Lila and the Wheatfield Nine

Eight-and-a-half-year-old Lila can't wait for her first day of softball. She's got her glove, her cleats, and a plan to be a star from her very first swing.But her first day doesn't go the way she imagined. The ball won't cooperate. Her swing won't connect. And for a moment, Lila wonders if softball just isn't for her.Lila and the Wheatfield Nine follows one determined girl as she learns that the players who shine aren't the ones who get it right the first time - they're the ones who show up again, and again, and again. With the encouragement of her teammates and a growing belief in herself, Lila discovers that trying isn't about being perfect. It's about not giving up.A heartfelt story about resilience, teamwork, and the courage to try again, Lila and the Wheatfield Nine is perfect for young readers learning that failure isn't the end of the story - it's just the beginning. Lila and the Wheatfield Nine is a story about an 8.5-year-old girl who learns the importance of trying and trying again after failing at first when trying softball the first time. Copyright (c) [Year of First Publication 2026] by [Author Mark Carrico writing under the name of David Poe]All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact [publisher/author contact info].The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.Book Cover by [Mark Carrico]Illustrations by [Mark Carrico][Edition Number 1] edition [Year of Publication 2026]