New Buffalo resident’s children’s book takes readers on daylong journey of the area

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New Buffalo resident’s children’s book takes readers on daylong journey of the area

What started as what she called a “pandemic project” soon morphed into Regan Keating becoming a first-time children’s book author.

A resident of New Buffalo, Keating has recently selfpublished “Good Day, Harbor Country!,” which is a picture book that highlights – through poetry and pictures – what it is that makes the area so special.

“I kind of did it with the idea that it’s a day in a way – so following the morning, afternoon, evening but then it’s also following the seasons and going through the different areas of Harbor Country,” she said.

This includes highlighting not only the beach but also Red Arrow Highway, the orchards that blanket the area and the farms.

“I tried to touch on the different places - with a kids’ twist to it,” she said.

The book is self-published through IngramSpark. Keating said she worked with illustrators, Heather Workman and Kathleen Andrews, through UpWork as well as an editor, Rebecca Michael.

She said Workman was living in Ann Arbor and wasn’t familiar with the area; however, she was able to depict the area accurately.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Regan Keating poses with her book on North Whittaker Street in New Buffalo

She credited Andrews for “finishing the last bits” as well as helping with the formatting.

While she grew up on the other side of the state (near Detroit), Keating has lived with her husband in Chicago for several years. While in Chicago, she didn’t “have my finger on the pulse of children’s books” because she didn’t have any children yet; however, she was drawn to the “Goodnight Chicago” book. “I just thought it was the super cutest thing ever – and then bought it for every baby shower or kid birthday party that I was ever invited to,” she said.

After she and her husband had kids, Keating said she started receiving “Goodnight Oregon” and Goodnight Beach” from other people as gifts for her children

Seeing the books lit a spark in her to try something similar with where she lived.

“My husband and I talked about how we could have one for Harbor Country just because we’re crazy about where we live and that there’s so much that you can incorporate into that,” Keating said.

For a living, Keating works in human resources and writes policy manuals. (“They don’t rhyme,” she said.) She did indulge in creative pursuits as a child, though.

“A lot of adults, myself included, don’t really have tons of time to dedicate to more creative endeavors – it just wasn’t really something I’ve ever done before,” she said.

Keating said she used to always take her two boys, Wyatt and Whelan, to Oselka Park – which is one of the many familiar landmarks that readers will spot among the book’s pages - when they first moved to New Buffalo, since it was right across from where they lived.

As for her sons’ opinion on the book, Keating said she dedicated the book to them and their likeness is on the last page, so “that got me some credibility with them.”

She often consulted them on if they agreed with how her editor thought the wording could be reworked and “which way do you like it rhyming better.”

“I would come back to her (Rebecca Michael, her editor) and say, ‘I like that idea, but Wyatt likes it this way’ and she’d always say, ‘That’s the most important thing - he’s your audience,” Keating said.

“Good Day, Harbor Country!” is available on Amazon. Readers can also find it at The Kids Stop in New Buffalo, the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce office in Three Oaks and Sawyer Garden Center.

New Buffalo Township Library will be hosting an author talk and story time of her book, which will be available for sale and signings, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12.