The Secret Fire: Ryan Seacrest and Sister Meredith Unleash a Project That Will Redefine Imagination

In the dizzying constellation of Hollywood, there are stars, and then there is Ryan Seacrest. He is less a star, perhaps, and more a tireless, meticulously crafted machine of perpetual motion.

This is the man who effortlessly slid into the monumental shoes of Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune, even as he maintained his sovereign reign over American Idol and piloted a nationally syndicated radio empire. He is the indefatigable titan of entertainment, a name synonymous with ubiquitous presence. Yet, even for Hollywood’s hardest working man, there is always one fervent, unfulfilled wish that speaks volumes about his relentless drive.

During a recent, illuminating interview with Good Housekeeping—conducted, fittingly, in a car to optimize every minute of his precious time—Seacrest, 49, offered a candid admission. “I’d love to have the ability to fly for efficiency’s sake,” he confessed. “I’d get way more done!”

More done? For a man who just added “children’s book author” to his already staggering résumé, the thought is mind-boggling. But this new project, a picture book titled The Make-Believers, is not just another line item on a CV. It is, by all accounts, his most powerful, most personal, and most profoundly meaningful endeavor to date, co-authored with the woman who understands his work ethic and his heart better than anyone: his younger sister, Meredith Seacrest Leach.

The Architect of Dreams: Meredith’s Mission

While Ryan’s career unfolds under the glare of global spotlights, Meredith’s work has been the foundational, beating heart of their shared legacy. Meredith Seacrest Leach is the head of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, an organization that has quietly and brilliantly built media centers—known as Seacrest Studios—in children’s hospitals across the country. These studios are sanctuaries of sound and light, creative havens where little patients can transcend the sterile confines of their hospital rooms. It’s where they sing, they dance, they play, and they find an essential, joyful creative outlet during their most challenging times. Meredith is the architect of this beautiful disruption, and it is the spirit of these young patients—their dreams, thoughts, and indomitable ambitions—that fueled the creation of The Make-Believers.

“I was inspired by my niece’s creativity and imagination plus the dreams, thoughts and ambitions from children I have met from all over America as part of our foundation,” Ryan shared with Good Housekeeping. “They may be going through something, but there’s no shortage in what they want to do and how big they dream. We want to celebrate that notion.”

This book, therefore, is not a simple story; it is a direct spotlight on a vital, powerful issue: the limitless potential of a child’s imagination, regardless of their present circumstances. It is a powerful affirmation that a child’s mind is the most expansive space in the universe.

Two Years of Crafting the Unseen

The transition from a high-stakes radio studio to the intimate world of children’s literature was a labor of love that took over two years to bring to fruition.

Meredith, reflecting on the wellspring of their creativity—their own childhood—landed upon the guiding theme. “Reflecting on our childhood, I got the idea to make the book about make-believe,” she explained. Once they connected with a publisher, the meticulous work began.

Meredith took the lead on the research, immersing herself in a library’s worth of children’s classics to hone the perfect voice and structure. “I read so many children’s books as research!” she recounted. She and Ryan then focused on polishing the words and finessing the storyline until it shimmered. Their dedication was matched by their artistic partner, the “amazing illustrator” Bonnie Lui, whose vision brought the text to vibrant, inclusive life.

The two-year production timeline underscores the care taken not just in the writing, but in the execution of the book’s central, emotional promise.

The Genesis of Performance: From Atlanta to Bon Jovi

To truly understand The Make-Believers, one must first understand the Seacrest siblings’ imaginative origins. Their partnership as co-authors is a direct echo of their childhood dynamic—a pre-digital, homespun production house built in the comfort of their family home.

It was an environment where fantasy was the most prized possession. The siblings were constantly at play, performing for an invisible audience that would one day become very, very real.

“Meredith and I played together all the time,” Ryan recalled, painting a vivid scene. He was the stadium star, embodying the rock-and-roll swagger of the 1980s. “I’d pretend to be Bon Jovi singing ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ and Meredith would operate the lights and camera.”

But their stage was democratic. They were directors and divas, stars and supporting crew, always switching roles to master every facet of entertainment. Meredith would then take the spotlight, channelling the energy of pop icons like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, while Ryan would trade his microphone for a news desk. “Ryan would be a newscaster interviewing the singers,” Meredith detailed. “We made so many shows!”

This childhood dedication to role-play—the ability to believe oneself into another persona—is the very soul of The Make-Believers. It’s a testament to the fact that their professional success was forged not in an office, but in the magic of a shared imagination.

Even their reading preferences hinted at their future lives: Ryan, the mystery-solver, was drawn to the intrigue of the Hardy Boys series (now preferring the investigative depth of non-fiction writers like Malcolm Gladwell); Meredith, the family storyteller, cherished the classic, humorous mishaps of the Amelia Bedelia series, a book she now lovingly shares with her own daughter.

The Power of Seeing Yourself

The ultimate goal of The Make-Believers transcends the simple act of storytelling; it is a profound declaration of inclusivity. For the Seacrest siblings, the book is designed to be a mirror, reflecting the beautiful diversity of its readership.

“We wanted to have every family who reads The Make-Believers to see themselves in it and use their imaginations,” Ryan stated, his voice resonating with purpose.

This commitment to representation is meticulous and intentional. Whether a child is a wheelchair user, or relies on a hearing aid, they will find an illustration that looks like them, a character that validates their existence. This visual inclusion is the crucial final step in the book’s mission. By seeing themselves in the pages of a wondrous, imaginative journey, children are empowered to do something truly extraordinary.

“We hope everyone will explore the world outside of their circumstances,” Ryan concluded.

This is the “powerful new project” the Seacrest siblings have unveiled. It is an extension of their philanthropic work, a marriage of their professional expertise and personal passion. It is a story designed to lift the spirits of the very children Meredith dedicates her life to helping.

Their dedication was immediately put into action. Just after the Good Housekeeping interview—conducted at breakneck speed in the car, a symbol of their continuous motion—Ryan and Meredith headed straight to new pediatric facilities at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, book in hand. It was here, on the ground, that they began to distribute The Make-Believers, delivering the first glimpses of its transformative magic directly to the families they hope to inspire.

For the public, the book is now available for purchase, a piece of accessible, vibrant escapism. But for Ryan and Meredith, The Make-Believers is more than a book; it is a legacy—a heartfelt, 1000-word call-to-action to never stop believing in the power of play.