By: Gamaliel Noel
For families who live between departures and new beginnings, goodbyes become a part of everyday life.
Change is rarely easy. For many families, it arrives swiftly, often carrying with it goodbyes that feel heavier than expected. Mary Sease captures this emotional truth with clarity, lessons of love and connection in her children’s book Ciao for Now, offering a story that resonates deeply with themes of belonging.
More than a traditional children’s book, Ciao for Now reads with authenticity in its roots, drawing from lived experience to create a narrative that feels both intimate and universal.
A Life Full of Stories
Mary Sease did not arrive at writing overnight; her path has been shaped by her life time. Raised in a small fishing town in Massachusetts as one of eleven siblings, she grew up immersed in a world rich with stories, traditions, and enduring family bonds. That deep sense of connection would remain a guiding force as she went on to build a life rooted in service, family, and community.
As a Navy spouse for 16 years, Mary experienced the rhythms of constant movement, new homes, new faces, and ever-changing routines. Through these transitions, she witnessed firsthand the impact of change on families, particularly on children. Some adapt quickly; others take time.
“Storytelling has always been part of who I am,” she reflects, a truth evident in her work. For many years, writing took a secondary role as she focused on raising her family, supporting a life of service, and leading as both a business owner and nonprofit manager. Now, she returns to the page with intention, bringing forward stories that speak to love, resilience, and the enduring connections that shape who we are.
The Story Behind Ciao for Now
Ciao for Now is a heartfelt children’s story inspired by a real family journey. It follows a young boy in a Navy family whose life changes when they relocate to Italy for a new duty station, an experience that marks both an ending and a beginning.
As the boy travels across the Straits of Messina to his grandfather’s ancestral village, he discovers far more than a new destination. He finds a sense of belonging, one rooted in family, tradition, and shared history. Surrounded by aunts, cousins, and the simple joys of daily life, he is welcomed into a world rich with warmth.
The story unfolds with a gentle, unhurried pace, allowing each moment of travel, arrival, and discovery to fully resonate. In doing so, it reveals a quiet yet powerful truth: while life may change, the bonds of love remain constant. With an early understanding that distance is measured only in miles, the character comes to embrace change not as loss, but as something rich with possibility.
A Message That Feels Real
What makes this book stand out is how simple the message is. And how true it feels. Sease does not try to over-explain things. She keeps it clear that distance is only measured in miles, and goodbyes are never truly the end; they are simply a promise of “see you soon”. That idea runs through the whole book. It is something children can understand. But it also speaks to parents. Especially families who move often, like military families.
She hopes the story brings comfort and gives families an easy way to talk about moving, change, and new beginnings.
Writing from Real Life
This book almost wrote itself. I was riding a bike with the great-grandfather of our first grandson in his hometown, Naples, in Long Beach, California. As we rode, he shared stories from his childhood. They were honest and full of life. I couldn’t wait to get home and write them down.
Gene and the Baby Seal came from that moment. It’s a warm children’s story about a time when life kept going, even during war, and a child still found joy in simple things. The story reflects what matters most to me: kindness, compassion, and small moments that stay with us.
The writing feels personal, like someone talking to you. It’s not rushed or perfect. It’s just real.
What Comes Next
Mary Sease is working on her next book, Walking with My Daughter, a novel inspired by a mother-daughter journey along the Camino de Santiago. In this story, she shares moments from their journey, watching the light rise over the hills, choosing paths through the mountains, meeting tired pilgrims, and giving thanks along the way. As they move forward, they begin to understand something simple but powerful: no matter how far the road goes, it always leads back to home and family. This idea sits at the center of her work, and she continues to build on it as she writes more children’s books.
A Story That Stays With You
Ciao for Now is a simple but meaningful children’s book. It does not try to be loud or dramatic. Instead, it focuses on what really matters: family, love, and finding comfort even when life changes.
It reminds readers of something we all know but sometimes forget: family stays with us, no matter where we go. And maybe that is the reason the book works so well. It does not try too hard. It just tells the truth. Sometimes, a goodbye is not really a goodbye at all; it is simply a promise to meet again.
To follow the author’s journey, you can visit the author’s website:
Website:Author Mary Sease official website
Social Media Platforms
Facebook: Mary Sease author Facebook page
Instagram:Mary Sease author Instagram profile
Order your copy
Barnes & Noble:Ciao for Now on Barnes & Noble
Amazon:Ciao for Now on Amazon
