We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Indeed only by myth-making, only by becoming ‘sub-creator’ and inventing stories, can Man aspire to the state of perfection that he knew before the Fall. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour, while materialistic ‘progress’ leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil.

J.R.R. Tolkien

I love this Tolkien quote. It takes reading slowly, perhaps more than once, to truly sink in but the sentiment behind it is inspiring, especially as a writer. I never planned on being a published author but I have always enjoyed writing, even if just for myself. I have always been a reader and had a love for books. I used to consider myself a bookworm. Reading was practically all I did with spare time and I was quite content.

As I matured and branched out into other hobbies and interests, I never lost my love for reading and books. I still read every day. When I wasn’t on a horse or at the barn, I typically had a book in my face. I would read while I ate, read while I soaked in the tub, read while drinking my tea or coffee, read way too late into the night….

As an adult, I have amassed enough books to dedicate an entire room in our house to being a library. A too-small library for the books I have. As a mother, my reading time has become precious and all too often I go days without having the opportunity to pick up a book. I have turned to audio-books that I can listen to as I work. It isn’t the same as a physical book in my hands but desperate times and all that.

I have realized in this stage of my life that I am not a bookworm. Rather, I am a book dragon. I buy them at thrift stores infinitely faster than I could ever hope to read them. I hoard books. If I enjoy an audio-book, I go on the search for physical copies to add to my collection. I have books that I have listened to but never actually opened the physical copy. I keep them as treasures and trophies. I have books that I have never read or listened to. Just seeing the beautiful tomes on my shelves brings me pleasure.

Speaking of seeing beautiful books on my shelves, I have recently begun my own book art with one of my favorite series. I have thrifted new-to-me copies of the series (I don’t want to alter the complete set I already have as they were gifted to me from my grandparents as each of the books were released) and I am working on my own dust jackets and edge art so I can have a customized artistic complete set for my treasure trove.

In addition to my self-indulgent treasure crafting, I have other projects in the works. As some of you know, my first children’s book, Olaf the Friendly Steer, is already out in the world. It tells the true story of our steer Olaf and his farm companions—including Heidi the dog and Dahlia the goat—as he learns that every day is a chance for friendship and adventure. (A reformatted second edition with brand-new content is live on Amazon now: Olaf the Friendly Steer!)

I also have five new children’s books written and I am working on the illustrations. I hope to have at least three more published and available before the end of the year. The next book published will be Ivy: The Goat Who Wouldn’t Give Up. It is a heartwarming true story about hope, resilience, and learning that the greatest strength is found not in how you walk, but in the size of your brave and happy heart.

The following book will be Silky Bilky: The Imperfectly Perfect Hen. This is a beautiful, true story about loving big, embracing your quirks, and proving that the best kind of love doesn’t need to be picture-perfect.

The next book will be my first rhyming children’s book and it plays with the fascinating historical idea that before scientists coined the term ‘dinosaur’ in the 1800s, people throughout history—including biblical writers documenting creatures like the Behemoth and Leviathan—described these massive beasts as ‘dragons’. The Secret History of Dragons will also be my first interactive book with activity pages included.

The other two children’s books are a fun alphabet book featuring all my kids’ favorite animals and a story about a purple dragon – a tender tale of friendship, courage, and adventure.

On a slightly different note, I am co-authoring a young adult fantasy novel with a friend that is about 80 percent finished but has been put on a back burner for a while. I am hoping to get back to work on that soon. I am also actively outlining and world-building for another YA fantasy that I am really excited about.

The act of writing, the act of creating, is where we truly step into the light of that “eternal truth.” Whether it’s the complexity of a YA fantasy novel, or the simple joy of a story like Olaf, the Friendly Steer, we are participating in the work of myth-making. Every time I sit down to work on my illustrations, design a new dust jacket, or chip away at a chapter, I’m not just passing the time; I’m steering away from that “yawning abyss” and toward a “true harbour”.

So, while my physical time for reading may have changed—requiring the aid of audiobooks and the patience of a mother trying to find five quiet minutes—my heart remains in the world of stories. As I continue to gather my treasured tomes and bring my own stories to life—from a heartwarming tale about another real-life farm animal to an interactive adventure finding dragons—I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

Because the greatest treasure in this dragon’s hoard is not the books themselves, but the shared joy of the light they contain. And it’s not just about hoarding treasures; it’s about participating in the art, extending the story, and making a little more magic in the world. Even with five new children’s books taking shape and a couple of YA fantasy books waiting to be finished, my shelves—my dragon’s hoard—will continue to grow. Because every single volume, whether read, reread, listened to, or simply admired, is a doorway.

It’s a doorway to a small piece of eternal truth, and as a book dragon, it is my privilege—and my joy—to guard them, to share them, and to keep the fires of their stories burning.

I’m thrilled to be a sub-creator in this small way and hope to bring joy and light to someone’s life with my creations.

Which of my upcoming projects are you most excited to hear more about? What kind of treasure do you hoard?

Curious about how these books fit into my current season of life? Read From Survival to Spreadsheets: Finding My Spoons Again for a peek behind the scenes of navigating motherhood, energy, and reclaiming space to write.