On Tuesday night, local children's author Janet Shindle held an official book launch at the Portage la Prairie Regional Library. Her book entitled Nana's Magic Swing has recently been published. It's her first children's book to date.

She shares some thoughts on the event.

"I can't say enough nice things about it," says Shindle. "I thought it was wonderful. I appreciate so much everything the library did to make it happen, and all the people who turned up, just made the evening really special."

During the evening, a door prize was awarded to an audience member, and the winning ticket was picked by Shindle's two granddaughters. 

Janet reads out the door prize winner, name chosen by her two granddaughters with help from her son.

Shindle says Nana's Magic Swing is a book that also serves as a resource for those suffering a loss.

"I feel like it's a resource that can be useful to any parent, caregiver, or organization involved in work with children around issues related to grieving," Shindle explains. "I'm just really happy to be getting it out there, and I'm incrediby blessed by the response."

Shindle says two dollars from the 49 books sold went to the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre, in honour of her best friend Laurie Bjornson. Bjornson was a long-time board member. Shindle notes their involvement with the centre spans back to it's beginning stages.

"When I was involved it was just an informal kind of a group, and we didn't have any kind of a structure, just meetings and talking about what we needed at that time for adoloscent parents," Shindle says. "Then when I stepped down from the committee, Laurie continued on for all those years, and it's grown from just an idea for how to make a difference for young people, to being a very important service in our community for families."

To find out where to purchase Nana's Magic Swing, check out Shindle's website, www.janetshindle.com.

Nana's Magic Swing was inspired by Shindle's mother and son.