Kloe’s New Friendship follows a junior-high cat who is trying to juggle school life, old friends, new friends, and the emotional chaos of having a challenging brother. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

My stories are written with lived truth. Personal experiences that have been a part of my life since childhood and beyond. Thirty years of carrying these stories, shaping them, trying to give children what I wished I had growing up. A lended ear to listen and not judge, a kind heart to understand the difficulties that are growing up alongside a brother whose struggles sometimes cast long, confusing shadows. There’s something unmistakably real in the way issues are explored in sibling dynamics. I chose to use animal characters not to soften the impact, it sharpens it with real honesty as each animal character represents all of us in our society. Children see themselves more clearly in those bright, beautifully illustrated faces, and adults feel that quiet echo of “oh… this was me.”

Kloe struggles with her emotions and navigating friendships in your story. What were some of the trials that you felt were important to highlight the character’s development?

I’m aiming for deeper soul work in the characters, especially my lead – Kloe. I want her to be as much of a three-dimensional character as she can be in children’s books so her readers will be able to see who she really is. She had a very hard lesson learned in this book. She wanted to give her brother the benefit of the doubt by confiding in him with one of her dear friend’s secrets. However, she learned the hard way that he never had the intention of keeping it. Wreny is always looking to see how he can capitalize on others to benefit himself. His troubles are deeper than she or her parents realize. Kloe’s frustrations are not only real but are fraught with the underlying urgency that something at some point has to change. Wreny will not alter or modify his behaviors until he is confronted by his parents and teachers. She is the sibling, not the adult in these situations.

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

Facing challenges arising from a difficult sibing with mental health issues or behavioral problems is a prevalent theme in all of Kloe’s books. However, new frienships and estabished friendships are very important to Kloe.

Friendships are to be valued. We all want that other person(s) to believe in us as much as we do them. As young pre-teens we look for frienships to validate who we are, especially in a school setting. We learn morality and friendships through a combination of personal experiences, peer influence, and the guidance of adults. We begin to form our own moral compass as we navigate the complexities of our values and beliefs. Peer relationships play a crucial role in shaping our identities and well-being, providing support during turbulent times and helping us navigate the complications of social interactions.
These years are important character building years that mold us into who we become later in life.

I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?

Yes! I’m almost finished with a “New Year” Story with Kloe and friends. Lots of new issues, a few fun new characters as well as continuing forward with the original group.

Continuing with Kloe realizing more and more that her brother’s actions aren’t simple and cause a ripple effect not only onto her, but others around him. How far will his antics go until he is confronted on some level? My series moves forward as I believe that there are so many readers out there who need these stories as much as I did. However, I’m focusing on not just discussing these stories but to hopefully open up honest discussions on what steps are necessary to take in rectifying them. We are not defined by situations, only by our actions.

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