CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Charlottetown businessman says he was inspired to create something for children when the world retreated indoors in March.
Mikey Wasnidge, one of the partners in the Nimrods’ floating restaurant, decided on a whim to write a book that addressed the challenge many youngsters have faced during the ongoing pandemic — being stuck inside.
Under the pseudonym of Mikey Woz, he penned When the World Stays Inside, with illustrations by his friend, Sara Panchaud, of Halifax. It was released this month on Amazon and was an immediate hit, soaring into the top 10 in two separate categories — top-selling children’s books and top-selling new books.
Not bad for a guy’s first effort when it comes to books.
“It was kind of a trip. I’m mean, it’s absurd," Wasnidge laughed, clearly amazed the book is being so well received.
The book is self-published, meaning it’s printed on-demand by Amazon.
Wasnidge said he doesn’t have kids but empathizes with children. He and his wife are involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program as what the organization refers to as a big couple, explaining that it has helped them appreciate the world children live in.
“I do think a lot about how the future of the community is really impacted by the health of the youth today. During this pandemic, I found myself often thinking about the families that were locked inside, how stressful that can be and how the long-term of that kind of stress could play out in our community."
Wasnidge channelled his own fears and anxieties and focused that energy as he put pen to paper just days after public health officials in the province asked people to stay home in mid-March.
“I am a very social person, a very extroverted person, and this (pandemic) was forcing me to be cooped up. I started imagining these kids also feeling this way, so I started writing it through their eyes and what kinds of things would help me deal with it. It was a very therapeutic experience."
The book deals with the concept of people being stuck indoors, not just because of the pandemic but for anything — snow days, hurricanes and a host of global issues around the world.
“The message of the book is about learning to cherish that time inside and realizing when we look back 20 years from now, we’re going to remember that this was the time we got to spend really quality time with the people we love."
"I am a very social person; a very extroverted person, and this (pandemic) was forcing me to be cooped up. I started imagining these kids also feeling this way, so I started writing it through their eyes and what kinds of things would help me deal with it. It was a very therapeutic experience."
Wasnidge said he reached out to some author friends and to Panchaud, who has done some graphic design work for other business ventures Wasnidge has been involved with, for feedback first.
Panchaud said she found Wasnidge’s story very moving.
“When Mikey sent me the manuscript I was brought to tears," Panchaud said.
“At a point when all news outlets were filled with such a negative tone, his words were the first I had read that held a sense of optimism. It felt like this was such a great way to offer a uniquely, positive perspective through such a negative climate, and maybe even help some of us cope with what we didn’t even know we were feeling yet."
Wasnidge said he currently has no plans to write again.
