Last November, Orono resident Susie Bazil was lying in bed caring for her sick 3-year-old daughter when the topic of a flu bug came up in conversation.

"She kind of freaked out when she heard she had a 'bug,'" Bazil said. "She thought she actually had a big, hairy bug living inside of her."

After explaining the difference between a sick bug and actual bugs, and putting her youngest child to bed, Bazil sat down and started jotting down some ideas.

She realized that every parent has to deal with sick children. And a little research indicated a dearth a wealth of kids' books dealing with the topic. Immediately, she sat down and began writing what would become the "The Sick Bug."

"It just sort of spilled out of me," Bazil said of the book. "The first draft took me about a day or a day and a half."

The result of that work is a playful and engaging rhyming book that features a mom and daughter talking about what causes a sick bug, how to cure one and how to stay healthy and avoid another one - something the mother of a 7, 6 and 4-year-old knows a lot about.

"It's one of those things that everyone deals with," she said. "So it seems like it's going to be something that everyone will be able to connect with."

Bringing her vision to life on the page, however, required the perfect illustrations. Bazil's publisher, Edina-based Beavers Pond Press, pointed her in the direction of Shawn McCann, an award-winning Twin Cities illustrator.

"The text is pretty playful and engaging, so the illustrations had to go along with it," Bazil said. "I had certain things in mind and he absolutely nailed it."

When it came time to see the finished illustrations, Bazil called on her 7-year-old to help critique.

"[The children] think it's pretty cool," she said. "My 7-year-old tells everyone that his mom is an author."

Other stories might be in store for the sick bug, Bazil said, adding that she has a couple of drafts of stories geared toward an older audience.

"I've got a few ideas in the hopper," she said further. "But my husband has told me we should get through this first one first ... he's trying to keep me focused."

While the other ideas will have to wait - at least for a while - the first-time author is ready to see the how the fruits of her labor resonate in the community.

"It's fun, easy to read and shares a good message in a concise manner," she said. "And, most importantly, it lets kids know that a 'sick bug' is nothing to be scared of."

This article was first published Aug. 22 on our website, www.mnsun.com. Visit the site for your daily local news, including next-day city council and school board coverage.

Author: Susie Bazil of Orono

Publisher: Beavers Pond Press

Publication date: September, 2008

Where available: The Bookcase of Wayzata, thesickbug.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com

Price: $16.95

"I've got a few ideas in the hopper," she said further. "But my husband has told me we should get through this first one first ... he's trying to keep me focused."

While the other ideas will have to wait - at least for a while - the first-time author is ready to see the how the fruits of her labor resonate in the community.

"It's fun, easy to read and shares a good message in a concise manner," she said. "And, most importantly, it lets kids know that a 'sick bug' is nothing to be scared of."

This article was first published Aug. 22 on our website, www.mnsun.com. Visit the site for your daily local news, including next-day city council and school board coverage.

Author: Susie Bazil of Orono

Publisher: Beavers Pond Press

Publication date: September, 2008

Where available: The Bookcase of Wayzata, thesickbug.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com

Price: $16.95