Missy Balusek
Missy Balusek is author of Rat’s Tale: A Story About A Mouse Named Rat. She is a retired police officer and graduate of Baylor University. She lives a fairytale in her hometown of Waco, Texas, with her husband Randy and son Blake.
To learn more about Missy, follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
To learn more about Missy, follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Books
The Gift of Time
$18.95
written by Missy Balusek
illustrated by Natalia Elmore
In a world full of schedules and plans, life can seem to go by much too fast. But as surely as Mother Nature moves from summer to fall without worry or regret, you can live in the moment and make the most of it if you try. The Gift of Time sends a positive, mindful message to young readers, reminding them that every day is a treasure, that every life is a special journey, and that with the gift of time and the courage to be yourself in this moment, your dreams can take you anywhere!
More About Missy Balusek
Missy Balusek is a firm believer in living in the moment. Her children’s book, The Gift of Time, focuses on doing exactly that -- experiencing each day as the gift that it is and exploring the wonders of living in the moment. When Missy’s son, Blake, was born, she knew that he would be her only child, and has since cherished every day of his life. She also knew that in a fast-paced world that seemed to only be getting faster, her life mantra of living in the moment might be quickly forgotten. And so, she wrote her children’s book to serve as a reminder not only to herself, but to children and parents out there, that it’s okay to slow down, chill out, and "smell the roses" -- in fact, that’s just about the best way to do it.
Believe it or not, when she was young, Missy wasn’t a big fan of school. What she looked forward to most was her 5th grade teacher reading to the class! Ms. Clock would read a chapter of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe every day. Missy’s love for these fantastical sessions encouraged her interest in school and even bolstered her love for books! Some of Missy’s other beloved books are classics like Black Beauty, Charlotte’s Web, and the works of Dr. Seuss and P.D. Eastman. Children’s books have always been her favorite, which is why she chose to write her own: The Gift of Time.
As a kid, one of Missy’s favorite hobbies was journaling. She loved her English classes above all others. As an adult, Missy’s career as an author began when she created a story to tell to her friends and family. Eventually, all her eager listeners told her the same thing: “You need to write this down!” When she put pen to paper, Missy realized she was more comfortable writing in couplets. Soon a friend had Missy’s couplets illustrated as a gift. At that point, Missy knew she had no excuse! She self-published her first book, Rat Tale. Similarly, The Gift of Time came about when a friend suggested the topic to Missy for her next book, and the rest is history. A big shout-out to all the people who encouraged and supported Missy on her journey to authorship! .
Currently, Missy is writing a children’s book that was inspired by a family friend in hospice care who was not expected to live long, but did. It’s a heavy subject, but Missy thinks it’s important to have an open dialogue with kids about the oftentimes difficult topic of death. She believes that when someone dies, their relationship with you doesn’t change; their love doesn’t just disappear. On the contrary, Missy says “when someone dies, they may go through a door that you cannot, but because they are no longer physically bound by this earth, they are able to love you even better.” The working title of Missy’s new children’s book is My Imaginary Friend because that’s exactly how she views those friends and loved ones who have passed on.
Believe it or not, when she was young, Missy wasn’t a big fan of school. What she looked forward to most was her 5th grade teacher reading to the class! Ms. Clock would read a chapter of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe every day. Missy’s love for these fantastical sessions encouraged her interest in school and even bolstered her love for books! Some of Missy’s other beloved books are classics like Black Beauty, Charlotte’s Web, and the works of Dr. Seuss and P.D. Eastman. Children’s books have always been her favorite, which is why she chose to write her own: The Gift of Time.
As a kid, one of Missy’s favorite hobbies was journaling. She loved her English classes above all others. As an adult, Missy’s career as an author began when she created a story to tell to her friends and family. Eventually, all her eager listeners told her the same thing: “You need to write this down!” When she put pen to paper, Missy realized she was more comfortable writing in couplets. Soon a friend had Missy’s couplets illustrated as a gift. At that point, Missy knew she had no excuse! She self-published her first book, Rat Tale. Similarly, The Gift of Time came about when a friend suggested the topic to Missy for her next book, and the rest is history. A big shout-out to all the people who encouraged and supported Missy on her journey to authorship! .
Currently, Missy is writing a children’s book that was inspired by a family friend in hospice care who was not expected to live long, but did. It’s a heavy subject, but Missy thinks it’s important to have an open dialogue with kids about the oftentimes difficult topic of death. She believes that when someone dies, their relationship with you doesn’t change; their love doesn’t just disappear. On the contrary, Missy says “when someone dies, they may go through a door that you cannot, but because they are no longer physically bound by this earth, they are able to love you even better.” The working title of Missy’s new children’s book is My Imaginary Friend because that’s exactly how she views those friends and loved ones who have passed on.
