In book two of the Nelson's Garden series, sisters Belle and Rosie continue to cultivate a friendship with their neighbor and expert gardener, Nelson McNutt. Together with their mother, Grace, the girls visit his garden every day, ready to learn and eager to soak up as much wisdom as they can. Through cool spring rains and hot summer days, the girls experience the joy of growing flowers in every color of the rainbow ... which gives them an idea! They all work together to bring their new Free Little Flower Stand to life, and as they spread joy throughout their community, they learn that when you put kindness out into the world, it can't help but take root and grow.
Bosson, Olivia: - Olivia Bosson Okonuk is a Connecticut-based artist and art educator for pre-school to 5th grade students. She has worked with authors to bring their stories to life since graduating from the University of Hartford in 2018 with a BFA in Illustration. Her most notable works include No Shoes Today, What Do You See When You Look at Me, and of course the Nelson's Garden book series. This past March, she welcomed a new addition to her family, and he has charmed his way into a cameo in Nelson's Garden & the Free Little Flower Stand. Olivia can't wait to share the magic of Nelson's Garden with her students and her growing family in the years to come!
Esposito, Colleen: - After graduating from Assumption University with a degree in English and Communications, Colleen carved her own path in public relations and social influence, working for one of the nation's top ad agencies. Shortly after her first daughter, Belle, was born, Colleen decided to trade her high heels and city life for the wide world of stay-at-home-motherhood. Before she knew it, she was barefoot in the garden with two little girls in tow and a whole new chapter began to unfold. Today, Colleen lives in Mansfield, MA with her husband Ben, daughters Belle & Rosie, 6 chickens, and their pup, Roxy. When she's not busy writing children's books with her momma and homeschooling her girls (their newest adventure!), you can find Colleen among the flowers in her garden, plotting ways to grow even more for their Free Little Flower Stand.
O'Terry, Candy: - Known as Boston's Beloved Radio Voice, Candy O is a proud member of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame. A broadcaster, podcaster, master interviewer, singer, and contributor to Pink Chair Storytellers Magazine, she's the recipient of 70 local and national awards, but if you ask her what brings her the most joy, she'll say: co-authoring this children's book series with her daughter, Colleen. A lifelong advocate in the fight against breast cancer, Candy is a recent survivor of the disease, an experience that left her keenly aware of the gift of life and the passage of time. A devoted wife, mother and Gigi, Candy and her husband Tom live in a lovingly restored colonial home framed in summer by daisies and located about a mile from where Nelson once tended his beautiful garden, proving once again that some stories are destined to be told.
