Inspired by his two young daughters, Elizabethtown College Alumnus Dario Mescia ’98 recently published his debut children’s book, “Ruby Reindeer and the Magic Antlers.” The story follows a young female reindeer, Ruby, as she sets out on a courageous journey to prove that boy reindeer aren’t the only ones that have the magic to pull Santa’s sleigh.
Mescia wrote the book around the 2019 holiday season, just before the pandemic hit. When the concept for the story popped into his head one day, he knew he had to write the book to show his daughters and all young girls that they can achieve whatever they want to, as long as they believe in themselves.
“I hope that any young girl reading my book learns that there are no limits to what they can accomplish in this world and that no one gets to define who they are or what they can do except for themselves,” Mescia said. “For any young boy reading this book, I hope they learn that girls are capable of doing anything they are capable of doing.”
As a Communications major at Etown, Mescia was involved in both the ECTV student television station and the WWEC radio station as a DJ and the Assistant Music Director during his senior year. He credits Etown and the Communications Department with preparing him to succeed while navigating new experiences like this one.
“Etown taught me how to learn,” Mescia said. “This experience required me to learn many different specialties very quickly. I had to manage the PR, marketing, financials, and shipping, and I also had to design the book and manage the illustrator. I currently have to hold events and speak publicly. Most of that is out of my area of expertise, so I had to learn it all very quickly. Etown built that foundation for me and taught me how to learn quickly.”
Although he admits that the writing and publishing process was a lot of work, he encourages aspiring authors to be fearless when jumping into the unknown, be flexible, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“If you have an idea that you truly believe in, go for it,” Mescia said. “When you do, shoot for the moon. The worst thing that can happen is it fails. The best thing that happens is you get to the moon.”
To learn more about “Ruby Reindeer and the Magic Antlers” or to purchase the book, visit Mescia’s website. Keep up with his latest news on Facebook @rubyreindeerbook or on Instagram @ruby_reindeer.
