Author tells Lake County Residents how he fell into writing Children’s Books

LAKE COUNTY Nov. 16, 2013: Edward Looney didn’t expect to become an author of children’s books. But the Mundelein seminarian from the Green Bay Diocese will share how his second children’s book, Breakfast in Bethlehem became a reality. Looney says he was inspired to write the book after meeting a boy at the Marian Center in Milwaukee last year who told him what he asked Santa for Christmas: a picture of Jesus. “The story focuses on the joy of Christ’s birth, faith, music, and family,” Looney said.

Looney is excited to return to the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown, 1600 West Park Ave., Libertyville, Ill. 60048, to share with his readers how he became a children’s author. The event is free and open to all. It will take place next Saturday (Nov. 23) at10:00am. Looney will give a brief talk on how Breakfast in Bethlehem came about, there were will be a book reading and then the author will sign books for patrons. Of his five books he has published, two are children’s, one is a self-guided tour of the Shrine to Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wis. The other two books tell the story of Sister Adele and her Marian apportions from the 1859 to 1871 during the Peshtigo fire on Oct. 8 1871 (the same day as the Great Chicago Fire).

How Breakfast in Bethlehem became Real

Looney says he never intended to become a children’s author. His first children’s book, The Story of Sister Adele was created by request from the staff at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wis. While the book was a success, Looney didn’t foresee writing another children’s book until a friend called him one morning. She told Looney she had woke up with a wonderful title for a children’s book and that Looney should write it. Breakfast in Bethlehem was conceived but it would take several weeks until Looney could piece the book together in his mind. He wrote down the title and didn’t think of it again until he encountered a young boy at a talk he gave at the Marian Center last December.

The boy was dressed up in a suit and tie and Looney thought perhaps the boy sung in the Christmas concert. No, the boy said he had been to see Santa. His mother encouraged her son to share with Looney what he had asked for Christmas: a picture of the baby Jesus. Immediately Looney thought back to the title of the book he was given to write.

“As I was driving back to Green Bay that day from Milwaukee, I could not help but think of that little boy.  As I was listening to some Christmas songs, Breakfast in Bethlehem began to unfold before my very eyes,” Looney said, “The creative genius was so overwhelming that I actually pulled off at a McDonald’s and wrote the initial draft. “

Looney was able to have the book published from Tau Publishing, where his first four books were published on Sister Adele and her story of her Marian apparitions in Champion, Wis. Looney says more parents and children need to read Breakfast in Bethlehem so that they can learn the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus Christ has come into the world. He says the book is also perfect for preparation for receiving first communion in the Christian faith. But more importantly, the story allows a child to understand the true Christmas story through the eyes and faith of a child just like them.

In addition to the book signing, parents and family members can place orders for Breakfast in Bethlehem, or any of Looney’s works, ahead with the Marytown Bookstore. Books on pre-sale will be signed and personalized by the author and reserved for pick up on the day of event by calling 847-367-7800 and asking for gift shop or dial extension 236.

This release was prepared by Adam Campbell, a content marketing specialist at Redboar Media LLC based in Boston.