On January 31, 2009, our son, Nick Rosser, was taken from us in a car accident. In the ensuing days I struggled to get out of bed. Grief drained me emotionally and physically. At the time of the accident, I was on hiatus from my job as First Assistant Director on the TV show, 24. It was fortunate that I did not have to immediately return to work during those initial days. However, days turned to weeks, my hiatus ended, and I returned to my job.

At work I was surrounded by loving friends and crewmembers who were compassionate and understanding. But I felt empty inside. Work ceased to hold the same excitement that it had before Nick’s passing. I’d always been passionate about my job, enjoyed my time on set, and as a manager I strived to create a light-hearted environment for my co-workers. But now I questioned the arduous hours and wondered about working so hard when someone that I loved could be taken so easily.

Let me take a step back in time…. A year before Nick died my family met my mother-in-law for dinner one evening. She circled the busy parking lot looking for a place to park. As a spot opened up, a guy in a Corvette zipped in, stealing the space. My family and I were stunned! Nick urged me to beat the guy up. I’ve never been much of a fighter, so I declined. We joked over dinner that the Corvette driver should be reprimanded for his “piggy” behavior, and the concept of Piggy Nation was born.

In the interim between that evening and Nick’s death, I created a novelty item called the Piggy Ticket and wrote the manuscript for a children’s book about piggy behavior. I sent the manuscript to several literary agents, but had no luck getting it published. I printed several hundred pads of Piggy Tickets with the hope of selling them to gift shops, but the pads sat in our garage collecting dust.

After Nick died, I was overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness and despair. Life seemed like a giant treadmill of heartache. As I searched for something meaningful to latch onto, I printed a copy of my children’s book manuscript and carried it in my pocket. I pretended to edit the thing; moving sentences around, adding exclamation points, deleting commas. But I was really just spinning my wheels.

One day on set, my coworker, Jill Cosh asked what I was reading. I explained that it was a children’s book I’d written that was going nowhere fast. After reading my manuscript, Jill’s face brightened and she exclaimed, “This is great. You should perform school assemblies. Kids will love it.” Jill’s plan sounded perfect, because Nick had always enjoyed working with kids. He was a camp counselor, a lifeguard, and created a video game camp when he was only 14. Jill’s idea was the first spark of hope I’d had since Nick died. Looking back, there’s no doubt in my mind that Nick’s spirit brought Jill and me together. Her enthusiasm (and her threat to “kick my butt” if I didn’t follow through) nudged me forward.

I began to search for an artist to draw some illustrations for my school assembly presentation. A friend of Nick’s sent me a message through Facebook that her father, Dave Warren, worked on The Simpsons. How cool! It was through Dave that I was then introduced to an incredibly gifted and talented artist, Shane Sowell. Shane and I hit it off, and we began designing the illustrations for what would become Piggy Nation A Day At Work With Dad – a children’s book that focuses on piggy behavior in amusing ways that is a modern version of the Golden Rule. Again, I felt Nick’s spirit guiding me.

During the design process, I began reading our book to elementary classes. The students were a perfect focus group and helped me hone the story. In the depth of my grief over Nick’s death, I suddenly felt energized. I had a new mission! However, the task at hand was not without unexpected difficulties. For example, one day as I entered a school I noticed a boy that reminded me of Nick. An overwhelming wave of anguish filled me, and I nearly bolted from the room. But then Irealized that Nick would have wanted me to continue. So I stayed and read my book to a class of first graders. The children smiled as I read my story. Deep down, I knew that Nick was smiling too.

As Shane completed the illustrations, I worked on the cover design. I picked my favorite illustration in which Sammy and Hank are picnicking in the park. Each has his legs crossed and a bite out of his sandwich. They are surrounded by a circle that reminds me of a snow globe; an idyllic snapshot in time for father and son. After the book was published, a member of our grief group commented how appropriate it was that I had chosen a drawing that showed father and son together. She loved the symbolism that the cover conveyed – that Sammy and Hank represented Nick and me. I have to admit, this had not occurred to me while I was designing the cover. Again, Nick had wielded his influence.

