Tag Archives: Sean O’Leary

Princess, a graceful cardinal, and Scruffy, a lovable silvery-gray
squirrel, discover an unlikely friendship in the forest. As the seasons
change, Scruffy must face his greatest fear and learn that courage often
begins with a friend by your side.

Sean O’Leary is a local Utah author whose work spans dystopian
thrillers, heartfelt children’s stories, and reflective literary
nonfiction. From dark futures to woodland friendships, his writing is driven
by imagination, emotional depth, and the belief that every story should leave
a mark. Backstory: Nearly four decades ago, what would one day become Princess
and Scruffy began not as a children’s book, but as a love letter. When
Sean O’Leary was first dating the woman who would become his wife, he
put his feelings into story form. In his heart, he saw himself as
Scruffy—the hesitant, lovable squirrel learning to climb beyond his
fears—and her as Princess, the graceful cardinal who drew him toward
courage, wonder, and love. What began as an intimate letter between two people
slowly took on the shape of a fairy tale, revised and cherished across the
years of their life together. Then, two years ago, with the arrival of his
first grandchild, the story found its true home. Sean wanted to leave behind
more than a book; he wanted to preserve a living piece of family
history—a bedtime story born from the love he felt for the child’s
grandmother, now transformed into a legacy for the next generation. Brought
vividly to life through the enchanting illustrations of Turkish artist Hatice
Bayramoglu, Princess and Scruffy is both a woodland fable and a quiet love
story that has endured for 38 years.