Emily Franke poses with her children’s book, “The Ladybug Who Lived on A Four Leaf Clover.”
Photo credit: Emily Franke
Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be the most difficult time in someone’s life and although Emily Franke was grieving the loss of her grandmother, she used her emotions to write “The Ladybug Who Lived on A Four Leaf Clover.”
Franke’s grandmother passed away in June 2021 while in hospice, but Franke was able to ask one final favor of her grandma before she passed away.
“I actually had the honor of asking my grandmother to come and visit me as a ladybug. My grandma had these really bushy eyebrows and she kind of wiggled her eyebrows so I knew she heard me,” Franke said
Four hours after her grandmother passed away, there was a ladybug sitting on Franke’s Jeep.
Franke explained, “I knew that was my grandma — she’s with me, she heard me and she’s always with me.”
Seven months later, Franke thought of the idea for a book and began to write in her notes app.
Franke said, “It was more of a self-journal for me and just going through grieving and missing her and I thought that sounded like a cute idea and maybe I can help kids deal with grief and loss.”
After writing the story in her notes app, Franke sent the story to multiple children’s book publishers near her and the next morning she woke up to seven missed calls from different publishers interested in publishing her book idea.
Franke said, “I wrote the story in 15 minutes which is unheard of for a first-time author. When I found my publisher, Acute by Design Publishing, it’s run by a husband and wife team, my publisher resonated with my story because she sees her aunt as a lady bug. She has a ladybug tattoo in honor of her aunt who passed away.”
Franke’s twin sister, Haley, illustrated the book and a week after writing the story, Franke was officially a published author.
Franke said, “In the story, I am an 8-year-old little girl and the picture of me on the cover represents what I looked like when I was little. My grandmother and I use to search for four leaf clovers in the grass. She was Irish, so I always like to say my story sends you lots of luck because ladybugs are known for giving you good luck, as is finding a four leaf clover.”
Franke talked about being able to work with her sister and write a book honoring her late grandmother.
She said, “I think the feeling of being able to write a book about my grandmother and my sister being able to illustrate it, it just really tied in that obviously we were very close to her, and she really inspired us to continue to share her beautiful legacy.”
This story is about a little girl named Emily who loses her grandmother, but realizes she comes back to visit her as a magical ladybug, Sheila. The ladybug reminds Emily that her grandmother is always with her.
“My biggest reason and why I wrote this story is when I was growing up and I dealt with losses, and I didn’t understand it. Especially for kids, how do you explain to a 5-year-old who asks where grandma is. I took that idea and said let’s turn this book into positive yet comforting for people,” Franke said.
She continued, “There are signs everywhere, just look around. I believe that whenever I see a ladybug I say that’s my grandma coming to visit and kids can look at that and think of someone they lost as a bird, or a ladybug, a butterfly, anything to try and keep their loved ones memory alive.”
Growing up, Franke said she always wanted to make a difference in the world and share her love and inspirations with others in hopes to create positivity around her. She said she has always loved writing, but never dreamed of becoming an author.
Now Franke’s children’s book and story has been shared with 46 states and nine countries.
Franke herself has visited many schools around Connecticut and more states in New England including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont.
She has also visited churches, senior centers, senior living communities, daycares and preschools.
Traveling to different schools and buildings to share her story, she talked about the best part of being able to spread her message.
Franke said, “I think the most important thing and the best word I can describe the feeling as is very rewarding. Being able to visit elementary schools, high schools and their creative writing courses to share what it’s like to be an author and what inspired me to get my first book going. Being able to share this story with all ages and people around the world has just been such a rewarding feeling and being able to hopefully impact one person with my story is all that I could ask for.”
Franke is currently working on her second book called “Kindness Stands Out,” which continues Emily’s story that talks about her starting in a new school with friends who aren’t being kind to people. Emily finds that it’s better to stand out and be kind and take your own path and find new friends that share the same values.
A third book is also in the works.
Franke’s book first book can be found on Amazon or at her own personal website at emilyfrankeauthor.com. On her website, you can also book events for Franke to read her story and meet her.
