Children's author, 20, writes second book with muscular dystrophy

HUDSON — Like many 20-year-olds, Jake Marrazzo struggles with time management and procrastination. So he figured he'd write a book about it, targeting younger children.

"I feel like I've never really seen children's books that talked about that with kids," said Marrazzo, who is entering his junior year at Wheaton College in Norton, studying film. "I wanted to tell a story that would help kids with time management because I feel it has to develop at a young age."

Marrazzo's new book, "The Dilly Dally Parrot," was published in June. It comes three years after his first effort, "One Wants to be a Letter," a concept he first came up with at age 4 but didn't complete until his family was approached by a publisher that wanted to feature him as part of a book about people with disabilities (he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy — an inherited disorder of progressive muscular weakness — when he was 8).

'About the number one': Hudson teen with muscular disorder writes children's book

Marrazzo did research when writing "The Dilly Dally Parrot," including viewing a TED Talk on procrastination.

"You have the rational decision maker and then you have the instant gratification part of your brain, and the two of them are at odds with each other," Marrazzo explained. He researched when children when begin to develop procrastination in terms of their schoolwork.

Jake Marrazzo demonstrated talent in the arts at a young age

Marrazzo started showing an interest, and talent, in creativity from an early age, according to his father, John.

"He would do these 24-piece SpongeBob puzzles when he was 2 or 3 and I was amazed at how quickly he put them together," John Marrazzo said.

"When I was younger, I'd always be coming up with ideas movies and shows and books and things like that."

Jake's letter: 'I’d be able to walk, put on fantastic performances, and continue to do my schoolwork'

After the book was published, a portion of the book's proceeds went to the Marrazzo family's nonprofit organization, 4 Jake's Sake. The nonprofit also hosts a 5K, with proceeds going to 4 Jake's Sake, which seeks to help families living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to make their their homes and lives accessible.

Marrazzo was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age 8. Marrazzo uses a wheelchair, but he does not let his condition define him.

"It's a journey and a half for sure," he said. "I don't like to say that I suffer from Duchenne muscular dystrophy because at the end of the day, I still am living my life.

Following the publication of "One Wants to be a Letter," Marrazzo was interviewed by children's author Jeff Kinney, who wrote the popular "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series. Marrazzo's father said this is the first interview in which someone talked to Marrazzo as a writer, not just someone with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

"He had me read the book and then he would ask me a lot of questions about my interests and things like that. It was a very loose interview which I liked," Marrazzo said. Kinney also has a review on the back cover of "the Dilly Dally Parrot."

Marrazzo also appeared on the "Dr. Phil Show" to talk about his story. He also spoke with UMass Medical students.

"He's very articulate when he gets into those situation, he's kind of in his comfort zone," his father said.

Currently, Marrazzo is writing a screenplay for a streaming fantasy series. He described it as Lord of the Rings mixed with early 2000s Pixar and DreamWorks movies.

"The Dilly Dally Parrot" can be purchased on Amazon. "One Wants to be a Letter" can be purchased on Marrazzo's website as well as on Amazon.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hudson man, stricken with muscular dystrophy, publishes second book