There’s something special in the air in Tiffin, Ohio. This National Reading Month, we’re highlighting not one — but three! — Parkhurst team members at our Heidelberg University location who are also published authors.
“Maybe it’s the minerals in this small town,” laughs general manager Gilbert Evans, whose latest children’s book Maggie’s Elk Adventure: Maggie the Angel Pup’s Search for Friends came out this past February. “We’re fortunate to have an incredibly talented and creative team. I encourage everyone to be themselves, speak up, and share ideas on how we can grow together — all while creating smiles along the way.”
Evans says his writing positively impacts his role at Parkhurst. On his commute to and from work, he often records his ideas while in transit, a time he uses for “reflection.”
“As leaders, storytelling is a powerful tool,” says Evans, “and my writing plays a big part in that. My first book, which wasn’t a children’s book, was based on my journey growing up and developing into a leader, with a focus on life lessons and leadership. My children’s books are an extension of that, sharing valuable lessons with young readers. Writing keeps me inspired, and I hope to inspire others through storytelling.”
“Writing Keeps Me Inspired”
After graduating with a minor in writing at Heidelberg, Parkhurst Marketing Coordinator Amanda Overy incorporated the study into her career. Today, she applies the craft into social media captions, ideas for promotional content, graphic design work, and creative events.
Her historical fiction book A Seed for the War started as a short story she wrote in high school and evolved into a full manuscript that sat in a binder for years, until a friend printed and formatted it into a book. Seeing her name on the cover inspired her.
“Fast forward to when COVID hit and we were sent home,” she says. “And as I unpacked things from college, I pulled out that book and thought, ‘Why not publish it?’ So, I did some research and found out that you can self-publish on Amazon. I spent probably the next month or so working on it, polishing it up, getting it approved for Amazon’s editing platform, and then it was published.”
Overy ended up collaborating with a voiceover artist to make her book also available on audio.
“It was a really fulfilling and exciting time to have someone reach out to me to do that and to be able to have my book officially published and available for purchase. It was also a complete surprise to everyone around me, including family, which made it more exciting when I ordered my own copy and presented it to my parents.”
“Why Not Publish It?”
Heidelberg student and Parkhurst team member Jasper Chapman always had an interest in literature and writing, often doodling in classes when he was younger and writing short stories, song lyrics, and poetry. A writing minor at Heidelberg, Chapman carries a notebook with him to work.
“Since I’m a dishwasher,” says Chapman, “I often have time to do some small work in notebooks I bring with me or jot down little notes in the Notes app on my phone whenever I come across free time or am on break. Anytime I have a free time is a good time to write.”
A class project that turned into something more, his book of poetry Songs of Desperation and Songs of Freedom was inspired by the late poet and artist William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.
“At the moment, I am currently amassing a collection of poems that will hopefully make up a second collection soon.”
Chapman isn’t surprised by the number of writers on his Parkhurst team and believes there might be more artists waiting to discover their talent.
“I think everyone at Heidelberg has a creative mind just waiting to break free and find their niche.”
Learn more about Evans, Overy, and Chapman’s books below!
Maggie’s Elk Adventure: Maggie the Angel Pup’s Search for Friends
A Seed for the War
Songs of Desperation and Songs of Freedom
