By Clayton Karoff
WAHOO – Margaret Lanik recently achieved her long-time goal and released a story she’s been thinking about for years.
Lanik said “Different Means You’re Special, Silly” is the story of a bird named Billy who cannot fly and encounters other characters with obstacles and disabilities, whether physical or mental. Lanik said they work together and celebrate what makes them unique. The children’s book is 28 pages and took him a while to write.
A Raymond Central alumnus and real estate agent at Nebraska Realty in Wahoo, Lanik has long said that she has wanted to publish her own work.
“I’ve always loved writing poems and short stories,” Lanik said. “My children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews inspired me to write the story.”
Driven by the encouragement of her family and the hardships many of them have had to go through, she was determined to write a story about how differences can and should be celebrated.
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Lanik said this story has been swirling around in his head for years, existing as a concept, but not put to paper. For several months she worked to write the story exactly as she had imagined it.
Lanik said much of her experience in writing a full-fledged children’s book came from taking online classes from the Children’s Literature Institute located in West Redding, Connecticut.
Before that, she wrote for her own entertainment, with short stories and poems. But she said she writes now with
intends to help children realize that it’s okay to be different.
Lanik said she hopes to write more in the future and publish them as well.
Lanik said “Different Means You’re Special, Silly” is available wherever the books are sold, such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
“I just wanted to say how grateful I am for all the support and encouragement I’ve received from my friends and family,” Lanik said.