Have you ever watched a kid’s face light up when they see a baby animal? Or when they climb a tree and feel like the king (or queen) of the world?

That’s the kind of joy I try to bottle up and pour into every Cottonwood Adventures book. 

Growing up in Kootingal, NSW, I was surrounded by mountains, paddocks, and a
never-ending supply of mischief to get into with my two brothers, cousins, and our many animal friends. I remember helping my dad pull a calf from its mother and being covered in afterbirth, but we didn’t care. We were part of something real, something bigger than ourselves.

Today, kids are bombarded with technology, but I truly believe they’re still craving
connection, with nature, with animals, and with stories that feel honest. That’s why I don’t include phones, screens, or modern distractions in my books. Instead, I focus on what I know: simple joys, heartfelt friendships, and the kind of outdoor  adventures that spark a child’s imagination.

Through characters like Macy, Apollo, Kate, Tillie, and their animals, I explore what it means to grow up with integrity, courage, and curiosity. I want readers to laugh, to feel, and most importantly, to imagine themselves in the story.

So when a reader tells me they felt like they were right there on the farm, or when a librarian tells me my books helped a reluctant reader fall in love with stories, that’s everything to me.

In the end, Cottonwood Adventures isn’t just about horses and hijinks. It’s about showing kids that there’s magic in the real world. You just have to go outside and find it.