That ancient feeling of something lurking just beyond the campfire light has kept us safe throughout the course of our species. Instinct is deeper and more powerful than intellectual understanding, and fear is a powerful motivator.

I want to challenge young readers, but not by introducing adult content they are unprepared for. Innocence will be ripped away too soon as it is. Introducing these topics too early does not prepare them. Introducing coping skills does. I choose to challenge with concepts, lessons, and occasionally sentence structure.

By reflecting on years past and setting visions for the future, I settle more into the present moment.

I have a few routines. Some are like anchors. They tether me to some accountability, so I don’t get distracted.

“Don’t fight the weather,” is an old farmer saying. I have found it extremely useful when taken literally, but the real benefit comes from applying it to the rest of my life.

Is Dungeons and Dragons kid-friendly? Yes, Dungeons and Dragons is whatever you make it to be. It’s completely up to you. There are books that walk through pre-made stories, but they are all more appropriate for kids than the show Stranger Things, which boosted the recent surge in popularity. The game involves imagination, teamwork, and problem solving and can be adapted to all ages.

There will be rough days. Days when the self-pity seems to pour in through no fault of our own.

“Consciously practice gratitude with the added motivation of knowing that your attitude will be absorbed by others even when you don’t intend it. Living a thing is the most powerful explanation.”

I write middle-grade fiction with real-life skills woven in. I aim to bring families together with stories that inspire questions that spark meaningful conversations.