The Write Stuff
While her National Guardsman husband was stationed in the Middle East, Army wife Alison Keller created a children's book for military kids

by Patty Lamberti Posted: Thu., Aug. 9, 2007 , 3:32 pm EDT

Thirteen years ago, when Alison Keller first saw her husband, Shawn, at a crowded bar in South Carolina (they began talking because she thought he smiled at her; he claims he was smiling at the blonde standing behind her), she knew instantly they'd be married one day. What Alison didn't know that night was that Shawn was part of the National Guard Reserve. During the early years of their marriage, all this meant was that Shawn would spend some weekends out of town, training or helping people affected by natural disasters. "It allowed me the opportunity to go out and see chick flicks," 37-year-old Keller says.

In 2000 the couple gave birth to a daughter, Sarah. Alison and her husband raised their baby girl in Charleston, South Carolina, where Shawn operated a custom cabinet-making company and she cohosted a morning radio show. Then, one day, when Sarah was four, Shawn received a phone call — it was Uncle Sam. The National Guard ordered him to the Middle East for one year to provide security for convoys traveling along dangerous, bomb-laden roads.

While Alison wasn't thrilled by the news, she realized she had to accept Shawn's imminent departure. "He didn't just join the National Guard to get money to pay for college," she says. "He did it because he's a principled guy, and that's one of the reasons I fell in love with him." Soon, Shawn was off fighting for his country, and Alison found herself raising Sarah alone — with a lot of help from her mom and dad, that is. "I worked early, so I'd carry Sarah — still sleeping — from her bed, put her into the car, drive her to my parents and then put her in their bed," Alison says. "She was a trouper."

At first Sarah didn't complain about her dad's sudden departure, either. "I could tell she was upset at times," Alison says, "but when I asked her if she wanted to talk about it, she'd just say no." But one day, Sarah came home from school and bluntly asked, "Is Daddy going to die?" (She later explained that a classmate had said, "Your dad's in Iraq. He's going to die.")

"What do you say to a child who asks you that?" Alison says. "I finally said, 'Daddy's in a dangerous place, but he's a smart guy and he's coming home.'" Not satisfied with how she handled the conversation, Alison went to a bookstore, looking for something that could help her explain the situation to Sarah. She was surprised to discover that there were no children's books specifically targeted toward military kids. So Alison, who had previously penned short stories and stage plays, began working on a children's book for Sarah and other youngsters like her. Within a few months' time, "While You Were Away, Daddy," was complete. The story and the accompanying illustrations follow a little girl as she comes up with a "mental letter" to her father, explaining how she's changed while he's been gone. For example, she tells him, "I've learned my letters one by one." In the middle of the book, the father explains to his daughter what he's doing overseas ("It's lonely here in the desert. Family memories are what I save."). The final third of the book is a journal in which the child can paste photos of Dad.

By the time Shawn returned home in September of 2005, safe and sound, Alison had hired a printer to make hundreds of hardback copies of the book, which she sells through her website, www.kellerfamilystories.com. When she heard about the Lifetime series "Army Wives," she sent a copy of her book to an old friend who happens to work on the show's set. "She gave my book to the prop department to put in the background on a bookshelf," Alison says. But an eagle-eyed producer spotted it, and the book will be featured during the season finale of the first season of "Army Wives."

This accomplishment is comforting to Alison as she deals with that fact that Shawn is scheduled to leave for another tour of duty in Iraq this September. (This time he will be working in the Civil Affairs unit, which helps Iraqi citizens to improve their communities.) Alison isn't letting his departure get her down: "Seeing my book on 'Army Wives,' just as Shawn is leaving for Iraq, will be the highlight of my life."

Local radio personality writes 'Daddy'
Thursday, October 27, 2005

BY PRENTISS FINDLAY
Of The Post and Courier Staff

Alison Keller, who teams with Leo Windham weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at WXLY-FM 102.5, has written a children's book about the long-distance relationship between her husband and their five-year-old daughter Sarah while he served in Iraq.

The book, "While You Were Away, Daddy," chronicles 14 months Sarah and her father, Shawn Keller, were apart while he was in Iraq serving as a reservist in the South Carolina Army National Guard. It is told through Sarah's eyes and from her father's perspective.

The 35-page book is planned for publication on Nov. 1 at Booksurge.com, a local on-demand publishing company recently purchased by Amazon.com. Ginger Nielsen of New Hampshire illustrated the book.

"It was Father's Day, and I was walking through Barnes & Noble trying to find a book for my daughter, and there was just really nothing that spoke to her situation with my husband being gone. So I sat down and I wrote something for her, and then I was sort of encouraged by some friends to do something with it," Alison Keller said.

Shawn Keller returned from Iraq about three weeks ago. The book is a view of how father and daughter maintained their love while apart. He was home for two weeks about mid-way through his Iraq deployment.

"It's about how they both have faced a lot of changes, but in the end, no matter what, their love for each other is still the same," she said.

Shawn Keller took some photographs of Iraqi children that are used to help illustrate the book. He had a dangerous job providing convoy security.

Alison Keller said at first, she was hesitant about her idea to self-publish the book. Her husband is returning to the job market after leaving a booming custom furniture and cabinetry business to go to Iraq. Her idea required spending family money set aside for a rainy day.

"I found an illustrator and spent some of our savings and thought, 'Hey, it's a story worth being told.' I took a leap of faith and I'm doing it. We'll see what happens," she said.

She hopes other children in similar circumstances will read the book, and take comfort in it. "It's heavy duty stuff when you've got a little one at home and trying to explain to them where dad is. And he really does love you and he really is going to be OK," she said.

Paul Smith, Clear Channel Charleston general manager, said Alison Keller shared her situation at home with listeners.

"It was a really unique view of what happened in Iraq through the eyes of a five-year-old and a husband. It also kind of played out on the air," Smith said.