Electric cooperative CFO’s daughter, 9, writes debut book
May 2025
Kaylee Lynn signs a copy of her book, “Esme’s Adventures on Dusty Hill Farm.” (photo by Jim Robertson)
by Mark Thomas, Contributing Writer
When young Kaylee Lynn Bullock met Esme, a spirited black piglet with a soft pink snout, it was love at first sight.
Esme was born at the farm next to Kaylee’s grandparents’ home in Amelia County, Va. Captivated with Esme, Kaylee visited her often, holding her and feeding her milk through a bottle.
Third grader Kaylee Lynn’s special bond with a pig inspired her to write a children’s book. (photo by Janet Eley)
It was this special bond that inspired now-9-year-old Kaylee to author a children’s book titled “Esme’s Adventure on Dusty Hill Farm.” Based on true events, it is a warm, tender story about a brave piglet who faces a big challenge and overcomes it, thanks to the loving care of Bethany Stranick, who, along with husband Joe, owns Dusty Hill Farm in Jetersville — the farm where the story is based in the book. There is also an educational aspect to the book, as it includes fun facts about pigs and a quiz at the end to test readers’ recall of the story.
Kaylee is the daughter of Joe and Carly Bullock. “I am inspired by Kaylee’s eagerness to learn and her confidence in navigating through book edits and conversations with her editor,” says Carly, chief financial officer at Southside Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Crewe. “Watching her through this process has taught me that with enough grit and determination you can do whatever it is you set your mind to.”
Kaylee has an older sister, Jazz, and an older brother, Carter. She also has a chocolate labrador named Bitsy.
On a cloud-free, warm afternoon in mid-March, Kaylee, accompanied by her mother and grandmother, Janet Eley, visits Dusty Hill Farm, only 10 minutes from her home in Amelia. Kaylee, who has brown hair past her shoulders, is wearing a favorite pair of boots for her special day at the farm. She is there to see Bethany and Joe, and to talk about Esme and her first published book. Before relaying Esme’s story, she tosses marshmallows to some of the pigs. The 16-acre farm is also home to chickens, cows, turkeys, goats and dogs.
Esme, a cross between the Red Wattle and Hampshire breeds, was one of a litter of 10 piglets born in October 2023. In the book, Kaylee tells us that Esme “could walk and run like piglets should.” But just a day or two later, Esme’s mother, April, who weighed 800 pounds, accidentally rolled over on Esme, injuring her back legs and leaving her unable to walk or nurse. Unfortunately, Joe says, that is “part of farm life.”
Farmer Bethany, as she is called in the book, loves all the animals on the farm and comes to Esme’s rescue. After picking Esme up out of the mud, she carries the fragile piglet, who only weighs a couple of pounds, into her house for a warm bath and a bottle of milk. Using a dog crate, clean towels and straw, she makes Esme a comfortable place to sleep in her guest bathroom. Esme likes living in what is called the “Big House” in the book, grunting when Farmer Bethany talks to her and enjoying playing in her water bowl. However, Kaylee writes that Esme misses her family. Since her legs have not healed, she is unable to live with her family in the pigpen.
Knowing they cannot keep Esme, “Bethany and Joe decided she needed to go to a farm that rescues injured animals,” Kaylee tells readers. They found a farm and, although sad, Bethany and Joe “knew it was the right thing to do.”
The book then goes on to describe the next part of Esme’s journey being about making new friends and discovering the joy of belonging. She joins “a new family of pigs that had also been injured.” In the book, Kaylee explains that while Esme misses Bethany and Joe, she “knew she was finally home.” She closes the story by telling readers that “Esme lived happily ever after.”
Now a third grader at Amelia Academy, Kaylee says she thought about writing a children’s book while in kindergarten. “I love to read. One time in kindergarten, I thought it would be cool to write a book, but I never thought it would be published,” Kaylee says.
The book was published by Prime Publishing Studio and became available on Amazon in November 2024. The 28-page book, which contains plenty of pictures of Esme, has so far sold about 400 copies, including many last Christmas.
Besides reading and writing, the new author lists art as her favorite subject at school and donuts as her favorite food. She plays softball, makes bracelets, camps with her family and likes hanging out with friends. She is also learning to crochet.
Farmer Bethany feeds Esme. (photo by Janet Eley)
Her grandmother, Janet Eley, was Kaylee’s coach for the book; however, she quickly says that she did not tell Kaylee what to write. “It was fun to watch Kaylee be creative,” Eley says. According to Eley, Kaylee would get off the school bus with her notebook and look up pig facts and write a few sentences. The research and writing took less than a year.
“‘Grandma, can we write some more in the book?’” Eley says Kaylee would ask.
It was a special time for grandmother and granddaughter. “My grandmother did a lot to create memories with me,” Eley says. “That is what I am doing with Kaylee.”
Kaylee says her friends tell her it is “cool” to have a published book. She figures she has autographed about 15 copies so far. The book is dedicated to her classmates: Jackson, Owen, Levi, Luke and Turner; a friend, Avery; and her school librarian, Mrs. Berry. Some book signings are in the offing.
“I am really excited about her book. It has gotten me and some students excited about writing a book of our own. Kaylee is a good student, good reader and writer, and is usually always happy and positive,” says Karen Berry, Amelia Academy librarian. Berry also points out that Kaylee was the school’s Author of the Month in March.
Copies of the paperback book are available in the library at Amelia Academy, as well as at Amelia County’s James L. Hamner Public Library. Kaylee hopes readers will learn something from the book. “I want them to know they should always help animals,” she says. A couple of takeaways from the book that her mother, Carly, hopes will resonate with readers: “Kaylee is 9 years old. It shows that you can do anything you set your mind to,” she says. Carly adds that everyone, even underdogs like Esme, need a little lifting up in life.
From left, Carly Bullock, Kaylee Bullock, Janet Eley, farmers Bethany Stranick and Joe Stranick. (photo by Aaron Rogerson)
“Esme’s Adventure on Dusty Hill Farm” may well be the first of many books for Kaylee. Keeping to the same theme of helping and loving animals, she is already working on a second story about a group of friends who raise money for animals that were hurt during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina last year. And a third book, currently just in the idea stage, will feature a cow named Tiny Hermione who lives on Dusty Hill Farm.
Kaylee has already gotten some of an author’s key equipment: a laptop and printer. She says, “I think it is fun to write books.”
For more information, search the book title, “Esme’s Adventure on Dusty Hill Farm,” on Amazon.
Mark Thomas is senior community relations coordinator for Southside Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Crewe, Va. SEC is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution company with more than 59,000 active services across 18 counties in central and southern Virginia.
“Esme’s Adventures on Dusty Hill Farm” is available on Amazon and at Amelia County’s James L. Hamner Public Library. The. book focuses on a pig named Esme and tells a story of overcoming adversity and discovering the joy of belonging.