Local woman pens children’s book in honor of her grandmother

Abby Thibodaux Trauth's grandmother and daughter, both named Audrey, have inspired her to pen a children's book. Illustrations by Angelle Dell.

Abby Thibodaux Trauth isn’t a writer by trade, but she said watching her beloved grandmother fight brain cancer led her to the craft.

“Her death and absolute awesomeness while she was alive inspired me to write a children’s book that I am aiming to have published by the end of this year,” Trauth, a Boutte resident, said. “I just wanted to do something that would keep me busy during grieving her death and have something that would live forever.”

Trauth’s grandmother, Audrey Pitre, was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, in August 2019. She died on January 14.

“’Cancer and the Mighty You’ is a story about the tiniest supporters of cancer fighters, survivors and thrivers,” Trauth said. “The main character is my 2-year-old daughter Audrey, who is named after my grandmother.”

Maw Maw Audrey was, naturally, smitten with her granddaughter.

“It was in the hospital after I had her when we told Maw Maw we named the baby after her,” Trauth said. “Pretty much everybody was crying … Maw Maw had no idea … little Audrey was her pride and joy.”

Abby Trauth

Trauth said her grandmother was extremely special.

“When I first had my daughter, Maw Maw would drive an hour every day to watch little Audrey,” she said “We would have to hide our clothes because she would clean the house and do our clothes.”

The book she wrote is about the trials that a cancer patient faces and the tiny heroes who support them, Trauth said, and is inspired by her daughter Audrey’s visits to see Maw Maw every Sunday as she went through palliative care.

“I just had the idea and I just went with it,” Trauth said of penning the book, which serves as her first major writing project.

With the story now complete, Trauth is now collaborating with her cousin Angelle Dell, who will serve as the book’s illustrator. Trauth’s hope was to have the book completed and available for purchase by January 14, 2021, which will serve as the first anniversary of her grandmother’s death. She said she in on track to accomplish that goal.

Presales for the book have started, and Trauth said locally The Basketry will sell the book. Giggles in Baton Rouge has also signed on as a distributor.

Trauth said she was surprised at the number of people who have reached out to her to pre-order the book, or to arrange different avenues – including hospital gift stores – for her to sell the book.

“People have been really helpful and saying this is something that is needed,” she said.

To contact Trauth and for presale or wholesale inquiries, email AndtheMightyYou@gmail.com.

 

About Monique Roth 919 Articles
Roth has both her undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism, which she has utilized in the past as an instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University and a reporter at various newspapers and online publications. She grew up in LaPlace, where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters.

1 Comment

  1. My name is Kathy Thompson. I knew Audrey and the family very well. My parents were very good friends with Audrey’s parents. I would like to purchase a book.

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