Grandfather pens children’s book to encourage granddaughter with health issues

Stan Hughes worried about his granddaughter Sofia Velasquez.

The 11-year-old has severe food allergies and digestive issues. She always had to bring her own lunch to school, and often found herself alone at the lunch table. While the other children enjoyed gym class, her physical restrictions meant she had more bench time than play time.

“It was heartbreaking for me because she knew she was different,” Hughes said. “I just felt for her.”

He said Sofia came into their family when his daughter, Heather, married her mother. The family lives in California, and he pondered ways he could encourage his struggling granddaughter.

Hughes, 78, is no stranger to the difficulties children and adolescents face. The Vietnam-era veteran and Eastern Washington University graduate spent his career teaching and coaching middle school students before transitioning into administration. He retired from Central Valley School District in 1996, but he’d already found his creative outlet.

“My first real writing experience was as a sports writer for the Snohomish paper when I was teaching there,” he said.

His fascination with his Native American heritage led to several books including “Medicine Seeker: A Beginner’s Walk on the Pathway to Native American Spirituality.”

He’s also published poetry collections, but his desire to help his granddaughter led him to a new venture – children’s books.

“I started writing stories for her. I’d print them up and mail them,” Hughes said. “My daughter said when they came in the mail, there was total joy. She said Sofia would run to her room and read them.”

The stories involve the epic adventures of Sofia, the Warrior Princess. This Sofia raises a talking eagle and has a black cat that can turn into a panther when needed. She’s gifted with a magical bow and arrow giving her superhuman archery skills, and finds special shoes that give her miraculous speed and stamina.

“It just flowed,” Hughes said. “I wanted her to be the hero because in life that wasn’t happening for her.”

As he wrote, family members became characters, including Sofia’s cousin Benny and her younger sister, Fiona.

“It was so much fun to step into this fantasy world and develop a reality within it,” Hughes said.

He hadn’t intended the tales to become a book, but as the stories multiplied, he wondered if other children would enjoy them.

With Sofia’s blessing he published “The Adventures of Sofia Warrior Princess” through Novum Publishing. The book was released in February and is available through Amazon.

He’s already penned and plans to publish a sequel, “The Adventures of Sofia and Fiona – Warrior Sisters.”

His hopes for readers of these books are twofold.

“I want to encourage kids, and I want LGBT families to know there are books for them.”

As for the real-life Sofia, Hughes said her family is getting a handle on her health issues, and his granddaughter is beginning to shine.

“Her confidence is growing. She landed the role of Annie in a community theater production,” Hughes said. “I want her to become strong and healthy, and know she’s surrounded by love.”