Maude’s Magical Ear Trumpet follows a kind, cheerful older woman who has begun to struggle with her hearing and is given a magical ear trumpet that not only lets her hear words better, but also the truth behind them. What first sparked the idea for your story?

I had the idea of writing a poem around an older lady and her relationship with the people around her. It was formed from memories of spending time with my grandmother when I was a child, and how she loved to talk – and listen – with her friends

Was empathy something you consciously set out to teach, or did it naturally grow out of the story?

I didn’t initially set out to write it as a children’s picture book; the story just revealed itself organically. I did want to include the idea that in a world of quick communications and throw-away conversations, there should always be time to stop and listen. Then, once you have heard, if you can help in any way, then you should. Sometimes, just a kind ear is all that is needed.

Why was it important for Maude’s Magical Ear Trumpet to be dyslexia friendly, and how did that goal influence your choices around language, sentence structure, and pacing?

I wanted the story to be inclusive of age, heritage, and disability. I wanted it to encompass all aspects of normal life. Part of that was to ensure that ALL children – and indeed adults – were able to read and enjoy the book. Making the text dyslexia friendly was just one way of doing this. The choice of language and structure was influenced by the story. I wanted it to flow in a way that was easy to read and follow, but with some challenging areas to push a child’s reading skills. Adding the odd word that makes the child ask, “What does that mean?” allows the act of reading to become collaborative.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I am not currently working on another book, but hope to do a series of follow-up books incorporating Maude and her interactions with he friends and family.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website