Former Three Rivers Lady Raider Cameran Taylor (Martin) was a special guest at the Poplar Bluff Public Library on July 21 to read her latest book.
Taylor, who played for Three Rivers from 2020-21 and helped them reach the Final Four, published her second children’s book, “My Sister, Mother Goose” in March. After playing for Three Rivers, Taylor continued her academic and athletic career at College of the Ozarks in Branson.
Along with the children who regularly attend story time at the library, Taylor was greeted by Three Rivers women’s basketball coach Alex Wiggs, who coached her during her time with the team, as well as Board of Trustees member Tim Hager, Three Rivers basketball trainer Jeff Dawes, and members of their families.
“I was overwhelmed by how much support I still have there, even after six years,” Taylor said. “Hats off to the library. They have an amazing kids program going on for story time. They had it set up for me before I even got there. Oh my goodness, so many kids were there and ready to go.”
Her first book, “Billy Bear’s Big Journey” was published in October 2024. Both books are illustrated by Jenna Shanks and are available on Amazon.com.
In “My Sister, Mother Goose” this big sister has a lesson for everything. Her brother becomes tired of hearing them, until he notices that every rule, every reminder, and every rhyme is her way of caring for him. Join this little brother as he learns that having your very own Mother Goose might not be so bad after all.
The story was inspired by Taylor’s little brother and their childhood. When they were kids, it was Taylor who got called Mother Goose by her dad, and it got on her nerves because she didn’t want to be seen as bossy. One night, angry at her brother, who is now 22, Taylor woke up in the middle of the night and wrote the whole first draft of “My Sister, Mother Goose” and got those feelings out. About 3-4 hours later, her second book was written.
Editing, illustration, and the rest of the publishing process took another seven months.
Taylor is currently working on poetry for an art book, and she has an idea for a future children’s book.
“There are several, several things in my notebook that I want to eventually publish,” she said.
