WHY I’M WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOK’S AT THIS STAGE OF MY LIFE?
There are seasons in life when we push forward, and seasons when we begin to slow down and reflect. This stage of my life feels very much like the latter — a time of clarity, intention, and choosing work that feels gentle, meaningful, and true.
It’s from this place that I began writing children’s books about emotions.
A LIFE SPENT LISTENING
For many years, my work centred around listening — truly listening — to people’s fears, worries, and unspoken struggles. I sat with adults who felt anxious, overwhelmed, uncertain, or disconnected from themselves and others.
What became increasingly clear to me was this:
many emotional struggles don’t begin in adulthood — they begin much earlier.
Children often experience big feelings long before they have the language to explain them.
WHY CHILDREN’S EMOTIONAL WELLBEING MATTERS.
Children today are growing up in a fast-moving and often noisy world. Even young children can feel pressure, worry, or confusion, yet struggle to express what’s happening inside.
Supporting emotional wellbeing for children doesn’t require complex explanations. What children need most is reassurance, understanding, and safe ways to explore their feelings.
Stories offer exactly that.
Through stories, children learn:
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That feelings are normal
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That worries can be talked about
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That kindness, courage, and calm can be learned
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That they are not alone
This belief is at the heart of my work.
WHY STORIES ARE SUCH POWERFUL TEACHERS
Children learn best when they feel safe and engaged. A gentle story allows a child to recognise their own emotions without feeling exposed or judged.
Well-written children’s books about emotions can:
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Help children understand feelings in a natural way
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Encourage emotional vocabulary
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Open conversations with parents and carers
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Provide comfort during uncertain moments
Stories don’t rush children — they meet them where they are.
HOW MURPHY CAME INTO BEING.
Murphy wasn’t carefully planned. He arrived quietly — a kind, thoughtful little dog who notices how others feel and responds with warmth and curiosity.
Through Murphy’s adventures, children are gently introduced to themes such as:
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Courage and confidence
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Making friends
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Kindness and empathy
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Worry and reassurance
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Managing big emotions
Each story is simple, calm, and reassuring, forming what is now known as the Brave & Calm series — gentle children’s stories designed to support emotional growth.
WRITING AT THIS STAGE OF MY LIFE.
At this stage of my life, I’m less interested in rushing and more interested in meaning. Writing children’s books feels like a natural continuation of everything I’ve learned — shaped into something accessible, gentle, and hopeful.
These books are written not only for children, but also for parents, grandparents, teachers, and carers who want to support children emotionally in a compassionate way.
If a story helps a child feel understood, braver, or calmer — even briefly — then it has done something important.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Brave & Calm series continues to grow, guided by the same intention it began with: to offer children reassurance, emotional understanding, and a sense of safety through story.
Thank you for being here and for taking the time to read. If you’d like to explore the Murphy books, you’ll find each one focuses on a different emotional theme — created to be read together, talked about, and returned to when needed.
Murphy’s Brave and Calm series can be purchased on Amazon
