When Paul and Talya Shore opened the doors of their Bayshores home as a billet for four young Canadian bobsledders, they might have guessed that it would be the beginning of a friendship that would last well beyond the winter of 2008-’09.

But they couldn’t have guessed that it would be their chance to try their hand at something completely new: Namely, co-authoring a children’s book.

The collaboration that led to the creation of Bobsleigh Jellybeans, though, illustrates that life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. And even if the four-man team of Adam Anderson, Chris Ripley, Hugh Baker and Bobby Staniforth doesn’t qualify for and compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, the Shores are already counting their friendship with the four as an Olympic memory they’ll cherish for years.

Bobsleigh Jellybeans, geared toward kids aged five to 12, is the story of four boys who love tobogganing and dream of one day competing together in the Olympics. During their pursuit of their dream they visit Whistler and meet a girl named Jashia, who is inspired by the boys to pursue her own dreams.

“It’s a lighthearted book about friendship, teamwork, imagination and following your dreams,” Talya Shore said.

The concept arose early this year when the Shores — who just happen to have a 22-month-old daughter named Jashia — started joking around about writing a children’s book. They knew that Ripley was an artist, and after hashing out some of the details of a storyline, they proposed that he illustrate the book.

Talya Shore said that while the four — who train most of the time in Calgary — were in Whistler, the Shores became aware of the athletes’ need for funding.

“I would say it was Paul’s idea to do it, and I contributed and did a lot of the editing,” she said. “Paul was the one who wrote the book. We were on vacation at the time and he was inspired to do something different, and he wrote a book.

“We hatched the idea of writing about these guys and then we thought, ‘Hey, they need funding,’ so we thought the profits could go to them. I think that’s what brought it to press.”

Net proceeds from the sale of the book, which retails for $12, will be used to support the four athletes’ travel, training and equipment needs.

“It’s turning out to be a real pleasant surprise,” said Paul Shore, director of business and marketing for Whistler 2010 Sport Legacies. “It just confirms for us how valuable it is to pay it forward, so to speak. It’s amazing how much comes back to you, not financially but experience-wise. It’s going to be one of our best memories of our Olympic involvement.”

The book had its official launch Sept. 26 at MonkeyShines Books in Calgary, and similar events are planned Saturday (Oct. 10) from 3 to 5 p.m. at Kidsbooks on Broadway in Vancouver and Monday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Armchair Books in Whistler. Readings are also planned next Tuesday (Oct. 13) at Myrtle Philip School and Thursday, Oct. 15, at Spring Creek School. For information, visit www.bobsleighjellybeans.com