Bringing a Creative Dream to Life
By Ryon Morrin
Photos by Kimberlee Miller
Reilly DeVie is someone who stumbled into the world of publishing. Reilly has spent the last two decades remodeling and designing houses in Boise. He began dabbling as an artist and craftsman when clients began requesting less expensive versions of designer furniture spotted in a magazine or online.
Several years ago, Reilly had been hanging flyers around downtown Boise to promote his services when he met Daniela Bronzy. After a brief conversation, she asked if his list of skills included welding. With her adopted home and love of Idaho and puns, Ms. Bronzy had come up with a new version of a garden hoe, one she called The Ida-Hoe. She would later show Reilly her designs for the hoe with the unique head design as the recognizable shape of the state of Idaho.
Reilly’s prototypes of the Ida-Hoe more than pleased Ms. Bronzy, and they partnered together to market and sell the product in McCall near her residence.
Their unusual partnership evolved into a friendship with time. Reilly began helping her with tasks around her home and chores that had become more challenging for her to manage on her own. Reilly had likened her to his grandmother and appreciated the relationship they had fostered.
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About one year ago, a package was delivered to Reilly’s home. The package’s contents included three nearly-completed novels, five children’s books with illustrations and notes in various stages of completion and sketchbooks full of blueprints for various other inventions. Ms. Bronzy penned a note to Reilly stating, “I think that you could be the one who could see these through.” Unbeknownst to Reilly and all of Ms. Bronzy’s other friends, she had been actively writing in secret for years.
Despite the beauty and unexpected receipt of these gifts, Reilly came to the somber realization that Ms. Bronzy had left these to him after her passing. She entrusted the responsibility of bringing her creations to life in Reilly’s hands and he has taken it upon himself to do just that. 
Timing is everything, and for Reilly the timing could not have been better. He had just finished a project and was able to dedicate his efforts towards preparing Ms. Bronzy’s works for publishing. For the past year, he has worked to refine the first of three novels: Roots, Rumors & Wrath and bring to fruition the other product and service ideas she introduces. The story itself is a thriller, focusing on the life of a Syrian refugee who struggles with adapting to a life away from home.
Ms. Bronzy’s first book was self-published courtesy of Reilly, but the goal is to have the entire series picked up by a large publisher. He wants to put Ms. Bronzy’s novels and children’s books in the hands of as many readers as possible, and his dedication will undoubtedly bring her works to life. Ms. Bronzy’s writing ranges from self-illustrated children’s stories to mystery thrillers. She was not afraid to explore every corner of her own imaginative mind as a writer.
Reilly is planning a yearly release schedule in order to keep Ms. Bronzy’s name in the public eye, rather than simply putting all of her works out at once. Within three to four years, he hopes that he will be able to share the entirety of Daniela Bronzy’s collection and build a readership who appreciates the artistry of a closet creative.
Her first released novel, Roots, Rumors & Wrath, is available in bookstores around town, Amazon, Kindle and Reilly’s website dedicated to everything Daniela Bronzy, danielabronzy.com. The next novel will be released in October 2019. Be sure to check out Daniela Bronzy’s iconic Ida-Hoe display at Capital Lumber (3105 W State).
