Land of Handom written and illustrated by Methuen MA John Miller

2010

10-YEAR-OLD, JOHN MILLER, MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL OLYMPIAN

Diagnosed with autism at age 5, John was behind both academically and physically. His parents set him on the path to get stronger and he eventually excelled in sports. John went on to win several gold medals in Special Olympics gymnastics and track and field and was featured in the Eagle Tribune for his accomplishments and was recognized by a proclamation from the City of Methuen celebrating him. John has overcome so many obstacles with his can do spirit and never giving up. He was already inspiring kids and adults with his good and kind heart.

2015

JOHN KICKING HIS WAY TO BLACK BELT

John has gone onto attending the Greater Lawrence Vocational Institute, majoring in Graphics and begins his journey with building his self-confidence, agility, strength, and discipline in Tae Kwon Do where he will go on and receive his black belt. At the same time, John has started his other journey in writing his first book. Drawing on his I Pad Pro , he came up with the whimsical and colorful drawings that got turned into the first book.

2018

JOHN RECEIVES HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

John had been busy, at age 17, he writes and illustrates his first children’s book, Adventures in Handom and starts his inspirational speaking / reading career to share his struggles and accomplishments. He runs cross country and track for 2 years for his school and ends up getting a leadership award and is chosen as prom king and receives multiple scholarships. The Voke supports his book and has a Handom event in which John sells around 80 books and receives admiration and love from staff and students.

2020

2020 JOHN WRITES AND ILLUSTRATES THE MAGICAL HEART OF HANDOM, PICTURE OF JOHN AND PEDRO FROM MEXICO, ADDING OUR 7TH COUNTRY.

John is now attending Northern Essex Community College where he is majoring in Early Childhood Education. This was spurred on by a lightbulb moment when he had the chance to teach a writing and drawing course for Si Se Puede , for underprivileged children from the projects in Lawrence MA. He decided he wanted to work with children. John has been receiving praise and good reviews for his book and has artwork. He has sold over 40 art prints. His first book has been doing well and he also receives a Proclamation from the City of Lawrence Ma for his work with Si Se Puede and his academic and athletic accomplishments.

2020

2020-PRESENT JOHN’S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY PRESENTATION, FEATURED WITH DAVID E, BIRTHDAY BOY PROUDLY HOLDING HIS SELF PORTRAIT AS A HANDOM CHARACTER.

Covid hit everyone hard and even remote learning did not slow John down. He is still attending Northern Essex and has made the dean’s list multiple times . He has gone on to be accomplished inspirational speaker and has spoken to over 4,200 kids and adults and counting. He loves sharing his story to show children, with and without disabilities, that anything is possible if you work hard and believe in yourself. He is still attending Northern Essex and has made the dean’s list multiple times.

Land of Handom is now in 26 states and 9 countries.

We are now available at Eighteen Friend St Gift Shop located in Amesbury MA, Locally Hand made in Salem NH, and The Mall of Rockingham Park, Salem NH. Adventures in Handom is available on Amazon and Magical Heart is in eform. We are carried in bookstores in Lawrence MA, and two locations in Vermont and stay tuned in for more to come.

2021

Moving Forward with Land of Handom

We put together our first PowerPoint presentation for the Windham NH Service Club for Women and John did wonderful and got a special congrads from the President of the club.

Added new store, Eighteen Friend St, Amesbury Ma and made a new friend, Coleen Mc Gowan, owner. We had a book event and did amazing, sold over 30 books. John also started working as an assistant teacher at the Y in Methuen MA and starts his journey towards being a teacher working with children.

2022

Graduating with Honors

Land of Handom - Methuen John Miller graduating college

Things are starting to get back to normal, the new normal, speaking of Covid. We presented to a whole school for Pentucket Lake, Haverhill MA and did incredible. The total was almost 400 kids and sold a whooping 56 books. The school was awesome and ended up sending us a book of the kid’s drawings from Handom, amazing. Another big accomplishment, John graduated from Northern Essex with his associate degree in Early Childhood Education and graduated with honors. Northern Essex also posted about John’s Flutie Fellow status on Instagram.

John presented to the Deer Hill Elementary School in Cohasset Ma where the SEPAC set up the event. The school loved the presentation, and the kids were inspired and talked of writing their own books. John also had another school event representing the Flutie Foundation at the School for Exceptional Studies This Lawrence Ma school is for children with special needs.

Let the journey begin

Methuen MA children's author & autism ambassador

BRINGING LAND OF HANDOM TO LIFE.
by John R. Miller

10-YEAR-OLD, JOHN MILLER, MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL OLYMPIAN

JOHN KICKING HIS WAY TO BLACK BELT

JOHN RECEIVES HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

2020 JOHN WRITES AND ILLUSTRATES THE MAGICAL HEART OF HANDOM, PICTURE OF JOHN AND PEDRO FROM MEXICO, ADDING OUR 7TH COUNTRY.

2020-PRESENT JOHN’S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY PRESENTATION, FEATURED WITH DAVID E, BIRTHDAY BOY PROUDLY HOLDING HIS SELF PORTRAIT AS A HANDOM CHARACTER.

Moving Forward with Land of Handom

Graduating with Honors

Address

Contacts

Links

Let the journey begin

Methuen MA children's author & autism ambassador

BRINGING LAND OF HANDOM TO LIFE. by John R. Miller

10-YEAR-OLD, JOHN MILLER, MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL OLYMPIAN

JOHN KICKING HIS WAY TO BLACK BELT

JOHN RECEIVES HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

2020 JOHN WRITES AND ILLUSTRATES THE MAGICAL HEART OF HANDOM, PICTURE OF JOHN AND PEDRO FROM MEXICO, ADDING OUR 7TH COUNTRY.

2020-PRESENT JOHN’S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY PRESENTATION, FEATURED WITH DAVID E, BIRTHDAY BOY PROUDLY HOLDING HIS SELF PORTRAIT AS A HANDOM CHARACTER.

Moving Forward with Land of Handom

Graduating with Honors

Address

Contacts

Links

BRINGING LAND OF HANDOM TO LIFE.
by John R. Miller