“How’s the book coming along?,” I asked my friend Kelly over Skype about nine months ago. I looked forward to talking with my blogging-buddy-turned-real-friend over the ol’ Skype like nothing else back when I was at home full time with C. We talked blogging, writing, motherhood, and life. I didn’t have to apologize when the, erm, structural integrity of C’s diaper was compromised and I had to get up abruptly. Kelly got it, having gone through the baby years twice over with her own kids.

At my question, she sighed that all-too-familiar sigh that we moms all know.

“Ah, it’s coming along. Slowly. I’ve just got to find the time to really throw myself into it and just get it done.”

I had no doubt in my mind that Kelly’s first children’s book, Absolute Mayhem, would eventually come to fruition, even if at that moment when I asked her about its progress she doubted it herself. See, unlike me, Kelly gets things done. She has always dreamed of becoming a children’s author and illustrator, so that’s exactly what she has become.

And guys, let me just tell you. The book?

The book is amazing. 

Absolute Mayhem tells the tale of Lulu and Milo, siblings who escape the often boring and tedious world of adults by exercising their active imaginations. They may physically inhabit a regimented world of math classes, gross household chores, and broccoli-laden dinner menus, but their minds transport them to places they’d rather be. If they can dream it, they can do it. C is just getting to the age where she is learning to really exercise her own imagination in her play, so she loves to read about the worlds that Lulu and Milo create for themselves right out of thin air. Even though C is a toddler, this book is well-suited to all elementary-aged kiddos.

I always knew Kelly was a fantastic writer (just check the sidebar to her blog; she’s been featured on The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and BlogHer. She’s kind of a big deal, y’all.), but her illustrations for AbMay are what sealed the deal for both C and me. Lulu and Milo’s dog Hippo is cleverly hidden on each page, and we both love looking for him. It beats Where’s Waldo any day.

I’m so incredibly proud of Kelly for following her dream, finding that elusive time, and writing Absolute Mayhem. While she is, ahem, removing any excuse I might have for not being able to get things done in my own life, I’ll forgive her :)

I know that you and your kids will love AbMay as much as we do, so make sure you have some Mayhem under your tree this holiday! The book is now available here on Amazon.

But wait! There’s more! Because Kelly is amazingly generous, she is giving away a FREE COPY of Absolute Mayhem to one reader of The Waiting! Just click here to enter the giveaway! You can enter everyday through Dec. 15, so bookmark this post and return everyday to increase your odds.

Congrats, Kelly. I meant it when I said that this book is basically Nutella. In fact, it may be better because I haven’t spilled it all over my shirt yet. xo