The Independently Published The Steady Knot

Eight-year-old Nia Calder notices the things other people miss.At Bellweather Gym, a historic railway station transformed into a bustling gymnastics center, Nia can feel the smallest wobble in a balance beam, hear when a mat has shifted, and find calm beneath the noise. But speaking up-especially when louder teammates take over-is much harder.When Nia earns the anchor position in Bellweather's famous Lantern Relay, she finally has the chance to prove her quiet strength. Then a storm sweeps through the gym. The official route map disappears, mysterious chalky tracks appear near a closed wing, strange thumps echo through the building, and the old silver chime vanishes.With the winter meet approaching, Nia and her teammates, energetic Tavi and careful, checklist-loving Jun, must solve the mystery, rebuild their relay, and learn how to trust one another. Along the way, Nia discovers that courage does not always mean being fearless-or being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes courage means noticing what matters, trusting what you know, and speaking one clear word at exactly the right moment.The Steady Knot is a warm, uplifting middle-grade gymnastics adventure about courage, friendship, teamwork, confidence, problem-solving, and finding your own kind of strong. Perfect for young readers who enjoy sports stories, gentle mysteries, relatable friendships, and determined characters learning to believe in themselves.An inspiring chapter-book adventure for gymnasts, quiet kids, thoughtful problem-solvers, and anyone discovering the power of their own voice.