I began performing school assemblies. I created a comic routine in which I pretended to be a piggy myself, rushing into the front of the assembly room late with all of the children patiently waiting for me, talking on my cell phone while in front of the room, and sloppily eating chips while talking to the kids about the “inconsiderate behavior” by those piggies in the book. Of course the kids immediately “got it” and called ME on MY piggy behavior. Thrilled by the kids’ responses, I decided to adapt my book into a full-blown children’s stage production called Piggy Nation The Musical.

I’m a musician, and although I play keyboards in a local dad’s band, I had never actually written a song, so creating a children’s musical could have been a daunting task. Yet, I approached this with the same passion I had everything else, believing that this, too, would somehow fall into place. And it did. By networking, I found a gifted composer, Alec Wells. Together, Alec and I embarked on the next wave of my creative journey.

Looking back, it is incredible to me how I managed to write the libretto for the musical and the lyrics for 13 songs while working full time on a new TV series, The Defenders. I’m positive that Nick’s spirit filled me with ideas and inspiration and that I could not have done it without him. Before we knew it, Piggy Nation The Musical was born and ready for its premiere showing. So in February 2011, at the Pierson Playhouse in Pacific Palisades, California, before a packed house, Piggy Nation The Musical came to life! I was beaming from ear to ear as I heard the laughter, the “call-outs” from the audience, and the clapping. When Nick first died, I never believed that I would experience such a moment again, but I was wrong.

When I first considered writing Piggy Nation The Musical, it occurred to me that some schools might not be able to afford to stage a production. In fact, some schools might not have a drama department at all. So I have established The Piggy Nation Foundation in order to teach thoughtfulness and consideration through the creative arts. I’m developing programs that utilize my children’s book and musical to teach underprivileged children about creative writing, theater craft, songwriting, and cartooning. What a wonderful way to honor Nick’s love of children!

I continue to expand Piggy Nation into additional creative outlets. Shane and I created Piggy Nation the Comic Strip, which debuted in the Sunday Oklahoman on July 24, 2011. In addition, we recently finished our first children’s chapter book entitled Piggy Nation Let’s Go Camping.

Along the way, I’ve partnered with a handful of creative folks who have helped me implement my vision of Piggy Nation. Jill jump-started the whole thing. Illustrator Shane has become my creative partner. Composer Alec helped me craft songs richly layered with Blues, Rock, Rap and Gospel influences. Theater director Dorothy Dillingham Blue decided to stage my musical after reading only four scenes. Joe Hight at The Sunday Oklahoman took a chance on an unknown comic strip. In addition, I have the support of my wife Stacey and daughter Ali who have served as creative consultants every step of the way. I’m also indebted to Susan Whitmore, Wendell Whitmore and Anne Roberts at griefHaven, as well as our griefHaven grief group for their love and support.

I’m convinced that each of these wonderful collaborators has become involved with Piggy Nation through Nick – some of them directly; others indirectly.I had no idea where I was headed when I first conceptualized Piggy Nation, but I’ve remained open to opportunities and followed my heart. As I continue forward and friends ask how I plan to accomplish the next step, my stock answer has been, “I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go.” I have to admit, this may not be entirely true. I’m following Nick’s lead.

On a recent vacation, someone asked what I do for a living. A year ago I would have replied that I work on a TV series as an assistant director. But this time was different, something urged me to answer, “I’m a children’s author, playwright and cartoonist.” And you know something? It felt right.

Since Nick died, I often feel that I’m living for two people. I daydream about what Nick would have accomplished in life, what kind of man he would have become and how he might have made a difference. When I step back for an objective view, I realize that I already have the answer: Nick’s spirit permeates Piggy Nation. His spirit infuses me with the desire to teach children and adults about thoughtfulness and consideration – to energize kids about creative writing and excite them about the performing arts. Nick may no longer be here, but his spirit lives on in every word I write.

Rich Rosser 2011