Twenty years ago, I began writing a story to give a voice to a little girl who didn't have one.

What started as a private attempt to make sense of my own childhood eventually became The Girl in the Window. For more than two decades, those pages sat quietly in a drawer before I finally found the courage to share them with the world.

I never imagined that journey would one day lead me to write a children's book.

In March, 2026, I had the privilege of meeting with Peter LaFaivre and learning more about the mission of The Friends of Gentry Aubrey Foundation. We talked about children, safety, advocacy, and the importance of helping young people understand that their voices matter.

That conversation stayed with me.

I found myself thinking about the children who are living through difficult circumstances right now. The children who may be scared, confused, or carrying burdens they were never meant to carry alone. Most of all, I thought about how different my own story might have been if I had known, as a child, that there were safe adults willing to listen.

From those conversations and reflections, The Old Sycamore: A Safe Place was born.

This story was written with one purpose: to help children understand that if something doesn't feel right, if they don't feel safe, they can talk to a trusted adult. Their feelings matter. Their voices matter. And they never have to carry hard things alone.

While The Girl in the Window tells the story of a child who struggled to find her voice, The Old Sycamore was written for children who need to know they already have one.

My hope is that this book becomes more than a story. I hope it becomes a conversation starter between children and the adults who love them. A reminder that asking for help is brave. That speaking up is courageous. And that every child deserves to be heard.

A special thank you to Peter LaFaivre and The Friends of Gentry Aubrey Foundation for the work they do on behalf of children and for inspiring a project that is very close to my heart.

Because every child deserves to feel safe.

And every child deserves to know they can tell someone when they don't.