Meet Tia

Trumbull resident Leanne Plein Micinilio's road to authorship started when she told stories to her siblings. But she has finally started writing them down.

Her first children's book, Tia's Troubles, was recently published by AuthorHouse. It was illustrated by Irene Olds.

"I made up the story when I was 8 years old," Micinilio, 48, said. "It's taken me years."

The character Tia is 6 years old with dark brown hair and green eyes, like the author, and can be mischievous. In her first adventure, she is waiting for her mother's friends to arrive for tea so she can enjoy her mother's homemade chocolate cake. But the enticing smell makes the cake hard to resist.

The book is set in South Africa, Micinilio's native land. After traveling  around, she met a Bridgeport man in Italy in 1995 and they married in South Africa in 1996.

They now live in Trumbull with their 10-year-old son, Ty. Some of his artwork appears in the book, as well as puzzles designed by the author.

Micinilio is used to dealing with children. According to her description in the book, she taught English to young children for two years.

She has read her book to a crowd at the and hopes to have more reading engagements around area.

"I really just wanted to see it in print," Micinilio said. "It was great to have something I was totally in control of. I wanted to have the satisfaction of holding the finished product in my hand."

Tia's next adventure will take place in an African Safari game park.

"In spite of her promise to herself to be a good girl, she ends up getting into all sorts of trouble!" Micinilio said.

Watching children grow is something the author enjoys.

"I am very fond of children, and am fascinated by what makes their curious minds tick. I find their naivete refreshing, and enjoy the fact that they say exactly what they are thinking. They have so much enthusiasm for life — deriving pleasure from simple things," she said. "We can learn so much from them. Since his birth, my own child continues to amaze, fulfill and delight me. Every day is a new adventure and I can't get enough."

The book is also on sale on Amazon.com.