Arlington Heights native Ann Loughery Ferrello realized a dream this fall when she published her first book — and had a book signing in the Notre Dame bookstore.
Book jacket illustrated by Kathleen Keifer
The book, Dreams of Gold, describes the dream of one day calling Notre Dame home and the faith, hard work and perseverance it takes to get there. Right from the start, Ferrello set out to capture the universal experience of attending Notre Dame, including starting as a freshman as well as entering as a transfer student.
“I know how much the dream of being a student at Notre Dame means to people,” Ferrello says. “But sometimes the road to the Dome is winding, but the devotion and desire is the same — if not more — for students who transfer in. I wanted to make sure I captured that experience as well.”
The book features vivid illustrations by another Notre Dame alumna and well known artist, Kathleen Keifer. Her artwork appears as watercolor paintings and helps to bring to life the iconic campus and its many memorable landmarks.
But it is the story of chasing your dream that drives the book, starting with a grandfather’s wisdom, before becoming a child’s dream and ultimately the chance to build a legacy for a lifetime.
Ferrello signing copies at the Notre Dame bookstore
“You must not let doubt extinguish your dream, your wish, your prayers,” Ferrello writes in the book. “Others may underestimate you, but you must never underestimate yourself.”
Ferrello says it was inevitable that she would dream of attending the University of Notre Dame. After all, her grandfather graduated in 1940 and her father, Neil Loughery, graduated in 1975, as well as two of her uncles, and a “whole heap of cousins.”
“So, of course it was inevitable that I would want to go there too,” Ferrello says. “But I also think once you experience Notre Dame for the first time — especially as a kid — it’s hard not to be pulled in by the magic and legends and lore. You’re just so wide-eyed and in awe of it all.”
Ferrello attended Rolling Meadows High School where she wrote for the school newspaper, before attending Notre Dame and covering sports for its daily newspaper, The Observer. As a Spanish major, Ferrello went on to earn her Master’s in Education, before teaching high school Spanish in New Orleans, Chicago and Washington DC. She met her husband, Alex, also a 2007 Notre Dame graduate, at Notre Dame.
Illustration by Kathleen Keifer
The couple and their four children now live in Northern Virginia, where Ferrello teaches an enrichment class for 2 — 5 year olds that is rooted in STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — music and movement. She also continues to write children’s manuscripts, with the hopes of one day being traditionally published.
Obtain copies of Dreams of Gold, here.
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