LISTEN TO OUR NEW SONG!
By Barchelle "Chelly" Bolger Wathen
Portfolio of Work
SHAYLA & FRIENDS
SHAYLA and FRIENDS
Shayla isn’t just any dog. Part shepherd. Part wolfdog. All heart.
Raised at Father’s House, a Christian orphanage in Ukraine, Shayla grew up with children who also knew what it meant to be abandoned and rescued. She found love and friendship, despite her tough start..
Then her world changed.
Carried across the ocean to America to her forever family. Shayla must begin again — new country, new home, new friends. But even in the unknown, a quiet truth follows her: the same God who led her before is still lighting the way with real-life miracles.
Based on a true story, Shayla & Friends is an adventurous journey of rescue, courage, and discovering that love can find you anywhere. Sometimes it’s through rescuing dogs—and sometimes it’s through the people who help us find home again.
This heartfelt true story lays the foundation for the Shayla & Friends series—written for adults and dog lovers alike. As Shayla searches for a place to belong, readers are gently reminded that we are all on a journey… and sometimes, the greatest rescue is the one that happens within our own hearts.
SHAYLA'S ADVENTURE:
What's Across the Ocean
An inspirational story designed for young kids but loved by all. Two young orphans, a boy Ashok and his dog Shayla, share a seaside adventure. Pretending to be pirates sailing the high seas, they find the real treasure in the friendship, love, and life lessons they share.
SHAYLA'S ADVENTURE:
Finding the Light in the Darkness
Revive your hearts as you follow this inspirational adventure with Shayla, the beautiful, sweet shepherd/wolfdog, and a curious boy Ashok, from a Ukrainian orphanage. Both orphans searching for their forever families. Together these friends dream of traveling the world in pirate ships, searching for ice cream (the best cure-all), and seek shelter from a fierce storm in a lighthouse with a most angelic lightkeeper. Trusting their Father to help them find the light in the darkness. These forever friends share life lessons of love, faith, and friendship that will connect with readers of all ages. Will they find their forever families?
SHAYLA'S ADVENTURE: Activity Booklet
SHAYLA & FRIENDS:
Into the Light
"Shayla & Friends: Into the Light" includes the true story and new adventures of the incredible shepherd/wolfdog mix Shayla's journey from a Ukrainian orphanage where she grew up, to America in search of her forever home. She crosses the ocean to find her family and dog pack at a forest ranch. Together with her new friends, they overcome painful pasts, battle a forest fire that threatens to destroy their home, capture bank robbers. They endure loss and experience joy, sharing lessons of love and friendship. Then she must choose: will she remain with her family or follow the lure of the wild wolves?
SHAYLA'S ADVENTURE:
Home for Christmas
Santa and his reindeer find puppy Shayla alone in Ukraine and take her back to the North Pole. She learns a lot from being there but then Santa said it's time for her to go back to Ukraine and love others, at Father's House orphanage. Is she ready to be a great companion for the children?