Former Lorain County sisters write book for new niece

Former Northeast Ohio resident Megan Deis, 27, and Avon Lake resident Lea Deis, 25, created a children’s book, “Heart of the Forest,” to celebrate the birth of their niece, Sophie Biggar.

After learning their older sister and Avon Lake resident Alyssa Biggar was pregnant, Megan came up with an idea for a unique gift and asked her sister Lea to join in.

“I like to be extra and give gifts for people that are special,” Megan said. “When it’s someone’s birthday, I make it all about them.

“I buy their breakfast, lunch and dinner and try to make the day special. So, I knew I wanted to do something big and special for them.”

Megan, a middle school counselor, and Lea, a former intensive care unit cardiac nurse, said they spent a majority of the novel coronavirus pandemic writing and illustrating “Heart of the Forest.”

RoseDog Books published the book.

“I kind of just asked Lea if she wanted to do it, and she got really excited,” Megan said.

The book follows a fox that is trying to get to the center of the forest.

It’s a tale about friendship, adventure and self exploration packed into a 32page children’s book, Megan said.

Part of the inspiration for the book came from the theme of their niece’s nursery, which is forest animals.

Megan, who currently lives in Cascade Locks, Oregon, said she and Lea, who just accepted a travel nursing position, wanted to instill a sense of adventure and a value of togetherness for Sophie even though they might not get to see her as much as they’d like to.

As the sisters worked on the book, they expected it to be finished in September.

However, the book wasn’t released until the end of January despite their niece being born in November.

“It didn’t make it any less special,” Megan said. “My sister was just as happy, and seeing the tears in her eyes, made it worthwhile. I loved this experience.

“My sister sent me a picture of my niece with the book. I got to see my sister cry while reading it, and I was so happy that me and my sister worked on this book together for them.”

ALYSSA BIGGAR Sophie Biggar, who is younger than three months old, sits with the book “Heart of the Forest” which her aunts Megan and Lea Deis wrote for her during the coronavirus pandemic.