Characters rarely come from nowhere. More often, they arrive from real life, lightly fictionalized, names changed, and edges softened or sharpened. The Tinkerer is one such character. He is inspired by Bill Brine, a man who never met an ordinary day he couldn’t animate.

I was born in the blizzard of 1969. Today, much of the USA is blanketed in a blizzard’s aftermath. This week’s blog sheds light on Princess Briel’s backstory—“partly truth, and partly fiction,” as Kris Kristofferson once sang.

A sudden loss, a loss that comes too early, places loved ones in a precarious position. Sharing a few thoughts on the term “passing away”, some books and a podcast that resonated with me, and the contrast of grief that comes not as a shock, but from a love of a long life lived.

January is a month of beginnings and transitions. Beyond resolutions, fresh calendars, and cold weather, it is often when our older relatives let go. There is a gift that my parents gave me in the 90’s - the gift of being prepared for grief, the roadmap through, and the routines that provide comfort.

Aileen grew up in Britain with fond memories of seaside holidays. Love brought her to Lafayette, Louisiana. Everyday-curious, adventurous, food-loving, optimistic, and deeply kind, she was the perfect match for this story. Aileen’s whimsical coastal illustrations bring magic, grace, and grief’s lagniappe to the pages.

Dad puns have a way of lingering in the back of our memories. My father loved them — and my husband might be even worse. When I sat down to write Sailing with Angels, one of Dad’s silly lines resurfaced. Writing for children — especially lyrical stories and poetic tales — invites us to tuck in tiny easter eggs that help metaphors blossom.

Writing is often shaped by the characters and moments we carry with us long after they’ve passed. Sailing with Angels was born from those memories. It’s a love letter to the generation who raised us on and off the water. One of those characters was Mr. Dickson. And he taught me about Fog Pie.

Songs, like stories often arrive exactly when you need them. Sailing with Angels is inspired by a soundtrack of great songs. In 2023, when I was writing my father’s eulogy, Taylor Swift’s Marjorie found me. I had a Marjory, with a Y. Learn a bit more about Queen Marjory.