Author comes home to Timmins with new book

Timmins -

Visits with grandparents can be treasured memories for a child.

A home-cooked meal, laughter and life lessons—that’s what Timmins native Josee Lavoie wanted to capture in her latest self-made book.

Her grandparents Nannie and Eddie have been important figures in her life and Lavoie said she wanted share some of their advice.

“In the story, I teach kids that it’s important to eat fresh vegetables and spend time with your grandparents,” said Lavoie.

“(The book is) really inspired by my childhood living here in Timmins and visiting them in Moonbeam.”

Lavoie wrote, designed and illustrated her third self-published book, leaning on her background in graphic design.

Lavoie said she likes to incorporate easy-to-grasp messages in her works, like mutual respect and following your dreams.

“Fun and important messages, blended in one, and very colourful images,” she said.

Reading her book for a group of family, friends and community members at the Timmins Public Library, clerk Jennifer Cumming said the library enjoys supporting local creators and feels books set in the region can be particularly engaging for little ones.

“If local kids can see places that they’re familiar with and that they can relate to and they can see themselves in those books, then it would definitely encourage them to want to read more,” she said.

Moreover, Lavoie hopes reading her book to local children may even inspire some future authors and illustrators.

Her advice is to practice and persevere.

“The little stories that you write that might be for fun […] just keep writing them because one day, you might be able to publish a book yourself.”

Lavoie said she’s developing a story for another book and is always cooking up new ideas.

A Day with Nanny and Eddy is available to purchase online in French and English at Chapters-Indigo and Amazon.