TIMMINS - Storytime with her daughter inspired a Timmins mom to share her stories.
Johanna Mercedes’s book Goodnight Moonlight started as a way to expand her nighttime routine with her young daughter and share her own stories and love with a broader audience.
“The book is really written from the words of a mother’s love and that nurture behind every word, so it can be really soothing and nice to read for everyone,” she said.
The book itself is part of her own journey with motherhood, said Mercedes.
“Where it all started was becoming a new mom and winding down for bed with my daughter. I had this beautiful window in the room and we would see the moon going down for bed every night,” she said. “I wanted to write a storybook that is fulfilling for caregivers and children and is entertaining for both caregivers and children.”
She wanted to extend those storytelling moments to others and she said anyone can get something from the book.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to grow with this book because it’s not just for one phase of life. It can really stay with you for a long time,” she said. “I’ve had readers who don’t have children that have read the book who have found a lot of healing and a sense of peace reading the story for themselves.”
Over the two-year process to get the story published, she worked with fellow Timmins-born artist Amy-Médéa Chartier.
“I wanted to have that entertainment through real art,” she said. “That process was amazing to collaborate with Amy.”
Launching the book in three different formats in bookstores internationally has been an unexpected journey.
“It’s been very surreal,” she said. “It’s really incredible to see this book that was made at home now be available internationally. It’s really incredible.”
The limited edition board book version is available at the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre, and Mercedes said it felt good to have that special thing to give back to the city where she was born.
“Myself and Amy were both born in Timmins so we’re really proud to share this local offering,” she said.
Even with the book’s story spreading far and wide, it’s still a part of her nights with her daughter.
“We read this book every night,” she said. “It is our go-to bedtime story.”
