Coffs Harbour Woman Publishes Children's Book After Health Challenges

Following her medical retirement after a 30-year career in nursing and midwifery, Houghton decided to pursue a longtime aspiration of writing a children’s story.

The result is her book titled ‘Gilligan – the rescue bunny,’ which she wrote while recovering in 2024. Aimed at children aged four to seven, the book features both her story and illustrations.

Houghton credits a friend, Dr. Jodi-Maree Cronin, with guiding her through the publishing process by introducing her to Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane, a writing mentor, and Sylvie Blair, CEO of BookPOD. Houghton described their support as invaluable.

Describing the experience as transformative, she expressed that bringing her idea to life felt profoundly rewarding. The journey was filled with challenges, including formatting issues and creative blocks, yet Houghton persevered.

The emotional moment of receiving the first physical copy of her book made her feel as though she had brought a piece of her soul to life. Through this creative process, she reconnected with a sense of wonder, realizing the impact she could have on young readers.

Houghton aimed to turn her traumatic experiences into a message of hope for children, highlighting that healing is possible. While lying in the hospital, she began planning her book’s concept, focusing on simple language and themes of transition from abandonment to love.

She organized the structure to gently take young readers from isolation to a loving forever home.

The book can be ordered from Amazon and various online retailers.

By Andrea Ferrari