Children’s book author Michelle Cusolito is one of the recipients of this year’s PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award for “Flying Deep,” a story whose first 500 words were written with one finger and her cell phone.

Usually equipped with a notebook, Cusolito had forgotten it one day on a walk when the muse struck. The Rochester resident, mother of two and wife of one, sat down near Snipatuit Pond, started typing and didn’t stop until she had her story.

“It was my first draft. It was terrible, but the format was there,” said Cusolito.

“Flying Deep” is a nonfiction book that puts the reader inside the deep sea submersible Alvin, a high-tech research vessel made of titanium that goes to the depths of the ocean. Cusolito happened to know something about Alvin from fellow Rochester resident Don Collasius, a former pilot of the vessel, based at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

From there, Cusolito scoured the web for information on Alvin, and visited WHOI to get a closer look. Much to her surprise, she was allowed to climb on board Alvin and got access to the senior pilot, Bruce Strickrott.

After getting the scientific information straight, Cusolito still had work to do.

“Once I got the content right, it was very much about wordsmithing it,” she said. “The actual story part is 750 words, but every single one of those words has to be exactly the right word.”

Cusolito said her book plays with alliteration, assonance and the occasional rhymes. Once finished, she submitted “Flying Deep” to the PEN Award, which is open to unpublished authors. If that wasn’t good enough news, Cusolito also got a book deal with the Watertown-based publisher Charlesbridge.

As she joins the ranks of published author, Cusolito admits, “It’s been a long road.”

She has written a number of children’s books and received some rejection letters. Even after receiving a “good rejection” letter – one with an actual handwritten note – it took two more years to get signed to an agent and then a few more years before getting a book deal.

Through that time Cusolito credits her writer’s group and other friends in the children’s book world with their thoughtful critiques that sharpened her writing and brought her to this point.

There’s still some time to wait until “Flying Deep” hits shelves. The publisher will now choose an illustrator for the book and there is still some editing to be done before the 2018 publish date.

Cusolito said she’s excited about this big step in her career, and as a former fourth grade teacher, she is hopeful the book will find a place in many classrooms. Of course, she’s already working on more stories.

“I’m always trying to move forward with more ideas.”

Cusolito recently read her book to a crowd gathered at Simmons college for the PEN awards ceremony.