By Steve Morris

By day, Michael Willert is a purchaser at General Safety Equipment in Wyoming. By night, he churns creative energy into children's books and songs.

This holiday season he received one of the best presents ever -- he got one of his children's books published.

For the past year, Willert has ardently tried to get his book, "Wanted: Billy the Bear" published. Traversing through the foreign land of the publishing world has been difficult, but well worth it, he said.

"It's been a pretty good adventure for I've been teaching and learning everything myself. It's been an interesting road," he said.

Outskirts Press Inc. of Denver, Colo., finally bit on his book and the rest is history. Now, anyone who wants to can have access to his work.

Currently, it can be purchased at major retailers such as amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Ingram and Baker & Tayler.

"Any store that wants it can have it," he said.

The book is geared toward children in grades two through four and is 36 pages long. It is the story of a boy who finds his imagination with a little help from his mom.

"Wanted: Billy the Bear" isn't the first book Willert has written. Rather, it's the first to see the masses. Willert, a self-proclaimed creative person, has written six books and is waiting to get them published. He hopes to have another one published by April.

"I like to create stuff ... I think of myself as a creator. I have a pretty good imagination," Willert said.

Willert, formerly of Rush City, writes whenever he can. In the car, during his daughters' piano lessons, or during his daughters' Sunday School are both suitable places for his creativity to flow.

When he is not writing books, Willert also writes lyrics.

If things become too big or hectic, Willert will look into hiring an agent to help him stay on track.

But for the time being, he can hardly wait to see the fruit of his labor.

"I am really excited, I can't wait," he said. "The fact that something I created is going to be out there for people to read and enjoy is exciting."