Doris James recently published her first children’s book.
BY DEXTER MCCREE, Feature Writer
St. PETERSBURG — Doris James was born in Little Rock, Ark., and came to St. Petersburg when she was 10 years old. She fell in love with track and field, reading and writing in school.
Growing up, she studied nursing and became a CNA and a medical technician, but never forgot about her dreams of becoming an author. With adulthood comes responsibility, forcing her to put her love for writing on the back burner.
One evening, coming home from work, James noticed the children in her neighborhood running and playing in the street. It took her back to the days of running track as a youngster and the joys of reading and writing.
She immediately had a burning desire to write a children’s book but had no idea how to start. She reflected on the spiritual teaching that when you don’t know something, then ask God. So, she began her inquiry of God, which had worked before.
“I need you to give me some signs and wonders how to write this book. Give me the knowledge and understanding of how to write a book for kids,” James prayed.
That morning, when she woke up, she thanked God for giving her the confirmation that she needed to start writing. She wrote and wrote until she had written a whole book about a boy and his cat.
James was amazed when she realized what she had accomplished. Still half asleep and preparing for work, she christened her protagonist Bobby and entitled the book “The Lost Kitten Named Fluffy.”
Most young kids get toys for their birthday, but in this author’s world, Bobby was given a kitten for his fifth birthday named Fluffy. He was ecstatic about his gift, and the two became inseparable.
The book shows the therapeutic benefits of children having pets, such as helping with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. James contends that animals are valuable companions because they love unconditionally.
“It is important to have someone in your life to share special moments and sometimes encouraging moments. This is an inspirational story of how an animal can be a friend just as well as humans,” she explained.
James was inspired to pursue her dreams by her late husband, who died in 2017 of cancer. After years of caring for him, she found herself being encouraged by his words. She recalled him saying, “Doris, you can do anything you put your mind to. I’m not going to be here, but you can do it.”
“I did, and I thank him for believing in me, so now I believe in myself.”
James is a proud first-time author. She’s so excited seeing her name on a book behind the word “By.” She encourages others to do whatever they want to do in life to better themselves no matter their age or where they start from; “just go ahead and do it.”
If you’d like to pick up a copy of “The Lost Kitten Named Fluffy,” log on to Amazon.com, or call 727-945-3067.
