Interview:

Why did you write The Aisle of Indifference?

I had to write The Aisle of Indifference because I believe children should never confuse what happened to them with who they are. My hope is that they'll learn to trust the quiet wisdom within themselves until the light buried beneath the rubble becomes impossible to ignore.

I want children to know that pain doesn't have to be permanent. They don't have to live there. I hope they'll learn to look beyond the pain and discover what it reveals about them. Sometimes it shines a light on the person they choose to become, revealing strengths and qualities they may never have discovered otherwise. Our greatest hurts can uncover our greatest capacity to love, to care, and to make a difference in the lives of others. I hope Riley's journey reminds readers that while we cannot always choose what happens to us, we can choose what our pain becomes.

What’s your favorite part about being a writer?

Helping children who feel lost, alone, or angry discover they are stronger than they realize. I hope my book will help them feel seen, safe, and unshakably strong.

Also, being home with my three dogs means everything to me.

I have to ask, why Moody Noodles? Where did that come from?

When I wrote The Aisle of Indifference, my hope was to help children who feel lost, angry, or overwhelmed know they are not alone and discover their own strength. After finishing the novel, I created Moody Noodle Books™, my educational brand, and a collection of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) resources designed to continue the conversation long after the final page is turned. On this website’s home page, you'll meet a few of the Moody Noodles. Each one is a doorway into a conversation with Stedman, a character from The Aisle of Indifference, creating a safe place where children can explore their feelings, better understand their emotions, and smile.

That's how Moody Noodles was born.

Each Moody Noodle represents a different emotion, reminding children that feelings are not flaws AND are not permanent. They are part of being human. Whether a child is feeling sad, angry, worried, joyful, calm, or somewhere in between, I want them to know they are seen, safe, and that they matter.

If The Aisle of Indifference helps children find the door, I hope Moody Noodles gives them a place where they feel safe enough to stay awhile. 💙

Did you always know you were going to be a writer?

No. I didn’t start writing until I was forty years old. But I’ve always had a great imagination, and I was an artist in other ways. The drawing of the mask you see to the right (or below) was a mask made to honor Sargon the Great, the king of the Akkadian Empire, but equally famous today as the father of Princess Enheduanna, the first female author known by name in world history. Ironically, I drew this long before I knew I would become an author.

What books have you read that were impactful?

I love this question. There are so many. This is another two-part answer, though: stories I’ve read and books that have either taught me writing techniques or different ways of thinking.

For books I’ve read, I just loved George Selden’s A Cricket in Times Square. What a delightful and fun story. It was the first book I read after deciding to be an author. Kate DiCamillo’s Flora & Ulysses, as well as her beautiful novels, Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, were so much fun to read. I also enjoyed Gennifer Choldenko’s The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman.‍ And finally, a book most similar to my own and an absolute favorite, Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls. ‍

For writing-technique books, at the top of the list is Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling by Michelle Barker & David Griffin Brown. If you are a writer, this is a must-read. Others include: Jennie Nash’s Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out; K.M. Weiland’s Creating Character Arcs; and Writing Vivid Settings, written by Rayne Hall. Finally, Writing for Emotional Impact: Advanced Dramatic Techniques to Attract, Engage, and Fascinate the Reader from Beginning to End, written by Karl Iglesias. That is a book I will never stop reading!

Favorite authors for personal growth include Louis Hay, Emmet Fox, Florence Scovel Shinn, and Dr. Wayne Dyer, among so many others.

A special thank you to Savannah Gilbo. Her podcast was an invaluable resource throughout the development of The Aisle of Indifference and helped shape my growth as a writer.

What do you think is one of the most important things in life?

I can’t say just one. Gratitude and Empathy are critical. And, if life has been challenging, I believe it’s important to recognize that it may be a blessing, as there is opportunity within it. I believe it is our job to convert negative energy into something positive, then share that with our Universe.

What do you like to do for fun?

My favorite? Put on my crazy hat and headphones, then subtly dance down a mountain of snow while taking it all in. Shortly after that, take the headphones off and do a 360-degree spin on the slope, not really knowing how I’ll land! lol

I love reading, writing, gardening, and cooking. I love finding new spiritual shows on YouTube (So many ways to say the same thing! - I Am.) I love going to shows, movies, and concerts at the oldest continuously operating movie theatre in the United States with my precious husband of twenty years. I love walking through Peddler’s Village at Christmas time, and of course, eating out and spending time with our friends is priceless.