HHS senior publishes first book

Tuesday at Havre High School young author C.N. Dees, who also happens to be a student at the high school, will be signing copies of his first book, “Aunt Claire.”

C.N. Dees, also known as 18-year-old Havre-born-and-raised high school senior Caden Dees will have copies of his book available for purchase before school, at lunch and after school in the office foyer of the high school. He will also be present to sign copies.

Dees said he hopes all ages can enjoy this book and that it can inspire people and that it portrays a sense of family.

“I feel family is one of the most important things in life,” he said, “That is what the book is about … Aunt Claire comes to bring the family together.”

Dees, who goes by C.N. as his pen name, said he chose his initials instead of his first name because some of his favorite authors, J.K. Rowling and P.L Travers, go by their initials.

“Aunt Claire” is about a single mother whose oldest daughter is left to watch her younger siblings and do the housework while her mother works to support the family. One day, though, the mother’s aunt Claire shows up and helps show the children adventure as well as bring imagination to their lives.

“Come along and join this magical adventure and meet all sorts of different and peculiar characters and go on extraordinary adventures,” the book’s description says.

Dees said he wanted it to be like Mary Poppins, in the sense that he wanted it to have a realistic theme. Kids know that bad things happen in the world, but there is also so much good, he added, so it is important for children’s’ books to have some realism in it.

Dees dedicated the book to his niece Jaycee Lee. Each time he wrote a new part, he would read it to her at night.

“She was a big inspiration,” he added.

Dees also said he is very appreciative of his family for how supportive they were of his writing.

“My mom adores the book so much,” he said of his story, “and my friends can’t believe it … they were all over it. They wanted to get a copy and for me to sign it.”

Dees came up with the concept of the book in 2015 and wrote it in 2016. After finishing the book, he said he used the self-publishing website, CreateSpace to help him. The website helped him a lot, he said. Its Cover Creator helped him put together the cover and then he chose to edit himself.

After the book was published, Dees said, it was put up for sale on Amazon.

Dees said he plans on this book being the first of a trilogy.

Dees said they will also do a small book tour of the local elementary schools in the middle of May.

Havre High School business and media teacher Vicki Proctor said that the book signings will be held Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:10 a.m., 11:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. in the office foyer at the high school. About 30 books will be available as well as sign-up for orders of the book at a discounted price.