The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Rhonda Funk is probably most recognizable seated behind a piano. An inspirational singer-songwriter, she has three CDs to her credit as well as performances locally and across the country. But the busy Sisters mom wears another hat now: that of a published children's author.

The first two books in a series entitled "The Adventures of Pookster and Bubs," are now available in retail outlets nationwide, and other books are on the drawing table.

"Pookster and Bubs are an ordinary big-brother-and-little-sister duo who many parents and children will be able to relate to," says Rhonda. In fact, she says, her main characters are drawn directly from the personalities and nicknames of her own two kids, Rylee and Ryan, ages 11 and 13. Both attend Sisters Middle School. "They are the original Pookster and Bubs - the reason for the whole thing."

The mishaps that Pookster and Bubs navigate in the storybooks are often torn from true-to-life events in the Funk family household. "Real life makes it very easy to write fiction," says Rhonda. Her story formula is this: take an everyday sibling conflict, lace it with humor and weave in a moral lesson.

In "Pookster and the Unloose Tooth," Pookster has to learn patience when the tooth she wants pulled is not quite ready. In truth, Rylee did once convince her big sister to connect her stubborn front tooth to a doorknob - with a string of dental floss - and slam the door. The unpleasant outcome of the real event is sure to feature in family lore for years to come, and it inspired book number one.

In the second book, "Pookster and the Practically Perfect Pickle," Pookster learns to distinguish between "sweet" and "sour" words, after her sassy attitude toward Bubs lands her in a peck of trouble.

"They're fun stories that teach biblical principles in a new way, the 'fruits of the spirit:' gentleness, kindness, patience, and so on," says Rhonda. "They give kids real-life things they can relate to. Hopefully, in their own lives they'll ask themselves 'What would Pookster and Bubs do?'"

Colorful, engaging illustrations figure largely. Eric Kieninger, of Redmond, a family friend, provided drawings for the first three books. Local cartoonist-illustrator Greg Cross is on tap for the next set.

Rhonda's stories seemed to pop out of nowhere several years ago, surprising even herself, while she was on the road traveling to perform with Sheri Rose Shepherd's speaking ministry. By the time she arrived, she had over a dozen story ideas. Encouragement came when Shepherd's own daughter was enamored with Rhonda's first manuscript.

The original concept called for an audio-book format only. Rhonda spent hours in a recording studio in Portland narrating them; Rylee and Ryan voiced part of the script also.

But demand for a printed version won out. "Sheri would make me read them at ladies' retreats, and people were really excited about it, asking where to get them," says Rhonda.

A "perfect marriage" ensued when Rhonda met Camp Sherman residents Bill and Nancie Carmichael, owners of Deep River Books, a small "Partner Publishing" house that offers many of the same services of a traditional publisher.

"What Deep River could offer was incredible. They were able to get my book in stores and widely distributed," says Rhonda. At the International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta, with over 10,000 retailers in attendance, Rhonda held a book-signing. In July she was interviewed on a key Atlanta TV station.

Something memorable took place while she was traveling for the first time with a suitcase-full of her books that sealed her passion for the series. In a crowded Seattle airport, Rhonda observed a frantic single dad sitting opposite her, juggling three youngsters, en route to a birthday party at Grandma's. "The littlest boy was turning five," remembers Rhonda. "I reached in my bag and asked if I could give him a present. All three kids squished together, and the oldest sister started reading Pookster and Bubs out loud to them." Their rapt attention to the story transformed the family scene.

Her relationship with Deep River Books broadened as she took on the publicity arm of the company full-time. "I'm working hard now, promoting other authors' books," she says.

Rhonda still finds herself behind the piano, performing occasionally with Shepherd and writing songs of heartache and healing drawn from her own experiences.

Her husband, Willie, battled cancer six years ago - a form of leukemia that was fairly advanced before it was diagnosed.

In a divine turn of events, more than 600 potential matches were found within an hour of being placed on the registry for a bone marrow transplant. "It was truly a miracle, and he's here today and totally cancer-free," says Rhonda. Willie now manages Papa Murphy's Pizza in Redmond.

The couple has two adult daughters, Mariah and Shelby.

Rhonda is pleased with the reception her books are getting. Kids between 4 and 8 years old will enjoy them the most, she says. "There are a few bigger words, but having the audio CD that comes with it, set to cool music, makes it fun."

The books can be purchased online through http://www.Amazon.com or http://www.BarnesandNoble.com. For information about Rhonda and her book series, visit http://www.PooksterAndBubs.com.