Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

Congratulations to Steve and Beth Boughton on the release of Emus on the Loose

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

This is a fictional work inspired by a true story. On November 30, 2022, a windstorm swept through Oshtemo Township- just a few miles from Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the Llama Woods Farm, while Christee and Randy Dyk were away at work, a strong gust blew open the gate to the emu enclosure and a crashing tree branch gave the six emus just the scare they needed to make a break for it.

Soon, a Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy spotted one of the giant birds strolling down the road. The chase was on! With help from the Dyk family, they were able to round up the feathered fugitives.   News outlets around the world pounced on the peculiar story, and it went viral on social media, with people marking themselves safe from stampeding emus. One of those people was Steve's aunt (Mary Lou Boughton, a lifelong Kalamazoo resident). Beth saw the post and commented, "Is this your next book?"

Turns out, it was.

Steve's aunt introduced Steve to Christee Dyk, and even though the real emus didn’t make it all the way to downtown Kalamazoo, they decided it would make the perfect setting for a wild and whimsical “what-if” adventure.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

We wanted this to be a fun story that shows off some of our favorite spots in Kalamazoo, but also demonstrates the importance of compromise and working together to solve problems.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

Steve: The most difficult part of writing the book was finding the time to write it! Working full-time as a television producer, along with other side jobs, I found that the only time I could really write is when I had insomnia. I would often lie awake late at night, trying not to wake Beth up while I searched the internet for fun emu facts.

Beth: For me, the difficulty was in the editing portion. Steve has a lot of brilliant and creative ideas, but much like an emu, he is prone to flights of fancy. Corralling those flights of fancy can present a unique challenge, but the end product typically strikes a balance that seems to resonate with kids.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

We are going to be working with the Kalamazoo Public Library and bookstores in the area to get it on the shelves, and hopefully putting together some events. The book is available right now through our website: https://franciscoandfriends.com/

What's next for you?

We’re currently in the middle of working on a sequel to our first book Francisco Takes Flight, which is about a flamingo at the Detroit Zoo who wants to learn to fly. In the sequel, Francisco Flies Home, the reader will follow Francisco’s journey to Chile for a family reunion. This project is currently in the illustration phase. We have many other ideas in various stages of development for Two Ton Press, many which center around animals, since we are big animal lovers!

More about the book . . .

Emus on the Loose is a fun and beautiful children’s book about six self-involved emus who get loose from their farm and go on a thrilling adventure in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They visit some of the city’s most iconic locations all while doing their best to avoid capture by the local Sheriff. In order to get back home to their family, they will need to learn to work together. Emus on the Loose is beautifully illustrated by our friend Marissa Tawney Thaler, an absolute rock star of an artist here in Lansing.

Published by: Two Ton Press, LLC (self-published)

More about the authors . . .

Steve Boughton grew up in the small, western Michigan town of Whitehall, and as the son of two teachers, creativity was always encouraged. He studied film at Michigan State University, where he also played trombone in the marching band.

After a few years of working in Iowa in film and as a television producer, he was able to move back to Michigan and put his story-telling chops to work at MSU for more than ten years, producing award-winning content for the MSU Alumni Association, College of Music and WKAR television.

He has always loved to create, whether making films and videos, drawing, or writing fun stories!

Beth Boughton grew up in Brooklyn, Michigan, and was also the child of two teachers. Reading was always encouraged in her household, and weekly trips to the Carnegie library were some of her favorite days.

She studied English with a focus on Creative Writing at Michigan State University, where she was also in the Spartan Marching Band Color Guard. During her time there, she was published in several editions of The Offbeat, and held an editorial internship at a regionally distributed magazine spanning 10 Michigan counties. Upon graduation, she began writing weekly features for The Exponent, located in Brooklyn, Michigan.

She currently works for the Library of Michigan, and enjoys writing poetry, short stories, and putting her editing skills to work.