Before she ever pulled a firehose or backed a fire engine into the bay, Lane Carl — a firefighter and paramedic at Rock Community Fire Protection District — was standing in front of a whiteboard with colored pencils, teaching art to children.

Today, she’s still inspiring young minds, but now through her hand-illustrated children’s book series: “Indie Adventures.”

Her newest release, “Indie Becomes an Engineer,” follows Indie, a young firefighter, as she trains to become a fire engineer. She learns how to drive, operate and pump a firetruck, all while facing the challenges of on-the-job learning. It’s a story that reflects the author’s own transition from classroom to firehouse — one she admits was both unexpected and life-changing.

“I knew very little about the fire service until the age of 34 when I joined the fire academy,” Carl said. “Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Written and illustrated entirely by Carl, “Indie Becomes an Engineer” is aimed at children in kindergarten through fifth grade. It’s designed to be fun, educational and, most importantly, empowering. The book encourages children not to fear failure and to embrace the learning process, particularly the kind that happens outside a classroom.

“This book is all about learning from those that came before you,” Carl said. “On-the-job training, in any career, is such a valuable way to grow. I’ve been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people who have taken the time to teach me everything they know. I wanted to bring that mentorship into the book.”

The dedication page, she added, is especially meaningful.

“I drew my entire crew,” Carl said. “They’re a huge part of my journey, and I owe so much to them. I wanted to make sure they were honored in the story.”

Despite Carl’s deep ties to firefighting now, the creative seed was planted long before she put on a uniform. 

“My first career was teaching, and I taught art for three years,” she said. “I’ve always loved drawing and creating. When I started in the fire service, I found myself getting back into it.”

That passion turned into something bigger when friends and colleagues began urging her to share her personal story.

“I’d tell people how I went from teaching to firefighting, and they’d say, ‘That’s such a good story, you should write a book.’ Eventually, I thought, why not?”

Carl’s first book, “Yeah, I Can Do That,” introduced readers to the now-titular character Indie and emphasized the value of trying new things. It was met with enthusiasm, especially among parents and educators. The latest installment builds on that success by diving deeper into the technical and emotional journey of becoming a fire engineer.

“Children need to see that it’s okay to struggle and still succeed,” Carl said. “Indie fails in this book. She gets things wrong, but she keeps showing up, listening and learning from her team. That’s how we grow.”

In an age of digital illustrations and AI-generated content, “Indie Becomes an Engineer” is refreshingly old school. Every image in the book is hand-drawn in pen and colored with pencils.

“I used black pens for outlining and colored pencils for the color — real old school,” Carl said. “It takes a long time, but I love the process. I love to color.”

The results speak for themselves, as she’s often met with the same surprised reaction.

“People ask me all the time, ‘Did you really draw all this?’ And yes, I did.  I’m really proud of that,” Carl said.

Although the official book signing won’t take place until August 9, early buzz around the book has already started.

“A friend texted me that her daughter heard the title of the new book and said, ‘Wait, like an actual firefighter like she dreamed about?’ That makes it worth it,” Carl said.

Feedback like that keeps Carl going, especially when the work gets tough. Writing, illustrating and self-publishing is no small feat, especially while balancing a demanding career as a firefighter. Still, she’s committed to getting the story out there.

“I remind myself, I do this for fun and for children. If they can enjoy it and take something from it, that’s a win,” Carl said. “I grew up not knowing anyone in the fire service. This is my way of showing kids that it’s a real, exciting and fulfilling career, even if it wasn’t on their radar before.”

Carl’s already thinking about her future, too. A third book is in the earliest brainstorming stages. 

“A lot of work goes into these books, and I haven’t quite committed to starting again, but I do have ideas,” she said.

At its heart, “Indie Becomes an Engineer” is more than just a children’s story — it’s a bridge between two worlds. It connects childhood wonder with real-life skill, art with emergency response and imagination with inspiration.

“Even if a call doesn’t seem like an emergency to us,” Carl shared, recalling the best advice she’s received, “it doesn’t mean it’s not an emergency to the person who called. When someone dials 911, it could be the worst day of their life. We owe them compassion. That’s a message I want kids to hear, too.”

With school visits in the works and more families discovering Indie’s journey, this firefighter-turned-author is proving that you can light a spark in a child’s life, in more ways than one.

Carl will be holding a signing at her firehouse on August 9. Fans can meet the author and get a signed copy of her new book from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will take place at 3749 Telegraph Road in Arnold. 

Interested readers can purchase “Indie Becomes an Engineer” at https://www.ffindieadventures.com.