'Searching for stories waiting to be told:' Raleigh children's author on her new book and escaping the headlines

I started this book in 2017, when my husband was diagnosed with vitiligo. When his skin first began changing, it was a scary time. He didn’t know how the vitiligo would affect his appearance or his self-confidence. To add to that, there is a lot of misinformation—even among the medical community—about vitiligo. For instance, we were told by a dermatologist that there was nothing he could do to treat it, which is simply not true. Vitiligo is a very common condition—about one in 100 people have it. And there is starting to be more awareness about it, thanks in large part to celebrities like supermodel Winnie Harlow and ballerina Michaela DePrince. But there is still a lot of room for more representation and awareness, particularly in children’s literature. So that was where this story began. While I hope it helps to shine a light on what living with vitiligo can be like, I also think it’s a universal story about stepping out of the protective bubble of childhood and into the wider, more complex world of young adulthood.

Gram is the type of wonderfully witchy character that always has a twinkle in her eye (and always keeps me turning pages). Her past is shrouded in mystery, but what we know for certain about her is that she is deeply kind and loving. As the novel goes on, we find out more about how she came to be this way, and I just really love her whole story.

And I love the energy and loyalty that Emma finds in a new friend, Fina. She is the ultimate bestie that everyone needs in their life, and brings a lot of smiles and laughter to the novel.

Like some characters in the book, I have learned to use my imagination as an escape hatch when times are tough. So when I’m out walking the dogs or falling asleep at night, I very intentionally let my mind wander into fictional worlds, searching for stories waiting to be told. I find those daydream sessions to be really soothing and effective at taking my mind off of the news right now.

After Ethan, I published "August Isle," a story about a girl who is sent to spend the summer on the Florida island where her mother used to spend summers as a child. Miranda has very low self-confidence, mostly due to the fact that she and her mother have a strained relationship. During her summer on the isle, she does some digging to understand why that relationship is so broken. August Isle is an ode to all the things I love about summer—the beach, the ocean, new friends, ice cream, and (of course) a simmering mystery hiding just below the surface of it all.

"The Climbers" is an illustrated tale—almost a fairy-tale, really—for younger readers. It’s about Alma, a girl living in an isolated town where prejudice has seeped in and made the townspeople wary of outsiders. When she discovers a bear cub in the woods, she is forced to flee the town to protect him from the town. Soon, she meets a boy who has adopted an animal friend of his own, and the four of them undertake a journey to find a home that will accept them. I love this story, but I have to say it might be outdone by the gorgeous, dreamlike illustrations by Alette Straathof.

And "Bad Bella," which came out last fall, is a novel based on my own sweet Bella girl! She was surrendered at the pound two days before Christmas, which breaks my heart to think about. I always wondered what would make someone abandon such a wonderful dog right before Christmas. So I decided to write a story about it! It was a really fun book for me to write, trying to develop a voice for my own dog. But also so hard to imagine what she must have gone through being abandoned by her original family. I think it’s a great Christmas story, and a great one for any fellow dog-lovers!

When I write, I always try to create stories that I would have wanted to read growing up. Now I have a new audience to consider! As Luka grows, I definitely think I will always have him in the back of my mind when I’m writing a story. What would he think? Would he like these characters? What story does he need right now? What would make him turn the pages?