Written by Jenny K Gilman

Somewhere, on the outskirts of town, rests a family farm that is just a little bit different from all the others. You may spot a Ducks Crossing sign first, or perhaps the antique tractors vie for your attention a little bit stronger. There is an old country stove surrounded by fragrant blooming flowers. If you turn your head a little, the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls drifts from the kitchen window.

A surprising sound diverts your attention. It is a familiar sound, but you can't quite make it out until a peacock rounds the corner, and following it, two, three, five, …no, nine more come into view. Of course! You can't mistake a peacock sound! If you stay awhile, you'll see a menagerie of birds: Runner Ducks, Sebastopol Geese, turkeys, chickens, peacocks, and that is just a start.

Becky Dembowski began rescuing birds about twenty years ago. One bird, in particular, a newly hatched Runner Duck, captured her heart after it separated from her mother. Becky cared for her as if she were her mother. She named it Scarlett, and after a series of adventures, Becky was inspired to write a book about her.

Scarlett's Journey: The Adventures of a Runner Duck is a delightful story for children and adults alike. Its colorful pages come from actual photographs of Scarlett that were artfully enhanced by an illustrator, bringing the pages to life in a new, dimensional way.

Becky hadn't planned on being an author of children's books. She said:

           "Both books are based on a true story; Scarlett had such an imprint on my life. After raising her and sharing her story on Facebook, people would reach out, asking me, ‘What's happening today in the life of Scarlett?’"

After the heartbreaking loss of her little duck, she wanted to tell her story. It was a therapeutic way of focusing her attention toward the brilliant light that came out of the experience, rather than any darkness of loss. The book isn't about loss at all; in fact, it is about Scarlett's time on the farm and some of the thrilling adventures she found herself in day to day.

Soon Becky discovered that some baby turkeys were missing their mother. A predator had taken her, and the babies needed Becky's rescue skills to survive. But that isn't the end of the story. The babies' father stepped in too! He played an active role in raising the baby turkeys in place of their mother. He taught them what they needed to know daily and sheltered them every night to keep them warm under his downy feathers. Becky was inspired to write a second book, showcasing this sweet, little, unusual family.

Both of Becky's books can be found online through her website: www.beckydembowski.com or Amazon. You can find them locally at these locations: Customedica Pharmacy, St. Luke’s Hospital gift shop, Metzer Farms, The Boise Public Library, and Boise's Public Schools. They are available as a hardbound book with a sewn spine for durability, as an Audible audiobook, or a Kindle book.

Though becoming an author wasn't planned, Becky discovered that life isn't always about making plans and following them. She said:

           "I'd like people to know that anything is possible. No one is a true expert. If we waited for everyone to be an expert in their field, we wouldn't have gotten this far in life. Feel the passion inside and run with it! I have many passions; all of them bring me so much joy. There's no right way to live; just live it right for you."