Young mom writes children's book inspired by adventures with daughter along river, donating portion of online sales to local riverkeeper group

In the midst of navigating numerous life changes five years ago, including a move from Danville to Riverside, Alyssa Maddalena and her then-2-year-old daughter began a daily routine of greeting the Susquehanna River each time they crossed the bridge between towns.

“If it was in the morning, we’d simply welcome it with a ‘Good morning, Susquehanna,’ or if we had to run an errand and cross over the bridge at night, we’d say: ‘Good evening, Susquehanna,’” she said. “As my daughter got older, we continued to be drawn to the river and did more and more adventures there.”

Last winter, Maddalena decided to compile some of those memories with her daughter from along the river into what has become a children’s book that released on Nov. 29 titled “Good Morning, Susquehanna.”

“I work as a physicians assistant in primary care and it comes with a lot of responsibilities and stresses. It was really looking for something to destress and I thought about what brings me the most joy, and that was my daughter,” she said. “And the adventures we have together along the river.”

One of those included zooming across the bridge together on an electric bike with a backpack to a family member’s home to get apples.

“Lorelei (Alyssa’s daughter) had decided to stuff the backpack to the brim – it was so full and here we were going across the bridge with it. It was so funny to us,” she said. “It was memories like that bring me such joy and help me realize how much she has grown.”
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So Maddalena compiled some of her favorite memories into a story on her computer, but it just sat there for months.

“I told my colleagues I was writing this children’s book about my daughter and our adventures on the Susquehanna River, and I truly enjoyed the process, but I didn’t think anything more would come of it,” she said.

“However, this past August while vacationing in Rehoboth, we went to a bookstore and there was this one children’s book cover that had this most amazing watercolor illustration, and I was immediately drawn to it. I don’t know what gave me the courage to reach out to the artist, but I did, and it turned out she grew up along the river and she instantly connected with the story and was excited to help bring our book idea alive.”

Listen to the full interview with Alyssa Maddalena in the most recent episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast:

You can purchase a copy of "Good Morning, Susquehanna" in person at the Troop 47 Trading Company on Mill Street in Danville, PA, or online using the button below. The author is donating 25 percent of every online book sale to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.

Buy the book online

​Lisa Madenspacher grew up in Columbia, PA, along the Susquehanna and lives in an old farmhouse on four acres with a creek that runs through it.

“The environmental aspect of a project like this is really important to me,” she said. “We have done restoration at our property and are part of the riparian buffer, and while this book may not be an environmental book, it can help connect people to some of those topics.”

Madenspacher has never been to Danville, but was able to recreate numerous scenes from the area thanks to photos from Maddalena as well as discussions and her imagination.

“This wasn’t my first book illustration. I used the photos she sent and did the typical research you would do ahead of time,” she said. “I consulted with her ahead of time on most of the illustrations to make sure we were on the same page. We both really had a good time working on this.”

When Maddalena first shared a proof with her daughter, the now-7-year-old started screaming with excitement.
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“She is my biggest cheerleader, but also my biggest critic. She is not afraid to tell me if she remembered something differently. We worked together to make the book what it is today,” said Maddalena, who had been praying for her daughter to take pride in the final product.

“When I saw her reaction, I just had happy tears. She gave me the biggest hug and told me she was so proud of me. She said this was a book of faith, and that no matter if I write another book or not, this one is going to be a family heirloom,” Maddalena said.

At a recent festival in downtown Danville, Maddalena said her daughter was more than happy to help promote the book.
“She kept yelling: ‘Books for sale! Good Morning, Susquehanna!’ She was so excited. And as people came closer, she would tell them proudly that she was the main character and she was excited to be in on the book signing, too,” said Maddalena. “We have also provided some books for her primary school, so she has been able to tell her classmates and they are available for families there. It is neat to see her excitement.”

Beyond being a stress reliever and remembering times with her own daughter, Maddalena hopes the book encourages other families to embrace the heartfelt, silly moments in their own lives and traditions.

“Life can be busy and chaotic, but really trying to remember the essence of family and love and trying to keep it a priority to hold onto that is so important,” she said. “I am hoping this book will help encourage families to have their own adventures along the river to look back on.”

For Lorelei, the experiences have led to an increasing appreciation for the aquatic ecosystem, Maddalena added.
“As she gets older, she is very adamant about seeing things like trash along the riverbanks and things like that,” she said. “Our adventures have transitioned, as well. She’s now going kayaking with me. It’s neat seeing her mature and having the river be a connection between us.”

Ultimately, the process has been one of learning and growth for Maddalena as well.

“Writing this book was something new for me. I had to put myself out there in new ways and when we are challenged, it deepens our faith and strength and ability to work together with others,” she said. “It is important to be open. This is an opportunity I didn’t know I’d ever have, so I am very thankful for that.”

“Good Morning, Susquehanna” is available for $16.99 and can be purchased in person at Troop 47 Trading Company on Mill Street in Danville or online at Alyssa Maddalena’s Shopify page: www.alyssamaddalena.myshopify.com

​She is donating 25 percent of all online sales to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association for efforts toward protecting and promoting the river across the 11,000 square mile watershed the nonprofit serves.

Maddalena can be contacted directly on Facebook and Instagram.

Madenspacher’s work can be found at www.lisamadenspacher.com