Beach Living New children’s book inspired by Fort Myers Beach Portion of profits to go to Community Foundation

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Since she can remember, children’s book author Abigail Griebelbauer has been visiting Fort Myers Beach with her family, taking the trip from Indiana to enjoy the winter holiday season

Moved by her joyful experiences visiting the island and moved to help the community after the impact of Hurricane Ian, the 28-year-old Hoosier has used Fort Myers Beach as an inspiration to pen her latest children’s book “Winter Break at the Beach,” with 10% of its profits to be donated to the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation

The 36-page book is illustrated by Cecilia Edwards This is their third collaboration together

Though the book is based on a generic beach, the pic- ture book features illustrations inspired by places in Fort Myers Beach including the Fort Myers Beach Pier, the poinsettia tree and clock at Times Square, along with the dolphins and sea turtles

Griebelbauer sent Edwards photos she took of Fort Myers Beach to use for the book

“The Fort Myers Beach community has always made it feel like home during the holidays ” Griebelbauer said “The support of "Winter Break at the Beach" that we have received so far has proven how special the community is, both for locals and those who call it home for part of the year ”

A graduate of the University of Evansville in 2017, Griebelbauer taught fifth grade for two years In Indiana before living abroad and beginning her writing career She has published two books with Edwards: “D is for Darcy Not Dyslexia,” and “A is for Anthony Not ADHD ”

She still substitute teaches “I love being able to still teach in the classroom while following a dream,” Griebelbauer said Riebelbauer said she wrote her first book on a subject she knew about – dyslexia “I love going on author visits and speaking about how I struggled with reading and became an author

We saw the need for more representation and decided to make t h e b o o k i n t o a s e r i e s , T h e E m p o w e r E m p a t h y E a r l y Series,” Riebelbauer said Riebelbauer and her family h a v e b e e n t r a v e l i n g t o F o r t Myers Beach all her life, staying at a timeshare on the north side of the island for the winter holidays

“My family has traveled down to Fort Myers Beach for generations,” Riebelbauer said. “Before I w a s b o r n , m y g r a n d p a r e n t s started traveling to the area They became snowbirds and started the traditions my family continues to this day My dad made sure our family growing up always made our way to Fort Myers Beach We always went down to Times

Tur tle Time nest data

Square for the town's birthday celebration, watch the fireworks from the pier on New Year, and get a cake from The Bubble Room on Captiva ”

Riebelbauer visited Fort Myers Beach this past winter even though she couldn’t stay at her timeshare on the island. Her timeshare likely won’t be ready for occupancy until next year

Riebelbauer said she wasn’t prepared for what she saw “I had seen it in pictures so many times but nothing would have prepared me to see the destruction,” she said

Griebelbauer said that when Edwards sent her the drafted illustrations, “it brought tears to my eyes, knowing the place I have grown up with will be forever in this book Readers can expect to see local sites, flavors, and wildlife ”

Pre-orders are available through Aug 13 at https:// www thepassagepress com/fmb-arc In September, the book will be made available on Amazon.

Griebelbauer said “pre-orders are the best way for us to get donations for the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation ”

The book is dedicated “to my grandparents and parents who passed their love of the area onto me,” Griebelbauer said

Library accepting donations

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Fort Myers Beach Public Library, which lost approximately 9,500 books, DVD, CDs and other items in Hurricane Ian, is accepting donations

The library is accepting monetary donations as well as books and other materials

Monetary donations can be sent to the physical library address at: Fort Myers Beach Public Library

2755 Estero Blvd , Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

Donations of books and materials can be shipped to: Fort Myers Beach Public Library 1217 East Cape Coral Pkwy , Suite 503 Cape Coral, FL 33904