Musical Soul Mates follows a nervous little girl who loves music and learns how to share this passion with her classmates and overcome her fears. What was the inspiration for your story?

The inspiration for my story was our daughter, Eleanor, who has ADHD and anxiety and learned better through music. She loves music so much and had difficulty speaking in front of others, and I wanted to find a way for young children to know that they can connect to reading and lead by opening their hearts to new ways of learning.

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Estelle Corke?

Estelle was wonderful. I wanted someone who used watercolor and she was able to bring my book to life. I described the characters, and Estelle drew them exactly how I saw them. She draws great expression in her illustrations. Estelle starts with pencil drawings and then moves to color once the drawings are approved. It was a wonderful collaboration.

What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?

I believe that using onomatopoeia words in children’s picture books is important because it draws the reader into the book, thus causing them to want to read more and then increase their reading ability in the future.

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

I am working on another children’s book about a young boy who chooses the perfect pet, and I hope to have it out August 2023.

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