We were lucky to catch up with C. Anne recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi C., thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

When I first came up with the idea for a middle grade series I wanted it to be about a boy with a speech disorder. My youngest son has a stutter. His speech is disfluent and halting. Despite therapy and practice, it’s something he will continue to struggle with throughout his life. There have been times when it was so severe he stopped talking to people outside the family. He has been laughed at and made fun of because of it. And despite my best efforts to find a character in a show, movie, or book that he could relate to, I came up short. So, I decided I would write one for him. As I developed the story, I realized I wanted more than to write a series with a character who stutters. I began thinking about my own childhood and the kinds of books I read and never really finding a character I could relate to either. Both of my children are neurodiverse, and I was diagnosed myself when they were still very young. Finding our place has not been easy. Feeling like I belonged as a child was even more difficult than it is as an adult. I decided to develop another main character in the book who was equal parts my oldest son and myself when I was young.
Both main characters in the A Home Called Haven Series are very different from their peers. They are also both foster children, so that idea of not belonging is very strong in the first book of the series. But they are taken in by an incredible older woman who lives in a tiny cabin, named Haven, in the woods. And the children soon discover the woods, the cabin, and even their caretaker herself, are magical.
Growing up different, often bullied by peers, and even some adults, I had a sense of not being worthy or wanted. My own children have experienced the same, and as a parent that can be devastating to watch. I began my own healing journey in my twenties and discovered Shamanism. When my boys were still very young I took yearlong medicine wheel class and for the first time in my life was finally able to accept myself and learn to love myself. After developing the characters for the story, I knew I wanted to incorporate shamanism, healing, and unity into the plot.
I love to learn about different spiritual paths, cultural beliefs, and ways of seeing the world in general. I devour the information eagerly, always wanting to learn more, and attribute it to where I am today in regard to understanding myself, others, and the beautiful planet we live on. If I had this information at a younger age, I think it would have altered my life dramatically. I struggled intensely through my adolescence and young adult years. As I began to heal, I felt this driving need to help others in the same situation.
While the Haven series is fantasy, the journeys the main characters go on are profoundly transformative, for both them and the reader. Through mythological creatures, gods and goddesses, and various cultural practices and beliefs, the characters learn to love and accept themselves and others, understand the role they play in the world, and learn various techniques that help them to heal and grow.
This project has been the most meaningful to me because I feel that it’s what the world, and especially children, really need. Not only to see themselves in a positive way, but to understand that we all have the power to control our thoughts and emotions, what we do affects others and the planet, and that all of life is interconnected.
I hope children who need the books most will find them. And I hope parents and caregivers will read the books with their children and practice what they learn together.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a poet, artist, and author of a middle grade series and two children’s picture books. Connection, adventure, spirituality, caring for the planet, and finding beauty and wonder in every day are my guiding principles. I believe books are doorways into magical worlds and all children deserve to see themselves represented in them in a positive way.

Through my books I have created a world where all children belong, and the beauty and magic of our planet Earth are brought to life. From picture books for toddlers to fantasy stories for middle grades, I believe books have the power to change our lives for the better.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an author is when a parent or caregiver reaches out to tell me how much their child enjoys one of my books. I’ve had people send pictures before of their children reading one of my books as well. It’s the best feeling and exactly why I love to write.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Through my writing I am able to create a better world, one where everyone feels seen and wanted. I think children especially need this. For me that’s the biggest way I can have an impact. I hope that by teaching the youngest generation through stories how important and interconnected all of life is they will be better equipped to create the change our world so desperately needs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://c-anne-everydaymagic.com
• Instagram: c.anne_everyday_magic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christy.rodi/
• Youtube: @author-C-Anne