When Daphne McCleery and her sister lost their mother early in life, they experienced difficult times. "There are struggles in all families at some point, but things work out," McCleery says.
That's the lesson The Oakridge School part-time admissions assistant hopes to get across in her new book, "When the Star Sails." She also wants to share her love of traveling on cruise ships, seeing different places, and meeting all kinds of people.
"Tolerance and respect of people different from you comes more easily when you know them and can call them 'friend,'" McCleery says. "That's one of the things I love so dearly about Oakridge; it's diverse, yet we're really all the same."
The main characters in the book, Beth and Ben Mackendrick, experience new adventures when they go for a summer stay on the Star of Andromeda, an enormous cruise ship where their father is the captain. It's been two years since the 12-year-old twins lost their mother and last saw Steven Mackendrick. Beth is resentful and confused about the time he stayed away, but she wants to mend fences. The siblings' time on – and off – the ship leads them to a mystery involving one of the cruise ship passengers. Although at times there is fear for their safety, Beth and Ben manage to have fun sailing the Caribbean. They discover unknown secrets in some Maya ruins, encounter dozens of Hemingway cats, and make new friends.
Getting Started Writing
"When the Star Sails" is McCleery's first book. The character Beth is named for Beth Wetzel, McCleery's dear friend and Oakridge colleague. The character Ben is named for McCleery's firstborn grandchild, Ben, who is four-years-old. "I wanted one of the main characters to have his same name and for the book, years from now, to be a special keepsake for him," says McCleery. Inspiration for writing a book and grasping the children's genre came from former Head of Oakridge Middle School Mike Cobb.
"I was working for Mr. Cobb when he 'volun-told' me to pick out a book to read over one summer. His plan was for me to lead a summer reading discussion when school started in the fall." Cobb, now Head of All Saints Episcopal School of Tyler, thought the role would be wonderful for McCleery, a City of Arlington Water Utilities retiree who joined Oakridge as a part-time administrative assistant and substitute teacher in 2004.
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McCleery and her husband, Rick, have spent 245 days and nights aboard cruise ships.
"Daphne has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for many years. I remember working with her to create book groups and discussion opportunities for young readers at school," Cobb said. "The most powerful part of all those conversations was her own obvious passion for reading and desire to share that with others. She was always ready to pass on a recommendation or talk of the current book adventure she was on. I am so thrilled that she has continued this journey with the publication of her own children's book. We are certainly privileged to have such an inspirational leader share her world with us."
McCleery insists that during those early days she was terrified, but wouldn't let fear stop her. "I was not a teacher by training, but I did enjoy the middle school students and all their energy. I ended up reading more books over the next four summers and loved discussing them with the students." McCleery's favorite book was, "The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale" by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright. "There's actually a pub in London called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese where Charles Dickens used to do some of his writing on which the story was based. I've been there a couple of times, so the book meant a lot to me and I love history, too."
New York Times Bestselling Author Visits
At some point, McCleery thought that just maybe she could write a children's book. It was quite an undertaking, but she finished her final draft in 2018. Then, a special visitor to the campus caused a big shift.
At the request of Head Librarian Patricia de Winter, Chris Grabenstein, the New York Times bestselling author of the Lemoncello series and other books, came to Oakridge to speak to middle school students and to promote literacy. de Winter, a big supporter of McCleery's efforts to write, encouraged her to come and listen with the kids.
Grabenstein visits with Oakridge students in February 2018.
"One of the reasons we host visiting authors at Oakridge is to make the writing process and the authors themselves accessible and real to students," de Winter said. "The authors who have visited our school library have been gracious, smart, funny, and kid friendly — much like Daphne. It's always a bonus when their stories, experiences and advice encourage the writers in our school community."
After hearing Grabenstein, McCleery said that the author said some things that just 'clicked' for her. "I went home and completely re-wrote the book that I had been close to publishing."
McCleery kept all of her characters and the setting on a cruise ship, but she changed much of the storyline. As a quiet 'thank you,' she mentions Grabenstein in the book. "When the Star Sails" is available now on Amazon.
McCleery is looking forward to serving families through her role in Oakridge's Office of Admissions, and of course, to her next big adventure on the high seas.