We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Poe Avondet a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Poe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve always loved getting carried away in a story, which meant I grew up with dance shoes on my feet and my nose in a book.

As I got older, writing became something more than just an escape. I started to realize how therapeutic it could be, and somewhere along the way I began to dream that one day I’d hold my own book in my hands.

But life has a funny way of steering the ship in all sorts of directions.

A couple of years ago, my husband was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. That moment drastically shifted my perspective. It made me think more about time, purpose, and the kind of legacy we want to leave behind. It also made life feel more fragile and made me realize I wanted the years ahead to be spent creating something meaningful.

For years I’d been saving money so I could buy a new car. I was driving an older Tahoe, and when the time came, I planned to replace it. But instead, I decided to put some of those savings toward a dream I’d carried for years: publishing my own children’s book series.

The idea for my first book actually came from a long-running family joke. In our house, my husband had a habit of disappearing into the bathroom for what felt like forever. We’d knock on the door to make sure he was still alive in there, and eventually we started joking that Dad had gone on a “Dad Break.” It became a funny little tease in our house. Where did he go? What was he doing in there for so long?

That silly inside joke eventually sparked the idea for my first book in the series, The Dad Break.

At the same time, I’d also noticed that so many children’s books today focus heavily on teaching lessons. And while that’s wonderful and important, I also felt like something was missing. Kids love wild, silly, theatrical fun. There’s a reason Dr. Seuss still feels like magic. The books my kids love most are the ones that make them laugh with playful rhyme and illustrations that pull them into the world of the story.

So, I created The Break Series with that spirit in mind. The books are written in rhythmic rhyme so they’re fun for both parents and kids to read aloud. They’re also full of ridiculous situations, over-the-top chaos, and lively illustrations packed with little details that reward curious readers. Kids can read the story again and again and still discover something new on the page. The lesson is there, but it grows naturally out of the adventure and laughter rather than leading the story.

Funding the illustrations and publishing independently meant putting some of my car savings toward something uncertain. But as I’ve been reminded, life is short. I knew I would never look back and say, “I’m so glad I bought that car!” But I also knew that if I didn’t take the chance, I would definitely wonder what if.
My hope is that these books become something my children, and someday my grandchildren, can hold in their hands and enjoy. As the series grows, it’s also something that could continue to support our family for years to come. I chose to dream big and create something lasting.

I’m still very much in the risk phase. I’m currently working on my third book, The Witch Break, and the journey of building a series and finding readers is still unfolding. But I’ve learned that sometimes the biggest step is simply deciding to go for it.

So, chase your dream. You never know where it might lead. Sometimes the things that feel the riskiest end up becoming the most meaningful parts of life.

Poe, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I write under the pen name Poe Avondet, and storytelling has been part of me for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved poetry, books, and using writing as a way to express myself. I first stepped into indie publishing back in 2014 with a romantic thriller called Breathing Black. It was a completely different kind of project, but seeing my story out in the world for the first time was both exciting and incredibly rewarding.

In 2023, I started a new chapter with my children’s book series, The Break Series, and that has been such a fun and creative space for me. These books really reflect my personality. They’re playful, a little mischievous, and full of big imaginative energy.

What makes my books different is they’re written as rhythmic, read-aloud stories. They’re so much fun to read! The Break Series is full of wild situations, silly twists, and a little bit of chaos, but underneath it all there’s always something sweet at the heart of the story. I never want the story to feel like it’s trying too hard to force a lesson. I want the adventure and laughter to lead the way and let the heart of the story show up naturally. In The Heart Break, Cupid’s arrows go wildly off course and create all kinds of hilarious chaos before he learns what love really means. In The Witch Break, Hagatha sneaks off to the Hag Haven Spa for a little “rot and relaxation” after all her Halloween havoc, only to discover that even witches need a little self-care.

I’m so proud of how these books have come to life. I work with an unbelievably talented illustrator, Sandra Attema-Welte, and watching the worlds I imagined come alive through her artwork has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. She brings so much charm and personality to the page, and together we’ve created books that feel vibrant, clever, and full of heart.

At the end of the day, I want people to know that The Break Series is meant to bring families together. I want kids to laugh, parents to genuinely enjoy reading the stories out loud, and for each book to feel like its own little adventure.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an author always starts with the story itself. There’s something magical about that first spark of an idea and watching it slowly grow into something real. I’m definitely driven by that pull to create, but what makes it truly meaningful is knowing those stories eventually connect with people.

With my children’s books especially, the best feeling in the world is hearing that kids want to read them over and over again. Knowing families are curled up together at night laughing through one of my books is pretty incredible. That’s the kind of reward you can’t really measure.

I also love visiting schools and talking with kids about storytelling. I go into classrooms and show them how a book can start with just their imagination. We come up with clever ideas together, and I show them how they can turn those ideas into a book of their own. We also talk about how the big emotions they feel can be powerful fuel for writing. Watching a kid suddenly realize they could be an author one day is a really special moment.

Right now, a lot of elementary school kids are struggling with reading, and that’s something that really matters to me. Books and writing were always an outlet in my life. Storytelling can be incredibly therapeutic, and imagination gives kids a place to explore ideas, express themselves, and feel proud of something they’ve created.

If my books can help kids fall in love with reading, spark their imagination, and give families a reason to laugh together at the end of the day, that’s easily the most rewarding part of being an author.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Books and storytelling played a huge role in my life growing up. Literature gave me a place to escape and imagine, but it also gave me a way to express myself. Writing eventually became a powerful outlet for me, and because of that it feels very natural to want to pay that forward.

We live in a very digital world where phones, social media, and screens compete for attention all the time. Because of that, imagination and storytelling can sometimes get pushed to the side. But books create a completely different kind of experience. They allow kids to step into a world where their imagination leads the way, and that’s something I never want to see disappear.

Helping spark that love of reading is really what drives me as a writer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.authorpoeavondet.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpoeavondet/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpoeavondet
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorpoeavondet

Image Credits

Sugar Rush Photo & Video