Cary Dad’s 15-Year Story Becomes Published Book
Cary father-turned-author Jonathan Drews turns a 15-year-old reflection on fatherhood into a published children’s book now available at the Cary Area Public Library.
From Fatherhood to Published Pages: Cary Dad’s 15-Year Story Now Lives on Library Shelves
Sometimes the biggest stories begin in the smallest moments.
More than 15 years ago, Jonathan Drews – Cary resident and father of five – began writing what would eventually become A Little Boy Lived Here: A Father Remembers, not as a publishing project, but as a way to hold onto the everyday memories of fatherhood before they slipped away.
At the time, his oldest son was 11 and his youngest just 2.
“I remember realizing that the little moments I thought I would never forget were already starting to fade,” Drews said. “I wrote the story as a way of holding onto them.”
From Personal Manuscript to Published Book
What began as a private reflection sat untouched for years before Drews returned to it with fresh perspective. The result is a gently illustrated children’s picture book that looks at childhood through a father’s eyes, celebrating ordinary moments that become lasting memories.
The book has since found a home in the Cary Area Public Library and is also available at Magical Forest Bookstore in Fox River Grove.
Sharing the Story With the Next Generation
Drews recently visited Sharon Anderson’s creative writing class at Cary-Grove High School, where he spoke with students about storytelling, creativity and the unexpected path from personal writing to publication.
His message centered on something simple: pay attention to your life while you’re living it.
A Community Connection
Since publication, readers have responded with deeply personal reflections of their own, many sharing how quickly childhood passes and how meaningful it is to preserve those memories.
Parents and grandparents alike have connected with the book’s core theme: The quiet, beautiful urgency of time.
About the Book
A Little Boy Lived Here: A Father Remembers is a children’s picture book reflecting on a father’s memories of the little boy who once lived in his home and the young man he has become.