"The Gagi The Unicorn Giving Program" is being developed ...Here's to HOPE!

Hello!
    I posted my very first blog yesterday and now it's time to keep moving forward in the many adventures of Gagi the Unicorn Children's Book Series.
    Up next; I am trying to finalize the logistics of how "The Gagi The Unicorn Giving Program" will be implemented. Every book sale from "Into the World of Gagi The Unicorn" ( Book One) will help pay for printing of Book Two; "Look At Me". "Look At Me" is a very, VERY special project I have been working on for the past five years ( all of the books in the series have taken this long in combination). How "The Gagi the Unicorn Giving Program" will work is when you purchase a copy of the book you will receive your copy and one will be donated to a Children's Hospital of your choice. 
     Please pray I can get the logistics worked out so that this will become a reality!! The book will retail for $9.99 each ( $19.98 total ) and has 28 pages ( the first book retails for $8.99 at 24 pages ). Imagine a child and a family receiving their own big and bright board book when they are admitted into the hospital- priceless!
    "Look At Me" is in the same format as the first book with its bright and colorful pages and rhythmic story. But, what's different about this book is that Gagi has no hair or pattern! Why? Well, Gagi is a patient going through Chemotherapy in the hospital and this is Gagi's journey. Through it; Gagi gets better and waits for the reader to get better too so that they can go home to learn and play.     
        One of my favorite illustrations that I have created; is a page where Gagi looks into the mirror and from the outside Gagi looks pale and has no hair yet  Gagi only sees a beautiful and colorful unicorn! This is so true with children who are sick. Though it is so tough for parents to have to endure and painfully see; children don't realize how sick they are. With their innocence comes strength and beauty and from their illness comes a lesson for us all!
     I was diagnosed with Carcinoma In-Situ Cervical Cancer when I was pregnant with my daughter, Catie ( the sweet little girl from book one who created the word "Gagi"). I was given two choices: eliminate the pregnancy or take a chance and carry her to full term. My, my how choices create our world! I am so thankful Catie is here and I am in remission. I truly believe she saved my life from early detection and I saved hers! This book is my way to give back what life has given me- more time!
      This book will NOT be sold in stores and will be available on my website: www.GagiTheUnicorn.com solely.
  I hope and pray this becomes a reality! I truly believe this is the reason Gagi continues to grow and continues to move forward in many adventures we all will see; each and every one of them...Where will you be?

 

Gagi the Unicorn is Here! Who is Gagi anyway?

This is my very first post and I hope you will join me in celebrating the creation and life of Gagi the Unicorn.
    I wrote, created, and illustrated a series of children's picture books for children ages 3 to 6. Gagi is  a sweet and kind spirited unicorn who is either a boy or girl. You get to decide!
   What does "Gagi ( pronounced "Gah-Gee") mean anyway? Well, my daughter, Catie, had the funniest words as a baby. Before she could formulate the proper pronunciation of words; she would make up her own ( just like most children do!). She couldn't say "I love you" but she could say "Gagi" mama Gagi. She would hug me every time she said it; which made me realize what it meant.
    Catie loved unicorns almost as much as me; well, maybe as much (ha ha) . We would create our own fictious stories at bedtime. Catie eventually would always end our bedtime stories with this one:
   "Goodnight with rainbows and unicorns that slide over the rainbows and after they jump on cotton candy clouds and bend down to eat them; they enter the land of candy as you are riding on a unicorn." "Gagi Mama, Gagi".
   Catie is now a teenager and even to this day; her story has stuck with me. Little did I know, one day her lovely little tale would end up as a children's book series! I am full time writer ( yes, my dream has come true). I am currently working on an adult novel that I thought would be the first published. Boy, was I wrong!
 Though some feel picture books shouldn't have a rhythmic flow to them, these books do for a reason. Everything is about kindness, how fun reading can be, and how important visual illustrations are to the one who is interpreting them. To me, everything is about personal interpretation; what you see may not be what another does. How you feel about something may not be how somehow else feels about it. In turn, if even one page ignites a story to the reader; the book has done its job!
    "Just Hold Me Books" is my LLC for a reason. The book is published in a large 8"x8" glossy board format so that two people can enjoy reading it. Imagine a child being held when reading a big bright book and how one day they will remember it!
   This series has taken me well over five years to create (and yes; it is still ongoing!). Every single page that I create must emit kindness and most importantly bring a smile to the reader!
    "Into the World of Gagi The Unicorn" is now available on my website; www.gagitheunicorn.com or www.marycatherineleakan. It is available on Kindle and Amazon as well.
"Let us explore the many adventures to see; each and every one of them....Where will you be?
    Join me on my blog page to see how Gagi The Unicorn develops!