Online “Hello” from an offline me
I hope y’all are enjoying the crisp air, cozy clothes, longer shadows, and the pumpkin-spice taste of fall.It’s been a quiet stretch from this corner of town, but I wanted to pop in and say hello. A new story is in the making, this time featuring another member of the Hoppingtons.
Hopper visits the Jax Book Fest
Today’s Jax Book Fest marked the official debut of The Planting Festival after its launch on September 15! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my bunny family turned out to be the perfect icebreaker — helping me connect with amazing local authors and little readers alike. Huge thanks to the Jacksonville Library for hosting such a […]
NetGalley’s Spotlight Book Category!
I’m excited to share that The Planting Festival has been featured in NetGalley’s Spotlight Category! With over 20 reviews so far, the feedback from readers has been incredibly valuable. I’m especially grateful to those who took the time to share thoughtful comments. Many reviewers loved the illustrations and connected with the story — which has […]
🌱✨ Saturday’s Storytime was a blast!
We had a great time at Screaming Cat following Hopper from his home to the Forest School. 🎨📖Face painting and coloring contributed to the fun! 💚🌸 #PlantingFestival #StorytimeFun #ScreamingCatEvents #FacePaintingMagic #ColoringJoy #CommunityVibes
The Planting Festival Is Now Available on Kindle!
I’m excited to announce that The Planting Festival, is now available on Amazon Kindle! As the author, my goal in writing The Planting Festival was to help parents gently guide their children through those jittery feelings that often accompany new beginnings — such as the first day of school, starting a new activity, or meeting […]
Back-to-School Joy: First Reading of The Planting Festival
This past Saturday, August 9th, something magical happened at Screaming Cat Ice Cream & Coffee!🍦 I’ve hosted my very first reading of The Planting Festival, and it was a heartwarming kickoff to the back-to-school season. During the reading, kids followed Hopper’s journey as he faced his first-day-of-school worries and learned how to overcome them with […]
Stories & Ice Cream? Yes, please!
Hey friends! I’m so excited to share that I’ll be doing live readings of my children’s book, The Planting Festival, at one of my favorite local spots—Screaming Cat Ice Cream & Coffee! 📚 The Planting Festival is a heartwarming back-to-school story about little bunny’s journey from worrying about his first day at school to becoming […]
Hopper
So, how did Hopper come about? I wanted to create a character who is timid and curious at the same time. The plot of “The Planting Festival” slows down and focuses on the interplay between fear of showing up and courage to be yourself. The story also shows the young readers the sweet reward of […]
Hard conversations
Talking with your kids about difficult topics like disappointment, betrayal, and the struggle to be authentic is one of parenting’s most daunting challenges. These conversations require vulnerability, honesty, and the willingness to sit with discomfort—both theirs and our own. It’s tempting to protect them from pain or to wait until they’re older, but silence leaves […]
Early Thoughts on The Planting Festival – ARC Review
It’s been a busy few weeks for Hopper, who has visited the homes of several ARC reviewers. Overall, reviewers say The Planting Festival is a sweet and gentle read for youngsters. Hopper took a few notes about improvements in the formatting, which was very helpful. One heartfelt comment from Shannon K truly filled my heart. “Great book! […]