Oliver the Oyster and the Cheerless Clam follows a sad clam who moves into the harbor and learns how to find happiness from her new friends. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

It is my personal belief that children today face many more challenges than we ever did growing up.  With that being said, I find that it is very easy for them to allow unfair situations in life to take a negative hold of their thoughts and emotions.  As such, I wanted to write a story that provided children not just an opportunity on how to overcome those hurdles, but also to encourage them to live every single day full of happiness and joy just as God intended us to.  

Clara struggles with her past and the disappointment she has had in life and learns how to find joy again. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

It was my hope and prayer that children will be able to identify with a challenge faced by any one of the characters.  Whether it be a medical condition, a bad test score in school, a feeling of not being included, every challenge or unfair situation is one that all of us at some point in our lives have faced.  However, the key is how the character was able to put aside the situation and keep that internal happiness flowing.  

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I truly just wanted children to understand we are the ones who decided if we will live our lives full of happiness.  We all go through unfair situations, but those situations are not the boss of our happiness, we are.  

What is the next book in the Oliver the Oyster series that you are working on and when will it be available?

“Oliver the Oyster and the Lost Lab” is the next book in the series that I am planning on releasing this coming November.  Here’s a little teaser.  While Oliver and his friends are enjoying another beautiful early morning sunrise on their beach, a lost silver Labrador comes running down the sand and falls down exhausted before them.  With the help of his friends Cathy the crab, Miriah the mermaid, and Clara the clam, Oliver the oyster goes on a fun-filled adventure to help reunite Mac the lab with his family. 

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