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Danielle Herzog understood what it meant to school-age children to be represented. As a school counselor, Herzog saw students in her office who struggled to fit in with friends, family, and/or others within their race, gender, or sexuality. She saw dozens of students, letting them know they were okay just as they were.
It was a statement she sometimes needed to hear herself, although she may not have realized it. The married mother of two had a great career as a teacher and was going strong when, in 2020, her life began to take a turn.
In early March 2020, Herzog and her family were at Great Wolf Lodge for spring break. En route to Kansas City, Herzog received a call from her doctor’s office informing her that her recent mammogram showed some irregularity. This was as the local and national news was reporting on a deadly virus that was sweeping the world. Cruise ships were stranded with passengers unable to disembark; bars and restaurants started to shut down; and people began remote work from home. The Herzogs’ vacation had a dark cloud hanging over it that was about to grow even darker.
The next day, while at the lodge, Herzog received notice that Omaha Public Schools, for whom she had worked at Harrison Elementary School since 2017, was shutting down.
“At the same time I’m finding out that something’s happening with my body, I’m having to go into this emergency mindset of ‘What does this look like, as a counselor, to be in a pandemic?’” Herzog said.
With new, changing health protocols in place, she went into her doctor’s office alone several days later for a biopsy, which revealed that she had two malignant tumors right next to each other in her breast. She went into a lumpectomy, alone, with a note attached to her shirt stating: “If lost, please return to Matt Herzog or George Clooney.”
Herzog attended radiation treatments alone, ultimately coming through treatment just fine. She then threw herself into supporting breast cancer efforts so that others didn’t have to undergo a similar experience. Herzog participated in 5Ks, wore pink, and became a champion for the condition that medical professionals caught early and eliminated.
She may have celebrated too soon. In February 2024, nearly four years to the date after she received the phone call about her cancerous lump, she felt another one in a similar area to the previous mass. Her reaction was, “It’s fine.” There was scar tissue from her lumpectomy, and she figured that’s what she felt. Herzog went on a girls’ trip with friends. She didn’t tell her husband about her discovery. She left it alone for three weeks before following up with her doctor, who initially agreed that it was potentially scar tissue, but nevertheless ordered an ultrasound, which revealed a new mass.
“I asked the technician if there was fluid in the tumor, and they told me there was not,” Herzog said. “So then I thought, ‘Oh, my God, what is this?’”
Fluid in a mass often indicates a benign cyst as opposed to a cancerous one. Herzog again had breast cancer, and this time, it proved more aggressive, more severe. In a matter of weeks, she went from “let’s check this out” to a double mastectomy, a hysterectomy, and chemotherapy. An infection occurred from the mastectomy, and her healthcare team had to redo that one side.
Not only was the cancer different, her mindset also became different. Herzog became withdrawn with the strength she found from being a champion for breast cancer survivors and advocacy gone. She broke down and cried with her husband, unable to handle being around a lot of people.
Just as with the first diagnosis, not only was her physical body changing, she was also going through major life changes. Two days after learning she had cancer again, she interviewed for a new job, this time as assistant principal for Paddock Road with District 66.
One thing that brought her joy, however, was the fact that her book was coming out in a couple months.
Writing was the other love of Herzog’s life. She graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in English and had written web and print articles most of her adult life. She had earned credits in the Washington Post as well as the Huffington Post, was a columnist for the Omaha World-Herald’s Momaha, and her “Martinis and Minivans” blog had over 2,000 likes on Facebook by 2013, when she shut it down due to wanting to respect her children’s privacy.
As a veteran freelance writer, Herzog understood the power of storytelling, and she accordingly developed an interest in writing both picture books and novels for middle-grade readers, who range in age from 8 to 12.
“I was utilizing picture books constantly,” Herzog said of her work as a school counselor. “I had so many students that would come to me individually, struggling with their identity …this was a very common theme that would come up.”
That’s when the educator realized she could help her students and continue writing. One day, in the span of about an hour, she conceived a story about a fluffy-tailed, giant-eared, colorful animal, who is asked by the other animals to define himself. The animal, named Lou, isn't able to give a one-word answer. The book, titled “What Are You, Lou?” reveals the protagonist’s unique character and self acceptance.
Crafting the initial story was the easy part. She put it aside, edited it in her brain, then on paper. She showed it to a few friends who are also writers, who gave her feedback and then changed parts of the story from there.
It took several months before she thought it was ready for publication. Herzog finally sent it to a couple agents, who rejected the work because it wasn’t part of their wheelhouse. She worked on it harder, edited it more. Finally, she discovered an open call for manuscripts by Beaming Books, a publisher that produces children’s books to help kids thrive emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It’s an imprint of the Christian-based 1517 Media. This book, with its message of acceptance and loving oneself no matter how unique a creature is, rang true with the imprint, which picked it up for publication.
“It was amazing, and and we cheered,” she shared, “and they were like, ‘It’s coming out in two years.’”
It was a process. The initial editor who read the book took it to the publisher’s acquisitions team, who determines whether or not a story is salable. Then the editorial department combed through the story and suggested changes.
In this particular case, the book included garnering illustrations, which were done by Jestenia Southerland of Dover, Delaware.
“As soon as I saw her illustration samples, I knew she was the right person for the job. She nailed the look I imagined for the characters—including Lou,” Herzog said, noting. that Southerland was commissioned by the publisher.
Val Howlett, senior publicity and marketing specialist with Beaming Books, said Danielle was motivated to see this book to production in spite of her health.
“Danielle Herzog is a talented, thoughtful author and a joy to work with. She’s been very proactive in promoting “What Are You, Lou?” No one at Beaming Books even knew she was going through cancer treatment during the lead-up to her book launch until she sent me the article in the Omaha World-Herald that discussed that challenge. I am impressed by her skill as a writer and her ability to push through.”
By the time Herzog’s children’s book rolled off the presses, she was starting chemotherapy to rid herself of the cancer that was ravaging her body for a second time.
Through it all, her determination and spirit enabled her to be resilient and accepting of the changes she has gone through mentally, physically, and emotionally. She is now working on a middle-grade book and recovering from the surgeries and chemotherapy.
“I’m so happy I wrote this book,” Herzog said of “What Are You, Lou?” “I think it’s very interesting that the book came out in the midst of this cancer. You know, of this fabulous reminder of staying true to yourself.”
For more information about “What Are You, Lou” and Herzog’s other work, visit danielleherzog.com.
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
