Why Am I Writing a Children’s Book?

You’ve probably heard that I’m writing a book, but you may not know why.

Mortimer the Terrier’s Second Chance is, in a lot of ways, for little me.

As far back as I can remember, I felt like I was on the outside looking in. When I’d see kids playing, I wouldn’t just jump in. I’d hang around, waiting for an invitation to join them.

When I got older, I’d listen to their favorite music, watch their favorite movies, do the things they did (even if I didn’t like them). And I dropped a lot of activities they deemed nerdy (even if I liked those activities).

This is awkward little me around 7 years old, on the first day of school.

Even as a college student, I looked for acceptance based on other people’s standards.

Did it ever work? No.

My efforts to “be like the cool kids” rarely got me invited into their circles, and they didn’t bring me happiness. But they did sow plenty of doubt and anxiety.

I don’t want that for my kids, or anyone’s kids.

I want kids to learn far earlier than I did that if they stay true to who they are and what they like, there’s a community out there for them. I want them to know that happiness comes with self-confidence — not through just being like everyone else.

Self-confidence is a trait that has to be nurtured early. Like, preschool-early. But it’s kinda hard to explain a nebulous concept like self-confidence to a 2-year-old.

It helps to have a model to follow. Preferably a cute one whose journey can make them laugh and whose story they’ll want to come back to again and again.

A model like … Mortimer the Terrier.

An early sketch of Mortimer the Terrier by Adriana Predoi.

To learn more about Morty and how you’ll be able to buy the book this fall, visit his page on this website and sign up for the Morty Memo newsletter at the bottom!