IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers SILLY GEESE- Staci and Craig Gillette share a laugh in the backyard of their Simi Valley home while discussing "The Silly Goose Trap," the children's book they recently coauthored and selfpublished. The duo said they got the idea from their young child: "Our daughter was the main reason why we sat down to write anything," Staci said. The artistic bug finally caught up with Staci and Craig Gillette.

The Simi Valley couple recently published "The Silly Goose Trap," their first children's book. They'll have a signing event at Borders bookstore in Simi Valley on Friday, April 4.

Mail carriers for the U.S. Postal Service, the Gillettes found inspiration for the story from their 6year-old daughter

"I used to play a lot of silly games with her, and I used to call her 'silly goose,'" Craig said. "Instead of saying, 'Here comes the monster!' I would say, 'Here's the silly goose trap!' One night I woke up in the middle of the night, and I wrote it down. I just jotted down a few ideas, showed it to Staci and off we went with it."

"The Silly Goose Trap," which is appropriate for preschoolers learning to read and as a bedtime story, is about a hideandseek adventure shared by a father and his daughter.

Craig, 41, earned his bachelor's degree in art at UC Santa Barbara. Staci, 33, studied journalism at Moorpark College and has always enjoyed writing, especially fiction. Until recently, they hadn't had enough time to fully explore their creative talents.

"Our daughter was the main reason why we sat down to write anything," said Staci.

The Gillettes, who met while working in Camarillo as mail carriers, will continue to write children stories- they have outlines for a half-dozen children's books based on their daughter- but they're also working on other projects. Staci is writing two adult novels and her husband is crafting a journal. Some of his artwork hangs in their home, and he's sold several paintings.

"The artist always lived down inside," Craig said. "I went to school to do creative things. If I can continue with creative writing, that's great. If it's painting, sculpting or anything, I always want to do something creative."

Staci has a passion for words.

"I love words, I love putting words together," she said. "I've always been a big fan of books- any kind of book, even dictionaries. I don't remember when I started to write. I've always been this way. My mother read to me and encouraged me to read and write, even if it was keeping a silly diary when I was little."

Instead of soliciting publishing houses, the couple self-published the story and thus controlled every element of the process, from the artwork to the marketing.

The Gillettes said their little girl knows about the book, which is currently available on Amazon.com and at the Borders in town.

"She does know about it and she's extremely proud," Staci said. "She's full of life. She's full of questions and curiosity- and she's stubborn. You'll find yourself having conversations with her that you wouldn't think you'd have with someone (who is) 6 years old."

The April 4 signing for "The Silly Goose Trap" will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road.