A “Story Song.”  That’s what really gave me the motivation to publish my first book.  Every night my two little boys would ask me to tell them a story and sing a song.  They each made it clear that each story would have to be different every night.  This is where my imagination was tested.  It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.  I have always had a creative imagination as a child, and it continued as an adult as well.

Unfortunately, as a busy mom my nights with them would be too short.  I would come home from work, still have to cook dinner, clean up, get them both washed and dressed, and I still hadn’t done the laundry or sat down! Even with the help of my husband we both felt that our evenings with them would end far too quickly.

I cherish every moment I have with them.  Yet, singing and storytelling would end up consuming most of my nights.  I came to the conclusion that I needed to balance my time with them.  I was able to play with them more during the day if I shortened the bedtime routine by collaborating singing and storytelling.  That’s how the “Story Song” came to be.  My characters started taking on a life of their own, continually making appearances in each story.  As the characters grew, the boys and I grew with them, becoming an important part of our lives.

Each of my stories are either heavily influenced by the experiences I had as a child, or seeing what my children are experiencing right now in their little lives. Each story has a moral, or it evokes an emotion, either to the child or to the reader.

I wanted to start my writing career with a moral story that I feel very strongly about. Monkey by the Sea is a story about being different. When little Monkey realizes he is different from all the other monkeys his mom helps him to understand that being different isn’t a bad thing.  She does this in a loving and subtle way that little Monkey ends up accepting and appreciating being himself, and this wonderful story will also help children to accept others for their differences.

Cherish each moment you have with your children.  It doesn’t matter how busy you are.  It is possible to lead a busy life, and also spend quality time with them.  Grab a book, sit on the couch, cuddle, and read to them.  Let their imagination go to a place they haven’t been, or a place they will create on their own.

Keep coming back and visit the website to see updates.  I will be releasing more books as the time goes by.  Keep an eye out for more stories about our friend Monkey, and his friend Piglet will also be visiting us soon!