Marshall Health Network dads pen children’s books

Eddie Holloway, MD, pediatric resident physician at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

In 2019, Eddie Holloway, MD, a pediatric resident physician at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, became a father. 

“From that moment, my life has not been the same,” he said. “I realized how incredible fatherhood is, and I wanted to spread that joy to other fathers and give the message that they are important. I grew up without a dad, so it was so special to me to be there for my son.”

“Dad, You’re Amazing!” is a children’s book by Holloway that highlights all the ways dads impact their kids’ lives, from teaching important life skills to fostering imagination.

“The day-to-day things may seem mundane,” Holloway said. “But in the eyes of your child, you are absolutely the most incredible, amazing individual out there. What you do does more in their eyes than you can actually imagine.”

Dads can get a bad rap, Holloway said, and fathers of color even more so. It was important to him that the book be inclusive and show families in all different colors and sizes. 

Holloway wrote and self-published the book while in medical school at the University of Utah. He is now a father of three. He said reading is a way to bond with your child from Day One, and he has been able to provide patients with the book. 

“You don’t even need to read,” he said. “You can just explain the pages. You can build, from the get-go, that special relationship with books.”

Chad Smith, MD, MHA, FAAP, chief population health officer at Marshall Health Network, and Jeremiah Butcher, RN, sign copies of their book "The Tracks in the Woods: A Bigfoot Forest Adventure."

Chad Smith, MD, MHA, FAAP, chief population health officer at Marshall Health Network, wrote his book, “The Tracks in the Woods: A Bigfoot Forest Adventure,” also with opportunities for bonding with your child in mind. Set to the tune of “Wheels on the Bus,” Smith said he and his illustrator and friend Jeremiah Butcher wanted the book to be little-kid friendly, from the illustration of your friendly neighborhood forest friend Bigfoot to the repetitive nature of the story.

“We tried to think of how kids would respond to Bigfoot,” Smith said. “No one ever sees him. You hear him and you see his footprints. That’s where the tagline of ‘Stomp, stomp, stomp” comes in.”

They also wanted to inspire families to get outside. 

“It’s a great excuse to put down the phones and tablets,” Butcher said. “Let’s go search for Bigfoot! I take my kids.”

Smith and Butcher, a nurse, met while working the night shift in an emergency room, and bonded over their love of being creative. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, night shift in the ER slowed down, and the pair brainstormed ideas for their book. Butcher would work on the illustrations after his kids went to bed.

“In nursing and other medical professions, it can be so exhausting,” Butcher said. “You have to find an outlet. I am always looking for ways to express myself.”

Chad Smith and his son Finn read the book together.

Butcher said he’s been able to use the book to connect with patients, which really brings him joy. For Smith, that community building is a cornerstone of practicing medicine.

“What more can we do than inspire hope?” Smith said.

Smith and Butcher want to expand to a series of cryptids, and Holloway has plans for a book about moms.

“Dad, You Are Amazing!” can be purchased on Amazon. Holloway can also ship signed copies or provide special messages. Request a signed copy at Booksbydreddie@gmail.com.

To purchase “The Tracks in the Woods: A Bigfoot Forest Adventure,” email Butcher at jeremiah.butcher5@gmail.com. Copies are $9 for local delivery; $13.50 for shipping.