Discovering the Stories Within

Have you ever noticed that when an idea surfaces, it naturally leads to another, and then another until you find yourself creating a narrative that you have no idea where it came from?

Was it always there – lurking under a particular emotional veil, or is the spark of a new idea what allows something new to grow? 

These are some of the questions I found myself pondering after I wrote The Little Seed’s Long Wait. Because here I am, one year later, with book two, The Little Seed and the Secret Forest, written and in the illustration phase. Book three, The Little Seed and the Shiny Flower, is in development. A full ecosystem has grown around Little Seed, complete with a Little Seed plush that has brought the character to life.

And that’s not all. Books four and five are still finding their story. Meanwhile, a brand-new four-book series – Little Seed Feels – whose four books are already written and waiting for a new creative direction.

I honestly didn’t think one little seed had this much in it.

Since I’m being honest, there’s something else that has been stirring within as well. Another story. Another book. But not one about seeds and gardens and big feelings. This one is for grown readers and has been percolating for a long time. I’ve been living with it privately and even convinced myself that if I pushed it down deep enough, it would disappear forever.

But it didn’t. And it won’t. It can’t be ignored any longer.

So, I’m pulling back that emotional veil in my mind and allowing it to come into existence. I’ll have more to say about it as it unfolds. 

For now, I’ll continue to tend to The Little Seed universe.

 — Mari

The Wonder of Watching Something Come to Life

The first time I handed someone a copy of my book, time seemed to stop. I held my breath while they read it. Putting something so deeply felt onto paper and sharing it publicly is a scary thing to do. I still feel that way when I know someone is reading my book for the first time.

There is something surreal about having characters I created in my mind become real to someone else. But what has made it all worthwhile is the wide eyes, gasps, and giggles that come from the little ones. When I set out to publish The Little Seed's Long Wait, I couldn't have imagined the joy and fulfillment there is in watching children react to the story.

Little Seed and his friends have made their way into homes, libraries, schools in multiple countries, and loving laps around the globe. I think what I love best is how families, parents, librarians, teachers, grandparents, and adults in general have reacted to the story's relatable theme.

Children imagine the story coming to life. Adults often realize they’ve been living it.

It's thrilling to know there are many more schools, libraries, homes, and bookstores to explore. For now, though, I still hold my breath when someone new is reading my book for the first time.

Then, I remember the squeals of laughter and wide-eyed curiosity of the hundreds of children I’ve met along the way, and I smile.

— Mari

Breathe

“Take a deep breath in – now let it all out” – I hear this phrase repeated over and over in my mind. In yoga, breath is the epicenter of the practice.

The movement, the flow, the stillness – it is all guided by breath. This cue, coming from the teacher, is repeated throughout the class.

There is something about the connection to your own breath that stills the mind and forces everything else out. There is no space to think about projects, deadlines or to-do lists. Focusing on the present moment pushes out the noise, the chatter and the worry.

And then life resumes.

I had to learn how to put the infrastructure in place for my book. Now that I’ve done that, I still feel as though there’s more I can do. I’m pushing when I need to be letting go. Even with so many years practicing yoga, lately, I’ve found myself needing to go back to the meaning of what I wrote about in The Little Seed’s Long Wait.

Not because nothing is happening, but because letting go and trusting is not easy to do.

I imagine little seed was experiencing all types of noise while he was waiting on what he wanted most. To go Up Above. At first, he didn’t have the tools to help him slow down but once he let go, everything changed.

Much like in yoga, in life, trusting yourself is at the center of forward movement. Letting go is a lot more difficult than holding on.

Today, I’m grabbing my mat and going to breathe.

 — Mari

Everyone Does Hard Things

There's a particular kind of comment that stays with you. Not because it was meant to hurt, but because it makes you stop and think. This is about one of those comments, and what I've come to believe because of it.

Since I published my children's picture book, I've received so many accolades from people, wishing me success, amazed and inspired, excited and envious.

Those reactions all mean the world to me. They do!

But there's one that I circle back to time and again.

Someone said to me, "No offense, but everyone writes a book nowadays."

It landed hard.

And honestly? They're not wrong that more people have access to publishing tools than ever before.

But I'd say the same is true for a lot of things.

Casually speaking, everyone runs a marathon, everyone starts a business, everyone learns a new skill at 50, everyone pivots careers and starts over.

Everyone does hard things and that's what's made this journey beautiful.

It's made it feel less lonely, more meaningful, and absolutely worth doing.

Writing The Little Seed's Long Wait took years of self-doubt, rewrites, edits, and a whole lot of courage I had to dig deep to find.

So yes, I wrote a book. And I'm really glad I did.

— Mari

Why I Wrote The Little Seed’s Long Wait

The Little Seed's Long Wait is a children's picture book. But it didn't begin as one.

I never intended to write a children’s book. I just needed somewhere to put my feelings.

I was waiting for something I wanted more than anything in the world. And no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I longed for it, it simply wasn’t happening. So one day I sat down and put my feelings on paper.

I didn’t know I was writing my own story. I didn’t know I was little seed.

And then I read what I had written. And I knew. This wasn’t just for me. This was meant for more.

What kept me grounded through the waiting were the people I loved most. Without realizing it, I wrote them into the story. Each one became a character. Each one carried into the garden exactly what they had given me in real life.

And Rooty, wise, patient, ancient Rooty, that was my own inner voice. The part of me that already knew the truth, even when I refused to listen.

I wrote this book before my Up Above arrived. I wrote the ending I hadn’t lived yet. But somewhere deep inside, I had finally stopped forcing and started believing. Believing that my season would come.

It did.

And it was more beautiful than anything I had ever imagined.

If you are reading this and you are still waiting, still underground, still dreaming of your own Up Above, I wrote this for you. Your season is coming.

Patience is where the magic begins.

— Mari