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For Oceanside native Jill Millman, publishing her first book wasn’t just about becoming an author.
It was about finishing something she started at just 10 years old — and bringing it to life nearly four decades later.
Millman, now 48 and living in Delray Beach, Florida, recently released her debut children’s book, “Two Little Ice Cream Cones Go to the Beach” — a story rooted in a classroom assignment from her elementary school days on Long Island.
“I remember writing this,” Millman told Greater Long Island. “And when I found it years later, I thought, this is it. This is the full-circle moment.”
[Tap here to purchase the book]
A childhood idea, revisited decades later
The original story dates back to Millman’s time at Fulton Avenue School No. 8 in Oceanside, where she created a short, illustrated book about two ice cream cones named Max and Brad.
She held onto that original project for years, rediscovering it in her early 20s while going through belongings as her family prepared to leave Long Island. Still, it wasn’t until her 40s that the idea truly clicked.
“I save everything,” she said. “I came across it again and thought, wow, this is really cute — and it’s well written.”
That rediscovery sparked her long-held goal of writing a book, this time with a deeper connection to the story.
Millman stayed true to key elements of her childhood work, including the names Max and Brad and the concept of ice cream cones escaping from an ice cream truck.
But she expanded the story into a full adventure.
In “Two Little Ice Cream Cones Go to the Beach,” the duo sets out on a journey filled with obstacles, teamwork and imagination, eventually making their way to the beach.
She also introduced new characters, including two pelicans and a dog named Gizmo, inspired by her late pet.
“That meant a lot to me,” she said. “He’s going to be in all the future books too.”
From idea to published book
Millman completed the book earlier this year, collaborating with an illustrator from Argentina after connecting online. The process was hands-on and highly collaborative, with constant revisions to match her vision.
She chose to self-publish through Amazon, allowing her to control the process from start to finish.
“It’s still very surreal,” she said. “I can’t believe I wrote and published a book — and that people love it.”
The book is geared toward children ages 3 to 7 and centers on themes of kindness, teamwork and believing in yourself.
“I wanted it to spark imagination in kids,” Millman said. “If you believe in something, you can achieve it.”
Early reviews suggest that message is resonating.
“This is such an adorable story,” wrote Tara Nunnari. “It captured my son’s interest right away … and teaches children that whatever they believe in, they can achieve.”
Another reviewer called it “a sweet and playful story … fun for both adults and kids.”
A full-circle moment
Millman hopes this is just the beginning.
She plans to turn the book into a series, continuing the adventures of Max and Brad in future installments.
For now, the moment is about reflecting on the journey, from a 10-year-old with a classroom assignment to a 48-year-old published author.
“This is the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” she said.
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