Good news everyone! “Emus on the Loose” the new book from Steve and Beth Boughton will be coming soon to the website!
Emus on the Loose is the semi-true story of six mischievous emus who escaped from a farm near Kalamazoo, Michigan.
On November 30, 2022, a fierce windstorm swept through Oshtemo Township—just a few miles (or a short emu sprint) from Kalamazoo, Michigan. At Llama Woods Farm, while Christee and Randy Dyk were away at work, a strong gust blew open the gate to the emu enclosure and a crashing tree branch gave the six emus just the scare they needed to make a break for it.
Soon, a Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy spotted one of the giant birds strolling down the road. The chase was on! With help from the Dyk family, they were able round up the feathered fugitives.
News outlets around the world pounced on the peculiar story, and it went viral on social media, with people sharing the deputy’s body cam footage and funny posts about marking themselves safe from stampeding emus.
One of those people was author Steve Boughton’s Aunt Mary Lou (a lifelong Kalamazoo resident and local connector extraordinaire). Steve’s wife and editor Beth Boughton saw the post and commented, “Is this your next book?”
Turns out—it was.
Mary Lou introduced Steve to Christee, and even though the real emus didn’t make it all the way to downtown Kalamazoo, they decided it would make a perfect setting for a wild and whimsical, “what-if” adventure.
Steve and Beth wrote out the story, and after adding the AMAZING illustrator, Marissa Tawney-Thaler, to the team, Emus on the Loose came to LIFE!
Telling the story of Jerry, the oldest, who is very practical. Mary who likes to see the best in things. Carrie, the youngest and the most daring. Larry, the smallest of the group, who is easily frightened. Terry, the biggest, who loves sports.
And then there is Steve, who is very… Steve.
Follow this bevy of birds as they explore fun and historic Kalamazoo, and learn some valuable lessons on teamwork! Look for the book and more coming to the website soon!
