needed. This book is definitely for them. It is also for the communities surrounding the bases. Or those communities far from any bases at all. It is for anyone interested in better understanding the events and emotions of a unique event that the families serving our country experience. This book is a peek into incredible resilience, sacrifice, community, and love of family.
Look for Finally Home in bookstores starting in May 2025.
