When I first conceived Yarnia, I wanted to write a story that came alive from a simple yet powerful place — reflecting the journey of two sister cats who yearned for more out of life. When they finally gained the freedom and adventure they dreamed of, they realized what they truly wanted was to return to their loving home and their mommies whose love and care they had taken for granted before their journey began.

Growing up, I moved many times and lived in numerous homes in several different states. That constant starting over put the itch to travel and seek adventure into my body, but it also left me with a fractured sense of home. Over time, those experiences deepened my character and left me drawn to stories about inner journeys: courage, compassion, belonging, sisterhood, and the question of what “home” really means.

In Yarnia, I drew on the things closest to my heart — my cats, Mila and Autumn; my lifelong love of animals; and my longing for a place where imagination and storytelling can both heal and teach. Out of these inspirations, I wove a tale that is whimsical yet grounded, magical yet emotionally real… and naturally centered around animals.

Another inspiration for Yarnia comes from my lifelong role as an animal lover and advocate. I want this story to grow children’s appreciation for animals, because when kids learn to value animals, they grow into more compassionate humans. I experienced this firsthand while working at a children’s camp, where I ran the farm and nature center. At first, the kids would laugh at the animals for something as silly as when they pooped — but as they learned to feed, brush, and care for them, their laughter turned into respect and kindness. By the end of the summer, I helped them transform a camp song with violent imagery about a goat into a play that saved and celebrated that same goat. That transformation — from ridicule to reverence — is the kind of shift I hope Yarnia inspires on a much larger scale.

At its core, Yarnia is about:

• Connection and Gratitude: At its heart, Yarnia is about the bond between Mila and Autumn — not just between siblings, but between self and other, familiar and strange. Their journey shows what it means to lean on each other, and how facing the unknown and life’s challenges together can strengthen bonds rather than break them. It also reveals the importance of gratitude: discovering that following your heart’s desire can sometimes lead you back to what you already had — but with new depth, wisdom, and appreciation born from the journey itself. Mila and Autumn’s dream was to be free, and even though they returned home in the end, it was their adventures that taught them to truly appreciate the love and safety they had all along.
• Wonder and Awe: Truly being present to the magic, surprises, and lessons that life brings. Yarnia invites children (and adults) to look closer at the world around them, to marvel at its mysteries, and to let that wonder spark creativity, curiosity, and a sense of youthfulness. Experiencing awe and wonder can help all of us learn, remember, and feel more alive; it can calm anxiety, encourage generosity, fuel creativity, and connect us to something larger than ourselves.
• Courage and Creativity: When you’re simply playing with your favorite toy (a massive ball of red yarn) and suddenly tumble through a portal into a world of magic and mystery, you must be brave — not through flashy heroics, but through curiosity, kindness, and imagination. Courage in Yarnia is inseparable from creativity: the sisters must invent, adapt, and problem-solve in order to face challenges, form friendships, and find their way home.
• Home and Identity: Home isn’t just a place you return to — it’s something you carry with you, something that grows and changes as you do. The story asks: what makes a place feel like home, and how do we recognize it, even when we’re far away or forever changed?

I want our audience, both children and adults, to feel invited into a world that is magical and beautiful, playful yet sometimes challenging, but always full of possibility. I want them to cheer for Mila and Autumn, and to see reflections of themselves both in the comfort of home and in the adventure of the unknown — and to believe that no matter how much life changes, love, imagination, courage, friendship, and gratitude remain steady guides.

Writing Yarnia has been an act of hope and an attempt to bring to life my own dreams for a more tolerant and compassionate world — a world where ALL animals are safe, respected, and cared for. I hope it becomes a story that delights, resonates, and comforts — for kids, for ALL families including LGBTQ+ families, for animals, and for anyone who’s ever felt caught between worlds or torn between who they are and who they want to be.