John Masiulionis, a recent San Diegan transplant and dog daddy to a precious and playful two-year-old Shih Tzu/Maltese named Little Forest, also has a soft spot for kids, especially those experiencing life-threatening illnesses.
His first picture book, “Walking Each Other Home – Zachary’s Mission: A Hospice for Children,” illustrated by Roksana Barwinska and to be released March 18, is sure to warm the cockles of your heart and trigger water works from your lacrimal glands. The book’s premise revolves around Zachary, a courageous eight-year-old diagnosed with a terminal pediatric cancer, who has an enlightening dream where God approaches him with a mission. The Almighty is going to send four “earth angels” to the sick boy’s world to help his family raise the funds to establish a children’s hospice (reflecting Masiulionis’ vision and life’s purposes too).
The heavenly messengers plucked from his own personal angel roster include, Jane, modeled after the author’s beloved Babcia, which translates from his Polish heritage for “grandmother”; Dennis, a kind-hearted Italian restaurant owner reminiscent of his dear friend and father figure, long-standing restauranteur Dennis DiPaolo; Georgeanne, the animal-loving storyteller influenced by Georgeanne Irvine, a dear friend and one of the longest tenured employees at San Diego Zoo; and finally Patrick, the Reiki Master, doling out spiritual healing energy inspired by Masiulionis’ former Reiki practitioner.
The book ends with an inspirational message as Zachary attends the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly built hospice, feeling fulfilled and happy, “that he has completed his earthly mission, and believes he can now go home to heaven.”
Masiulionis, a Buffalonian, through his eclectic experiences and background, became ensconced in Kidlit and lifting the spirits of sick children. After earning his broadcasting stripes from Buffalo State University, he began hosting “Monday Night Mayhem,” an award-winning wrestling radio podcast. During this stint, he was introduced to the Child Life Department of the Children’s Hospital in Buffalo and became involved in providing emotional and entertainment to children recovering from surgeries and going through cancer treatments and dialysis by arranging visits from popular wrestlers blinged out in superhero costumes.
This coupled with Masiulionis’ own challenging health crises (that fortunately led to shedding 100 pounds) and the ing of his cherished grandma whom he called “his rock,” inspired him to pen “Walking Each Other Home. . .” The title provides a meaningful metaphor of and love so that “we can return to ourselves after the period of grieving, or (when our time comes) to walk back home to heaven to our loved ones,” says the author.
Growing up, Masiulionis was hooked on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, mesmerized by the red trolley outside Fred Rogers’ window seat that he operated to take viewers on make-believe visits to warm and welcoming neighbors. Paying tribute to his childhood hero, Masiulionis named his imprint Trolley Stop Publishing under which “Walking Each Other Home,. . .” is published. As a Mr. Rogers acolyte, Masiulionis has also been collaborating for the past four years with David Newell, who played the iconic role of Mr. McFeely, one of Fred’s neighbors, co-hosting The Neighborly Reviews Bookcast, which has evolved into one of the most popular online children’s book review programs so parents, educators, and librarians around the world can get the best and most out of both published and self-published children’s books.
Masiulionis’ second long-running program titled The Children’s Books Spotlight Series is a global podcast that features prominent celebrity children’s book authors, New York Times bestsellers, and top award-winning children’s authors with a one-on-one interview format.
Finally, Masiulionis founded PR From the Heart 11 years ago, to promote children’s authors across the land since he loves helping people share their stories.
Doling out a last tidbit of advice to folks dealing with a child facing a serious illness, the author simply says, “to be present with an open heart so the child knows that they are being seen, heard, felt. . .and that they are not alone.”
Local story time and book gs kick off on Saturday, March 29 at noon at Barnes & Noble in Mira Mesa, and Saturday, April 5 at 11 a.m. at the Barnes & Noble Encinitas location.
Copies of “Walking Each Other Home – Zachary’s Mission: A Hospice for Children” are available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through the author’s website (Johnmasiulionis.com).
After the gs, Masiulionis is headed on a national book tour with a portion of proceeds from his books to be set aside for the next steps of bringing the children’s hospice to life, and a portion of proceeds to be donated to the Ilio DiPaolo’s Scholarship Fund in Western New York.
