‘The Boy Who Weaves the World’ is Launched!

A story that was written in five minutes, under a crazy moment of inspiration, has taken two years to be launched into the world.

I’ve watched my four boys travel the world by my side—live in foreign lands, love and hate interesting foods, struggle with learning foreign languages, try on different ethnic clothing in an attempt to blend in, dance and sing to newfound rhythms, experience the beauty of new cultures, and meet people from around the globe.

Along with me, they have collected stories from around the world. They, too, are Cultural Thread Collectors.

Two years ago, while sitting in the lovely and mysterious “Land Between” of Somerset, Pennsylvania on a cold and snowy day, I sat at my computer. “The Boy Who Weaves the World” came into existence—my ideas, thoughts, and words flowed through my heart and my fingers and onto the screen.

Through amazing and miraculous connections, a mutual friend introduced me to the young, talented artist, Layken Davey. Living on the other side of the world in South Africa, we discovered that we had actually met decades ago in another foreign land—Morocco. We knew her parents while living in the place we all still call “home.” Layken was just a little girl.

I quickly sent Layken my pages through cyberspace—simple black words on a digital screen. I also sent her a few photos of our youngest son, Pierre. She absorbed them and brought them to life with magical color and whimsical images.

“The Boy Who Weaves the World” was born!

The Boy who weaves the world book cover — **Photo by Layken Davey**

With much blood, sweat, and tears, I now know the intensive work behind the many children’s books I have held in my hands. It looks easy, but there are hours, days, weeks, months, even years behind the work.

“The Boy Who Weaves the World” is now launched—like a spaceship blasting off into cyberspace! He is quickly making his rounds around the globe.

May “The Boy Who Weaves the World” encourage us all to be “Cultural Thread Collectors” and global storytellers. The boy, Pierre, looks exactly like my orange-haired 8-year-old son. His story is a perfect blend of the places and lands where my four boys have journeyed. May their life story inspire you to travel and experience the great big world in all of its bright colors.

Maybe you will have the opportunity to jump on a plane, train, boat, or hot air balloon to explore foreign places. Perhaps you will travel virtually in your living room, learn a new language on your phone through the DuoLingo app, meet your Latin-American neighbor, or try the new Japanese or Moroccan restaurant in town.

Whatever you do, follow Pierre’s footsteps and become someone “who weaves the world” today.