Greenwood resident Alice Salley Grant knows first hand that dreams sometimes do come true.
During her years as a social worker, Grant always dreamed of being an author and she has now published her first book, a children’s picture book titled “Dear Mr. President, Please Send My Daddy Home.”
The story is about a little girl named Mia, whose father is a soldier fighting in Iraq. She understands his duty to serve his country, but is sad that he has missed so many important events in their lives at home, such as her baptism and the birth of her little brother.
Mia decides to write a letter to the president explaining the situation and pleading with him to send her father home.
The book is truly a homegrown creation, with illustrations by local teen Carter Montrell Johnson, whom Grant knew from her former neighborhood in the Southeast Wagner Subdivision. Johnson now lives in Atlanta.
Grant’s husband, Johnnie Grant, is an Army sergeant and she based the book on the experiences of their family and others they have known in the military. She said her husband is now stationed in Hattiesburg and they get to see him about twice a month, but there was a time when the visits were much less frequent.
The couple has two children, Jaelyn, 4, and Khyla, 11, who is a student at East Elementary School.
Grant herself attended Amanda Elzy Elementary and High School. After graduating, she went to Delta State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in social welfare.
Even while working in social services, Grant never lost her passion for writing.
“I’ve been writing my entire life,” Grant said. “I always loved reading, so writing just came naturally.”
Grant said that the main barrier she faced in her writing career was getting published without the help of a literary agent.
She is publishing “Dear Mr. President, Please Send My Daddy Home” through PublishAmerica, a traditional publishing company that focuses on encouraging and promoting the work of previously undiscovered writers.
Grant was able to submit her manuscript on line and PublishAmerica chose to publish her book.
The book’s official release date is March 31 and it will be available at various on line stores, including www.amazon.com.
In the meantime, Grant is building a small home business selling framed artwork and working as a full-time mom to her two daughters.
She has completed outlines for many more children’s books, including an eight-book series based around a single character. After that, she hopes to move into young adult fiction.
For more information, visit www.publishamerica.com.
