When I was 12 years old, my brother, Owen Alexander Caissie (Mar 02/2018-May 20/2018), passed away from epilepsy. He had been within my life for such a short period of time, and had been taken out of it far too soon, leaving the rest of my family, as well as myself, torn apart. With the heartache I was forced to go through, I needed an outlet. An escape from reality.

While Owen was in the hospital before his passing, I would read fictional and fantasy books to him and my other brother. It was enjoyable, reading books about talking crayons, big red dogs, and directions to find an Easter Bunny. I got to make many different faces and voices, as if I was within the books myself. This made me happy, as I was able to connect with my youngest brother, without the realization that our life together would be short lived.

When Owen passed away, I took a break from reading. I was distraught, depressed, and broken. I remember feeling like I was asleep, just wanting to wake up and go downstairs where Owen would be sleeping in his cradle. Alive. Not long after the funeral, I realized that my brother was also affected by Owen’s passing. I picked back up the books I used to read, and continued reading to him. I realized that reading these books helped me to be happier, as I got to travel to a world where there were dragons and knights, talking animals, and pirates searching for treasure. With this realization, I started writing my own stories. I realized quickly that I enjoyed this even more, as instead of viewing the world, I was the world. I was the princess searching for her prince, the frog king of the swamp, the fairy that guides the pirates to treasure (which I am also). The words were not written by me; they were me. This was my escape from reality: the one thing that made me feel better than I thought I would ever again.

I continue to write today in hopes of giving people the same escape from reality that I once had. I want to help people who worry about paying bills worry about being chased by a giant, people who worry about ill family members worry about not finding the rare pink diamond. I want to relieve the world of pain, one word at a time. With the heartache present in the world, people need an outlet. People need an escape from reality.

Current work in progress: I’ll Love You Forever, fiction, tween chapter book
Current publishing progress: The Three Doxies: Get A Home, fiction, children’s book
Favorite book: Gallagher Girl Series (total 6), Ally Carter
Favorite author: Ally Carter