Michelle Bredice Craemer, who has lived in Upton for the past four years, got an idea for a book a few years back when she was running marathons. It was going to be for adults, and was to be based on the "life lessons" learned by striving for a goal and working to achieve it. As her own life evolved into raising a young family, the book idea also blossomed into one for children. Michelle also applied these lessons to herself too, setting as her goal the writing of a children’s book, keeping creative control over her ideas, and self-publishing and marketing "Pellie Runs A Marathon."

"The children’s book publishing business is inundated," she explained at her home last week. "They also take control of the book and the illustrations, and I wanted to use my own ideas. I found a wonderful illustrator, researched ways to self-publish, and discovered a company who was willing to sponsor me. It was more work but much more fulfilling."

A company called Saucony, located in Peabody, Massachusetts, was interested in sponsoring "Pellie Runs A Marathon." They sell running shoes and running clothes, and their target customers are women. Saucony preordered copies of the book and gave Michelle the financial support to print it.

"Their newsletter goes out to twenty thousand runners," Michelle explained after stopping to attend to her younger son. "They will be putting in a news item about the book and they also have a link to my website."

She gives credit to Saucony and to Maryellen Killeen, who is also from Upton.

"Maryellen is n the publishing business and was a huge help to me," she said, "and my illustrator was Elizabeth Lavin, who did a great job." Michelle pointed to the sneakers worn by "Pellie", on the front cover of her book. "These are Saucony sneakers," she added.

Michelle has two book signings coming up this weekend in Connecticut at a "women only" race. She herself ran the Boston Marathon three times, a New York marathon, and a Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Her illustrated story book tells how "Pellie" prepares to run, maintains the mental and physical strength to keep on going with the help and support of friends, and how proud Pellie is to finish the race. The book is available at Applegates and Hair Affair in Upton, and also at Kids Cupboard in Uxbridge. Michelle said she is working on getting the book sold at amazon.com. Her website is at www.powerpackpresentations.com