Inspired by the beaching of the New Carissa 10 years ago, Leslie Stockdale started crafting a children’s story.

Now, on May 14, she has a double book signing and reading engagement on the Mountain.

And Stockdale had more to overcome than the marduous task of writing her book: “Clover, the Plover, and Muffin, the Puffin, and the Oil Spill.”

“I wrote the book 10 years ago, then revised it over a six-month period,”
Stockdale said. “Then it was a four-year process getting myself out there.”
She is a self-proclaimed shy person.

“After years of telling my daughter that shy doesn’t work, I finally took my
own advice and followed my dream,” she said.

After being turned down by publishers – a five year ordeal – who told her “it
wasn’t a bad story but they just weren’t doing it right now,” she put her foot
down. “Fine, I’ll do it myself,” she said.

The result was the fruit of the completed book and holding down two jobs –
custodian at Sandy High School and clerk at Thriftway – that she turned to
Vantage Press of New York and self-published.

The story line is entertaining and a useful message to children and adults
alike. The back cover of the book outlines this message:
Life was beautiful along the coastal shoreline for plovers and puffins and their
young. They could fly and play, there was plenty to eat, and their world was
happy. That is, until one terrible day when a shipping accident up the coast
caused a giant oil spill and threatened their wonderful world.

The book tells the bittersweet tale of how the unlikely friendship between two
families of our feathered friends who find the strength to deal with the
disaster and ensuing tragedy, and survive.

Stockdale took the pen name Simplyleslie for her book. Her reason, not
surprisingly, is innocent enough. “I like things simple,” she said.

Clover, Puffin is illustrated by Deb Stafford of Seattle.

Stockdale, 48, has lived in Rhododendron for 25 years with her husband,
Randy, and her family includes five children and six grandchildren.

So has the shyness suddenly disappeared with the publishing of her book?
“I’m getting a lot better at it,” she said. “I’d better be. I have two readings
next month.”

But she was quick to add: “I’m not shy on paper.”

Her readings and signings are both on May 14, the first during the 9 a.m. to
noon event at the Green Scene, followed quickly by a 1 p.m. session at the
Wy’east Book Shoppe & Art Gallery.