Local author takes the Pledge from a kid's vantage point (with LOCAL AUTHOR LINKS)

Niceville resident Shawn Thurston intends to be more than just a children’s author, but when he decides what to write about, kids come first.

The Bluewater Bay paramedic and writer told The Log that while he’s working on non-fiction and teen books, he decided his first book to finish would be “Abigail Learns the Pledge,” about teaching his daughter the Pledge of Allegiance when she was four years old. Thurston said he wrote the book while he was in firefighter school in 2004.

“It just took me such a long time to get it rolling while life was happening,” Thurston said. “I learned so much while writing what looks to be such a simple book on the surface, and that is the point of my publishing. Our children have questions that aren't that easy to answer, and I want to help everyone learn and share. Families and everyone alike can take our books and use them as great tools to learn and share with.”

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For an interactive list of local authors and their works, click here.

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Thurston said that as a kid, he’d loved books and reading, particularly what were called “Choose Your Own Adventure” books where the reader gets to pick what the characters do in each scene. By the time he was 12, he was creating his own characters and his own scenes.

“I wanted to explain my thoughts and dreams, express my opinions and beliefs, and most importantly create something that makes readers feel and relate,” Thurston said. “The age of 12 sticks out in my head because this is when I put a lot of effort into writing something each night. This continued through high school and evolved into writing songs, poetry, and short stories. I have always loved writing and doing it professionally was always a dream.”

A car buff, Thurston began a book four years ago about the collapse of the auto industry, but had to put it on hold while attending paramedic school. He’s now working on a different non-fiction book, a college-level book on American history and civics, “a night-time book for parents to tuck their children in with,” and the next Abigail book, “Abigail Learns the Declaration.”

In order to maintain creative control of the writing, illustration and design, Thurston decided to self-publish “Abigail Learns the Pledge,” which he said was the biggest challenge in bringing it to the public.

“All of the overhead cost of printing, supplying and marketing of my work is on me,” Thurston said. “Although it is more difficult, I would not want it any other way. This is all a learning experience and that is what America is all about. I am not afraid of hard work and this grass-roots type of effort has been nothing but positive and fun.”

Thurston said he wouldn’t necessarily say no if a major publisher was interested, but he’d want the same degree of control he has now.

The name of his publishing company, Woodworker, was inspired by reading a newspaper  book reviewer who attacked a prominent author’s book without reading it, then asked what other unqualified authors would “come out of the woodwork.”

“I put up both my thumbs, pointed to my chest and said ‘this guy,’ ” Thurston said. “I am a horrible carpenter but I thought this would be a cute bark back at horrible, agenda-driven journalism.”

Meet the author:
Shawn Thurston will be signing copies of “Abigail Learns the Pledge” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Sundog Books in Seaside. For more information, visit woodworkerpublishing.com