14-YEAR-OLD AUTHOR RELEASES ILLUSTRATED STORYBOOK- “Above the Clouds” Provides Comfort and Inspiration

Three generations of women, including a high-school sophomore, have teamed up to write and release ABOVE THE CLOUDS – What Really Happens in Heaven During a Thunderstorm, a brand-new, illustrated storybook designed to offer comfort and inspiration to children everywhere. Above the Clouds, is a 30-page, paperback storybook designed for children ages 3-7, has been many years in the making. The story is a fleshed-out version of an off-the-cuff idea Arizona mom Stephanie Barton came up with to comfort her daughter Carley and a friend during a spectacular thunderstorm and tornado watch. Ten years later, mother and daughter joined forces with grandmother Sue Milon, a lifelong librarian and book lover, to put the story to paper.

14-year-old co-author Carley Barton tells us, “The story my mom came up with when I was in the first grade comforted me and kept me calm, even though the storm was loud and scary. I hope that this story provides the same comfort to other kids who wonder what the heck is going on out there! I love the idea of other moms sharing these ideas with other kids.”

Stephanie, share your background.

I grew up in South Jersey, moved to Arizona to attend ASU. Met my husband junior year. We moved to Dallas, TX for 8 years and then moved back to PHX. We will be celebrating our 20 year anniversary in July. We have 2 kids, Reece (boy), 11 and Carley 15. I am an Exercise Physiologist, working in the field of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab for 20 years. I just recently started a new job with a medical equipment company fitting and educating patients for a Zoll Lifevest. I do this part time which allows me to focus on promoting our new book.

When did you and your daughter Carley decide to write the book, Above the Clouds?

I read a book that got me focused on setting goals and in Jan 2019 I decided to write it. The inspiration for this book came 8 years earlier when we were living in Dallas. I got stuck in a really bad thunderstorm with my daughter when I picked her up from school. She was crying and scared, so I made up this story and she started laughing. I thought to myself that would make a cute children’s book. I enlisted my daughter, who is now 15 and my mom who is a retired school librarian. We made it a family affair!

Your book offers comfort and inspiration to children. Tell us about the story.

Our book’s initial goal was to help ease a child’s fear of thunderstorms but when it was published we received lots of feedback that it can help provide comfort with the loss of a loved one. We have been fortunate to do quite a few readings to classes and it’s fun to engage with the children and ask them what they think is happening in heaven during a thunderstorm. They come up with some pretty good ideas of their own for the different elements of a storm.

Carley, You joined forces with a popular, American artist and illustrator, Kelly Mengarelli, who illustrated Princess Pippa and the Crown of Kindness. What did you admire about her work?

It is very difficult to find the right illustrator. I had one that fell through and I was discouraged. My parents had actually known Kelly since she was in middle school. I had no idea she was an artist until one day our moms were talking. I had Kelly draw me what she envisioned for the mom, little girl, and an angel. We were blown away by her incredible talent and started working on the book together in April 2020. A few weeks later, Kelly’s 21 year old sister in law, Brooklyn, passed away unexpectedly from epilepsy. Kelly gained a whole new perspective of imagining heaven and Brooklyn became her personal inspiration and the main angel in the book. I love Kelly’s attention to detail, even the small ones like a hidden blue bird makes story time an interactive experience. Kelly wanted us to incorporate meaningful personal features. For example, our beloved family dog is featured in the book as well as my mom’s favorite stuffed animal.

Carley, what really happens in heaven during a thunderstorm?

We wanted a new, updated version of the stories that have been told about what the angels are doing in heaven during a thunderstorm. In our book, the angels are having dance parties which is the thunder and the paparazzi are taking pictures which is the lightning.

Share a few favorite moments of Above the Clouds.

The thunder is my favorite part of the book. “Above the clouds, the angels in heaven are having an amazing dance party! They are jamming to DJ Joy jumping up and down to the beat. The rumble of the thunder is the stomping of the angels’ feet as they dance the night away.”

As a mother and daughter team, what did you enjoy the most during this process?

Writing the book and working together was fun, but my favorite part has been doing fairs with my daughter and school readings with my mom. The best one was going back to Texas and getting to read to my niece’s preschool class.

Why will Above the Clouds be a favorite story for this Mother’s Day?

There aren’t many books out there if any at all that are written by 3 generations of authors! I hope we can inspire other grandmothers, mothers, and daughters to do the same. It’s such a special unique bond that we have made.

ABOVE THE CLOUDS – What Really Happens in Heaven During a Thunderstorm is available now on
Amazon.com for $11.99.

Carley Barton is currently a sophomore at Desert Vista. She runs track, plays guitar, and loves photography. She is an honors student boasting straight A’s so far this year. And, of course, she enjoys writing and spending time with her mother and grandmother.

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