Carroll Professor and Student Collaborate to Create Children’s Book

Writing a children’s book is a labor of love, and for William Bergan, Associate Professor of Social Sciences at Carroll Community College, it was a journey deeply rooted in personal experience.

Bergan’s motivation to write You Need Your Ears to Hear derived from a life-changing event in his family. When his grandson Lucas was born, his parents received some unexpected news: Lucas did not pass his newborn hearing test. Over the next few weeks, it was confirmed that Lucas could not hear certain pitches and would need hearing aids.

Writing the Story

For Bergan, writing was not just an artistic endeavor but a challenge he set for himself.

“I always wanted to write a book, and I guess you can say I put it on my bucket list of things to do,” he explained. However, inspiration didn’t come immediately. It was only through witnessing Lucas’s journey with hearing loss that Bergan found the story he wanted to tell.

“The inspiration for writing it came from watching my daughter and her husband interact with Lucas,” Bergan said, “and how now, at three years old, he wears his hearing aids.” This poignant family experience became the heart of Bergan’s story, and the illustrations in the book are based on actual moments from Lucas’s life, giving the narrative a personal and authentic touch.

Bergan wrote most of the book at his favorite coffee shop. “My favorite time to write is in the morning,” he shared. He often jotted down ideas on a legal pad after visiting his daughter’s family on the weekends. He completed multiple drafts of the story until he felt it was ready to publish.

Illustrating the Story

The illustrations in You Need Your Ears to Hear add a special layer of warmth and relatability to Bergan’s writing, thanks to talented artist Mia Duarte, who is a dually enrolled student at Carroll. She learned of the opportunity to illustrate the book through a connection her mother Austrie Duarte, Assistant Professor of English at Carroll, had with Bergan at the College.

“He knew I was an artist after viewing the small art gallery I did of the English departments’ professors located outside the English department,” Mia explained. “He then asked my mom if I was willing to illustrate his book.”

Mia’s background in drawing began at an early age. In junior high, she received formal training in graphic design at the Carroll County Career and Tech Center. Despite these years of experience, illustrating Bergan’s book was no easy task, as it required her to step out of her comfort zone.

“Realistic designs are not my forte,” Mia said, but this project gave her the chance to challenge herself artistically. Though her usual preference is to use more traditional media like markers and pens, Mia transitioned to digital art for the book, using the Procreate digital painting app. “I drew all the sketches on paper and then transferred them onto my iPad,” she said.

Through the process of crafting images to accompany Bergan’s words, Mia came to appreciate the significance of the project. “I enjoyed illustrating Mr. Bergan’s family, knowing that I would be able to provide a heartfelt story that will be in his family as a precious keepsake,” she said.

The Next Chapter

Looking ahead, Bergan hasn’t ruled out writing another book. “My daughter also has two identical twin daughters… Maybe [I’ll write] a book on Lucas meeting his sisters,” he mused. For now, he plans to promote You Need Your Ears to Hear at book fairs, local bookstore events, and readings at libraries and daycare centers.

Meanwhile, Mia is continuing her education and creative journey at Carroll Community College, where she is starting to pursue a degree in either Graphic Design or Communications.

You Need Your Ears to Hear is more than just a children’s book—it’s a testament to how personal stories can inspire a work of art. Through Bergan’s touching narrative and Duarte’s moving illustrations, this book not only educates young readers about hearing loss but also showcases the power of family and community in overcoming life’s challenges.