NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- A friendly challenge between Neelyville Elementary Principal Aaron Burton and baseball Coach Tyler Thompson in 2016 sparked an idea that resulted in a published piece of work for the school.
"Tyler had to cover for a fourth grade class one day and sent a student to my office asking me to write a one page story," Burton said.
Admitting he "kind of dismissed" the request at first and didn't have a lot of time to devote to the story, Burton said he then recognized what was happening.
"I thought, 'he's not going to challenge me and get away with it,'" Burton said. "I'm going to challenge him with the same."
The battle of words inspired Burton to extend the challenge to over 40 Neelyville faculty and staff members to collectively write a children's book.
"I wish I had thought of the idea," Assistant Elementary Principal Debra Parish said. "I'm really jealous."
Burton began "The Night Hunters" with a group of children who walk past a house each day trying to muster up the courage to go inside and see if the place really is haunted.
"I'm not going to give away the end, but it came together really well," Burton said.
The four characters Burton created in "The Night Hunters" are based on people in his life.
"Two are kids I coached and now work with and the other two I grew up with or played ball with," he said, admitting one man already nailed which character was portrayed after himself.
Wanting imagination to be the guiding factor, Burton also asked for vocabulary words to be incorporated into the story during each teacher's time to write.
While passing the work along, staff members were able to read what the person before wrote and take over the story from there.
The book, Burton said, pushed the teachers to set an example for their students that nothing is out of reach.
Burton praised the attitude of the staff toward the entire project while having a lot of fun with their own challenge issued.
"They are such professionals," Burton said of his staff. "Not only are they professionals, they are caring, outgoing, top notch and exemplary!"
Once all the staff had a chance to add their own flair to the story, Parish, Title I Reading instructor Heather Dollins and Nurse Kim Hager, who also has other books published, took to the story for editing.
Elementary art teacher Jennifer Prince then began the illustrations for the book.
Illustration inspiration for the adventurous characters, Prince said, came from the "Stand By Me" movie.
Dreaming of composing illustrations for a book her entire life, Prince said she was very excited to be a part of the project.
"This was a bucket list thing for me," she said.
Out of her element illustrating people, Prince said she believes her niche is drawing whimsical items, but enjoyed the challenge of the mystery and suspense theme of the book.
"I'm an elementary teacher," Prince said. "Everything is always rainbows and cupcakes, so this was a little bit of a challenge."
Tasked with many other projects in the midst of drawing, Prince admitted she didn't realize how much work went into a book.
"I have about 40 hours into the drawings," Prince said. "Until I started I didn't know how long it would take. I had an unrealistic expectation at first."
Now realizing just how long the project can take, Burton and Parish both agreed they would like to see a book about every two years for the school.
"No doubt Ms. Parish, Ms. Hager, Ms. Dollins and Ms. Prince had the toughest job of all," Burton said.
Two years and 40 pages later, "The Night Hunters" is complete and was published by Student Treasures Publishing in Topeka, Kan.
"Everyone is just now reading the entire story," Burton said.
Burton described the excitement of having the two-year project in the books as one of his proudest moments as a teacher and administrator.
"I squealed and I don't squeal," he admitted once seeing the published book. "This started as a challenge and I hope it inspires others."
Now with the book completed and available for students in the library, it is also being incorporated into the curriculum at the school.
While in the library, second grade student Reese Armes said he has read "The Night Hunters" and also owns his own copy at home.
"I liked the book," Armes said. "My favorite part was the end."
Outside of the school library, "The Night Hunters" is also available for purchase through the school office and order forms will be sent home with students.
A soft copy of the book cost $30, a standard hard copy is $35 and a deluxe hard copy cost $40.
Revenue from sales of the book will go toward the building fund at Neelyville.
Currently, a music room is not available at Hillview Elementary causing distractions while sharing classrooms and the dated facilities do not allow for up-to-date technology.
Having a tough time passing a bond issue, Burton said the administration and teachers are working to put the students in what he feels they deserve building wise.
"As administrators and teachers, we have taken the bull by the horns in getting the best for the kids," Parish said.
Now that "The Night Hunters" is complete, Parish is chomping at the bit to get the next book started.
"I'm ready to do it again," she said. "I think this is one of the coolest things we have done."