By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Kyle Culp has written scientific manuscripts and abstracts but writing a children’s book was a bit out of his comfort zone.
What started as his personal reflection about being a dad after he learned that a close friend had lost his young son to an e-coli infection, eventually evolved into “I’ll Hold You Tight,” a children’s book.
“I decided I wanted to make sure our kids knew that somebody would always be there for them,” said Culp, who is husband to Ashley Bushman Culp and father to Adalida, Klifton and Amos.
The book is a short, sweet message of love and care for his children and other children who “could use a big squeeze” of reassurance.
Initially, he wrote the parental message that filled his thoughts, wondering how loss might impact his children and what he could do to help them. However, he didn’t do anything with the words at the time. “I just emailed it to myself and kept it as an unopened email in my inbox for several years,” he recalled.
Occasionally over the past several years, the idea of the book would bubble to the surface. When his mother mailed some childhood memories to him, a third-grade book project tucked into the keepsakes reminded him of an earlier time when he and a classmate put together an illustrated story.
On a whim, he reached out to the former classmate to see if he would lend his artistic abilities to the illustrations for Culp’s new project. The book went on the back burner again when the classmate indicated he didn’t have time to do the artwork.
Culp also remembered a chapter book that he and Aaron Matthews, a friend and former work colleague, jointly started.
“That book didn’t go very far, in part because of time, and I realized we weren’t really great writers. Or at least I wasn’t,” he said.
The biggest obstacle for Culp became finding that balance between wanting to share the caring and compassionate message for children and his tendency to be reserved with his thoughts and ideas.
His admitted reticence also impacted the writing process. With a background of writing academically—a master’s thesis at Purdue University on beef and cattle nutrition, and a doctoral dissertation at Ohio State University on collegiate livestock coaching—he was less comfortable knowing how to write to make it enjoyable, he said.
After many revisions and finding 16-year-old Yuri Matthews to illustrate the book, Culp was determined to wrap up the project by Christmas 2023.
Yuri, whose father just happens to be Culp’s friend, was given full reign to conceptualize the illustrations for the book. The Perrysburg High School sophomore, who dabbled in art their whole life, was honored to be asked.
“I thought I was just some mediocre art kid, but I’m going to be illustrating a book,” Matthews said proudly, also giving thanks to Perrysburg Junior High art teacher Maura Amato for encouraging the love of art.
“She made art class enjoyable. I was sort of good at art before, but I never really cared about doing it until I was in her class. She’s the most amazing art teacher I’ve ever had, and I hope I can be as amazing of a teacher as her one day,” said Matthews, who plans to pursue an art education degree.
When it came time to do the illustrations, they were “inspired by the words Kyle had written. I went off the main theme and the words for each page.”
Experienced in acrylic and watercolor painting, Matthews chose watercolor wash for the rich colors and quick drying qualities.
The book’s pages are filled with bright-colored artwork that adds visuals to Culp’s words—for example, a painted dreamcatcher and red monster eyes were used to illustrate the text: “If your dreams seem too real and they give you a fright/Run to me, my sweetheart, and I’ll hold you tight.”
Matthews also captured the familiar red barn of “Culp Acres,” the green-with-envy disappointment of a second-place finish and the calm blues of a beach scene.
“It was great to work on the book. It’s a cute, little kids’ book that is really wholesome,” Matthews said.
The book is intended to secure that reader-child connection, Culp said.
“Make sure to take time with kids whether you are a parent, aunt, uncle, friend … and make sure they know you, or someone will be there for them.”
“The biggest thing, if anyone has an idea to publish something, I would suggest carving out some time to do what you want. The resources out there are endless.” Culp said.
Finishing the book through self-guided publishing took a lot of time, but like for much of the work he does as a national account leader with DNA Swine Genetics, co-owner of Heins & Culp Show pigs, and other life’s demands, he eked out time in the early mornings or after the kids were in bed.
“I try to make myself available to the extent I can,” he said. And as one of his managers told him, “It’s not doing any good sitting on the shelf.”
He’s not planning any big celebrations or readings though he may drop off some copies at local libraries.
“That’s not why I did this. I’m glad to have done it, and It’s been a nice activity to do. I have no big intentions or expecting awards,” he said.
The book is available to order online in print or digital formats at Barnes & Noble.
