DERRY — Sitting on a sunny, sandy beach one day, Carol Ekster remembers clearly the strong urge to write down her thoughts.

But with no paper or notebook in sight, she took off toward her car and grabbed the only things she could find — a few pens and some notepaper.

Ekster, a longtime teacher at South Range Elementary School, began a journey that day that led to her first published children's book, "Where Am I Sleeping Tonight? A Story About Divorce." She has taught for 35 years and said her new book is based on experiences and moments she witnessed throughout her many years in the classroom.

"About six years ago, I had an out-of-body experience," Ekster recalled, and she began to write down her thoughts while on that beach vacation.

Ekster said the premise of the book came about while teaching, and she loosely based the fictional storyline on a particular student she remembered, who felt the effects of a divorce in his own family.

"It's a topic I've seen," she said. "I feel the pain of children going through a divorce."

"Where Am I Sleeping Tonight? A Story About Divorce" is about a fourth-grader, Mark, whose parents are newly divorced and sharing custody of their children. Mark explains in the story how hard it is to share time with each parent, and spend one day at one home, then another day with the other parent. The book is suitable for elementary-age readers, she said.

All the childhood feelings that go along with the trauma of a split family come out through Mark's perspective and his own quest to make it through and get his schoolwork done on time.

This is Ekster's first published book, but there are about 30 more stories already written, she said.

"It's my passion, and a gift," she said. "It's another way for me to touch children's lives."

So much so that Ekster hopes to continue to use her writing to touch those young lives even after she decides the time is right to retire from teaching. The entire teaching process can continue somehow through a story, she said.

Ekster hopes people will enjoy her writing and her stories and hosts a book signing on Sept. 23 at 3:15 p.m. at South Range Elementary School. Ekster will donate $1 per book sale to the school's library to support book purchases for the young students.

To learn more about Ekster and her writing, visit the teacher and author online at www.carolgordonekster.com.