After the emotional toll of her second abusive marriage, Cara Brookins found solace in an unconventional way—building her own house. Facing financial constraints, she couldn’t afford a suitable home, prompting her to take matters into her own hands. With a $20,000 property and a $150,000 building credit, Brookins turned to YouTube tutorials to learn construction basics.

Over nine months, her four children, aged 2 to 17, became her construction team. They faced challenges, such as 11-year-old Jada transporting water for mixing mortar. Brookins, a computer programmer, worked on the house after her kids were in school and spent late nights at the construction site, guided by YouTube and occasional help from a part-time firefighter.

On March 31, 2009, the family moved into the 3,500-square-foot home, named Inkwell Manor, symbolizing Brookins’ aspiration to become a writer. The unconventional journey helped her battle depression, and she went on to write middle-grade and young adult books. Her biography, “Rise: How a House Built a Family,” was released on January 24, capturing her inspiring story. Brookins encourages others, stating, “You can do anything you set your mind to.”