Leigh Anne Fortner, a UCA alum, has been helping her community through the art of writing children’s books. 

Fortner is the founder of “Spread the Light Books,” a series of books that are not only educational but support a good cause as well. Each book in the series helps nonprofit organizations in Arkansas through net proceeds donations.

Approximately $4.50 of each purchase of Fortner’s new book “Mariposa” will be given to Our House Shelter in Little Rock. Our House Shelter is dedicated to empowering and providing support to families who are facing homelessness. 

Fortner decided to donate to Our House Shelter “to continue with the theme of spreading light, not only through stories but with donations.”

“I had always heard great things about Our House, but I got to see firsthand how they help our community when I joined a service group at Mosaic Church in Little Rock a few years ago,” Fortner said. “Our group would go cook meals and serve dinner once a month at Our House. That’s when I got to really learn about their mission and I love that they empower people, not only by providing for their physical needs but by providing them with education, life skills, work opportunities, child care, etc. They really seem to care for the whole person and that’s why I chose to support them.”

“Mariposa” is a story of growth about a tiny seed living in the desert who is transformed into a beautiful flower. This is Fortner’s first self-published book.

“I have really taken the time to learn as much as I can about publishing and I have decided to self-publish this book and all future books,” Fortner said. “The world of self-publishing is really growing and it’s a wonderful opportunity for someone like me, who is just starting out, to actually get your books out into the world.”

Despite spending her time writing children’s books now, Fortner originally envisioned a much different career path.

Fortner earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology from the UCA College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and worked as a speech pathologist before deciding to become a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her second child.

Inspiration for her first book, “The Light,” came to her during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I knew this story was special and needed to be shared,” Fortner said.

After writing “The Light,” Fortner described herself as having caught “the writing bug” and was eager to write her second story.

“The inspiration for ‘Mariposa’ came from thinking about the desert and relating that environment to certain times in our own lives,” Fortner said. “Oftentimes, difficult situations or circumstances can feel like a desert — hard, lonely, barren, but through those times we usually learn valuable lessons or see beauty form in unexpected places.”

Fortner is currently working on adding a new addition to “Spread the Light Books.” The inspiration for her third story, “Ripples,” came about after Fortner first heard the news about the current war in Ukraine.

“I wrote this book to inspire kids that our small acts of kindness, love and compassion can have ripple effects in this world far beyond what we expect,” Fortner said. “I really feel like children need stories like this when the world can seem so out of control. I hope that this next book will start some ripples of its own.”

“Spread the Light Books” can be bought at any online book retailer or purchased directly from www.spreadthelightbooks.com.