Former Clarendon woman publishes first book

A former Clarendon woman has fulfilled a lifelong dream by publishing her first children’s book.

Miranda Keelin Ellis said Night Song became available January 21 and has gotten good feedback from early readers.

“It is about nocturnal creatures, and the sounds they make at night,” Ellis said, who now lives in Pampa. “My goal is to help children with sleep issues and also spark the curiosity of all children who love animals.”

Night Song is meant for children between the ages of two and six but has appealed to children up through age 11.

“Older kids like that there are things hidden in the art,” Ellis said.

Ellis got the writing bug as a sixth grader in Memphis when she wrote her first poem and continued to grow in her love for writing when she transferred to Clarendon schools. As she pursued her love for writing, she started working at The Pampa News as a reporter until she left that job in November to pursue a goal of self-publishing.

Ellis said Night Song has been entirely done herself, including the artwork, which was actually what she started with.

“I got an art app on my iPad and was just experimenting with it when I made a rabbit with a flute,” Ellis said. “That became the inspiration for the entire project.”

Ellis’ rhyming picture book takes children on a magical journey through the night to discover how a rabbit, wolf, owl, frog and bugs all sing together to create the Night Song.

“It goes into the biology of how the sounds are made,” she said. “I took a lot of inspiration from the critters of North America.”

Ellis is also working on two other books, which are both in the editing stages. One is about a boxing kangaroo that is designed to help children deal with emotions, and another is about a little boy who goes on a cheese chase and learns to overcome his fears. A third book will be a fantasy-based book, Ellis said.

Her future works are at least six months down the road. Meanwhile, Night Songs is available for purchase at Amazon.com or folks can contact Ellis directly at facebook.com/MellisBooks/ and get a signed copy.