I have always loved books. They’ve been my escape and my adventure. But writing one? That was always just a dream — until life handed me a story that I felt needed to be told.
The loss of Bohdi Rhett Hamilton Cree (my grandson), our little ANE warrior, left a permanent ache in our hearts.
Grief is hard enough for adults, but watching my four-year-old granddaughter, Addyson, try to make sense of losing her little brother — he’d only been with us for 11 months when we lost him to ANE, a rare type of brain disease — was something I wasn’t prepared for.
One evening, right after Bohdi passed in August of 2018, as I lay beside Addyson at bedtime, she asked me something unexpected: “Is Bohdi having fun driving his spaceship in the clouds?”
I was confused at first, but then I realized — she had interpreted “angel” as an alien and, of course, aliens drive spaceships.
That moment sparked something in me, and, from there, the idea for the book was born. And Addyson had provided the title: In His Spaceship.
For a year, I journaled what Addyson said about Bohdi — her questions, her thoughts, her interpretations of loss and where he was. I wanted to capture her understanding and her way of processing something so profound. That journaling and all of her questions became the foundation of our book.
In June 2023, I shared my thoughts with my friend and coworker, Lindsay Gallant. Lindsay, a mother to two vibrant boys, has always had a deep love for words and a creative spirit. She is a writer, a songwriter, and someone who approaches life with excitement, love and empathy. She immediately felt connected to the story, and, together, we decided to bring it to life. Lindsay helped me to step outside of my own grief and to capture the inquisitive and lightheartedness. Though we first discussed the book in June, we didn’t officially begin writing until January 2024.
The hardest part, for me, was writing the first few words. There was so much emotion wrapped up in this journey, and putting it on paper felt daunting. Lindsay said the hardest part for her was the technical challenges of creating the “book.”
Lindsay and I both quickly realized that the writing process was like nothing we’d ever experienced before — we were new, we were green and there was so much to learn. But, as we moved forward, we connected with incredible local contributors who guided us, supported us and ultimately helped shape the book into what it is today.
One of the most vital collaborators was our illustrator, Mackenzie Cox. From the beginning, we had a clear vision of what we wanted the artwork to feel like — whimsical and lighthearted, something that would bring warmth to the difficult topic of death. Mackenzie’s images and paintings captured that perfectly.
We also worked closely with Allissa Blondin, a colleague and friend, as well as the author of Confessions of a Ghostwriter and editor at The Feathered Pen. Our goal was to collaborate with local talent, and partnering with Allissa was an ideal fit. Her expertise guided us through the editing process and her support and encouragement were needed and appreciated.
Another collaborator in our publishing journey was Katie Davies, who created the formatting for the book. Her eye for detail and creative design ensured we made it to the finish line.
Now, as we hold the printed book in our hands, the emotions are overwhelming. We are over the moon — not just in our story, but in reality. Seeing our words in print, knowing they carry Bohdi’s legacy, and realizing that this book has the potential to help others experiencing loss feels like a dream come true.
In Bohdi’s honor, $1 from every book sale will be donated to ANE International, to help raise awareness for acute necrotizing encephalopathy, which can occur following a viral infection. This book is a tribute to him, a reflection of Addyson’s journey and a love letter to every family navigating grief.
In His Spaceship is available at Ground Press Coffee and Books in Airdrie, through our Facebook page, In His Rocketship, and online through Amazon.
From the first words to the final pages, this journey has been one of healing, learning and deep meaning — and we couldn’t be more grateful.
