Shayla and Friends is based on the true story of an adorable shepherd/wolfdog Shayla who grew up at a Christian orphanage, Otchiy Dim (Father’s House) in Ukraine. In these pages is the story of her journey to America, and the special friends she made along her way. Shayla and her friends teach valuable lessons on friendship, acceptance of others, facing challenges, and finding inner courage.
Shayla, though abandoned at a young age in a harsh world, yearns to love and trust the children and new friends at the Christian orphanage, Father’s House.
One day Shayla is taken from this home, across the world, to a new forever home in America. How would she adapt to an entirely new life, alone again?
Shayla’s Adventure: What’s Across the Ocean?
Barchelle Bolger Wathen offers an inspirational story of hope in uncertain times in this beautiful book, Shayla’s Adventure “What’s Across the Ocean?” Follow the adventures of a curious boy and a dog who find themselves together in a sometimes-scary land, learning life lessons, pretending to travel the world in pirate ships, and the miraculous cures of eating ice cream.
Their adventures and important conversations between the forever friends are filled with messages of love, that will connect with readers of all ages.
Shayla’s Adventure: Finding the Light in the Darkness
Revive your hearts as you follow this inspirational adventure with Shayla, the beautiful, sweet shepherd/wolfdog, and a curious boy Ashok, from a Ukrainian orphanage. Both orphans searching for their forever families. Together these
friends dream of traveling the world in pirate ships, searching for ice cream (the best cure-all), and seek shelter from a fierce storm in a lighthouse with a most angelic lightkeeper. Trusting their Father to help them find the light in the darkness. These forever friends share life lessons of love, faith, and friendship that will connect with readers of all ages. Will they find their forever families?
Shayla & Friends: Into the Light
“Shayla & Friends: Into the Light” includes the true story and new adventures of the incredible shepherd/wolfdog mix Shayla’s journey from a Ukrainian orphanage where she grew up, to America in search of her forever home. She crosses the ocean to find her family and dog pack at a forest ranch. Together with her new friends, they overcome painful pasts, battle a forest fire that threatens to destroy their home, capture bank robbers. They endure loss and experience joy, sharing lessons of love and friendship. Then she must choose: will she remain with her family or follow the lure of the wild wolves?
All by: Barchelle Bolger Wathen
Author Interview: Barchelle (“Chelly”) Bolger Wathen
- Who is your favorite character to write, and why is that person your favorite? If picking a favorite character would be like picking a favorite child, which character seems to be the most demanding of your attention and detail as a writer?
All of my stories are about our dog Shayla, a rescue from a Ukrainian orphanage. I love writing about her, as she inspires me to become a better person. Shayla is very loving, courageous, adventurous, and kind. She can reach children and adults to strive to become better and stronger, facing any adversity. I hope that I can be half the person my dog is.
- Tell us what you enjoy most about writing.
I write books for all ages of children and young adults, which also transcends to adults and seniors. I like to use Shayla’s story (fictional and non-fictional) to inspire children with life lessons of love, friendship, and overcoming tough times. When Shayla meets children at events, they just love her, and I strive to write her story to inspire children and teens with what Shayla taught me.
- Describe the book in 10 words or less for people just learning about it.
Ukrainian rescue dog inspires others to love
- Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
Value faith, friendship, hope, and live bravely
What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author? What has been the best compliment?
Criticism: Why care about a dog, especially a Ukrainian dog?
Compliment: from a child, “I love Shayla because she teaches me to be strong”
- To date, what is your favorite (or most difficult) chapter you have ever written?
“Shayla & Friends: Into the Light” chapter about facing a wildfire threatening the safety of the dogs’ home, and that some brave dogs do not survive (one of the dogs that does not survive is based on an orphanage dog that truly did not survive the war in Ukraine)
- What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Finding adventure with my dog Shayla – ziplining, kayaking, hiking in the mountains
- Did you get to pick your illustrator? How do you feel about illustrations in children’s books?
Initially no, my first editor chose the illustrator and she would not provide her contact information upon my request. Since then, we dumped that editor and now the illustrator overy important to convey unspoken thoughts and make a big impact.
- Do you have a special connection with your children’s book topic or characters?
The main character of my book series is our dog, Shayla. In my teen novel I write about our past dogs and rescue shelter dogs I have worked with. Nothing better than writing from true experience.
- What do you hope to teach or inspire in children reading your book?
Become your best self, open your heart to new experiences of love, be a good friend to others by looking at their heart, trust God.
Author Bio
Barchelle (“Chelly”) Bolger Wathen has always loved dogs, her own family dogs as well as those she has worked with at shelters. Then one day her world changed forever when Chelly and her husband George welcomed one very special dog into their family – Shayla from Ukraine. This remarkable shepherd/wolfdog overcame abandonment in a harsh world as a young puppy. She chose to love and trust in new friends who raised her at the Christian orphanage Otchiy Dim (Father’s House) in Ukraine and brought her to America to her own forever family.
Chelly was very inspired by Shayla’s life, the faith of friends Roman Korniyko and his family who operate Father’s House, their special children, and the courage of the Ukrainian people despite the turmoil of war. She wrote Shayla and Friends to share their true story. Shayla’s Adventure: What’s Across the Ocean was written to inspire kids who have also experienced challenges to trust in love and friendship again. God has been at work in all of their lives, and in this story.
Chelly grew up and lived in San Diego, California, and moved to Prescott, Arizona, in 2021. She now enjoys volunteering with senior dogs and writing. But her favorite activity is enjoying God’s creation with family and friends – kayaking, ziplining, and hiking mountain trails, especially with Shayla.
https://www.shaylaandfriends.com
Amazon Author Profile
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