CALHOUN COUNTY, AL – Local author and educator Logan Tucker has released her first children’s book, “The Marvelous Adventures of Molly & Brooks: The Creek Chronicles Volume 1,” inspired by her beloved golden retrievers.
Tucker, who graduated from Alexandria High School in 2019, completed her degree at Jacksonville State University in just 3½ years after taking dual enrollment classes in high school.
“I’ve known from an extremely young age that I wanted to write in some capacity,” Tucker shared in a recent interview. Her passion for writing began with essays, poetry, and short stories, eventually leading to writing for JSU’s newspaper, The Chanticleer.
The book follows the adventures of Tucker’s two golden retrievers, Molly and Brooks, at a creek located on her in-laws’ property near the Ragland-Pell City line. “A lot of what is in the book is based on a true story,” Tucker explained. The illustrations, created by Courtney Godbey, bring these real locations to life, even featuring Tucker’s former home that once belonged to her husband’s grandmother.
Tucker’s love for golden retrievers began with her first dog, Cooper. “I tell people all the time that I’m extremely biased, but I think golden retrievers are the best breed of dog you can have,” she said. This affection inspired her to create characters that would help children learn important values through engaging stories.
As a teacher herself, Tucker wanted to change how children view reading and writing. “I wanted to make other kids feel that reading and writing shouldn’t be viewed as a punishment,” she said. “It’s something that you can utilize to change the world.”
The book is the first volume in “The Creek Chronicles” series, with volume two already completed. Tucker plans to develop a series of “The Marvelous Adventures of Molly and Brooks” with different titles for each volume, depending on the reception of her debut publication.
“The Marvelous Adventures of Molly & Brooks: The Creek Chronicles Volume 1” is currently available on Amazon, through Dorrance Publishing’s website, and online at Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble. Tucker’s publisher has also sent promotional materials to local bookstores in Calhoun and Etowah counties, with in-store availability expected in the coming weeks.
For Tucker, the support from her community has been overwhelming. “I’ve been taken aback at how my community has supported me and my family,” she said. “I’m just blown away at how well it’s gone so far.”
Recently, Tucker held a book signing at The Red Bird in Jacksonville, a special moment for her to connect with readers in a place she considers instrumental to her growth as a writer.
Tucker credits her success to the educators who inspired her from kindergarten through college. “I don’t know if I just got super lucky, but I can truly say K through 12, I never had a bad teacher,” she reflected, explaining that these positive relationships with teachers motivated her own career choice in education.
For more information about “The Marvelous Adventures of Molly & Brooks,” readers can search for Logan Tucker on Amazon or visit major online booksellers.
