In the months before my son Gianni was born, I felt inspired to write a story about a little girl and her adventures with the Faeries and Elemental beings of our world. Ten years later, in the middle of applying for a job, a powerful impulse came over me to finally start writing that little story I'd thought of all those years ago. It was as if I was being pushed, nearly physically, to begin writing. I submitted my job application as quickly as I could, and then I opened my laptop. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

The words began to formulate and flowed from my mind to the computer keys and onto the page. I wrote about half a page and then went downstairs to make dinner. Gianni ran upstairs for something, and apparently read what I’d just written on my open laptop. He came back down and told me that he liked the book I was writing! I was taken aback, as I didn’t even know that I was writing a book yet.

I got that job I’d applied for, and every night after dinner and getting Gianni to bed, I’d open my laptop, close my eyes, take a deep breath and begin writing. No outline or story formed ahead of time, just a nightly flow of words formulating from my imagination and onto the page. Most nights, I sat down and didn’t recall where the story had left off from the night before. It was as if I was writing something that I was remembering, one page at a time.

When I was writing about Isabella's deep connection to Mother Earth, I had profound and life-changing realization that I was actually writing about my own deep connection to Mother Earth. I can still clearly recall those moments of recognition and remembering who I truly was, why I was here now, and what I was to do next. This was what I’d come here to do, to share Isabella's story. This was my true purpose in life, and my beautiful son Gianni, had come to inspire me to do this.

We don't always know why people come into our lives, however, knowing that there is one person, more than any other, to walk along side me, to remind me to be playful and creative, to inspire me to keep going in moments when I am tired and worn out, more than anything or anyone else I’ve ever known, my beautiful, brilliant, filled with endless love and compassionate son, Gianni, inspires me to be my best and to keep going.

That is why I’m here, with Gianni along side of me. To reconnect to my own inner child and remember that life is a gift and something we all need to treasure more. My wish is that anyone who needs to feel inspired about life again, whether you have children of your own or not, find a child to treasure and nurture and love. There is some little girl or boy who needs you as much as you need them in your life. Children are precious gifts in life, and they should be treasured, nurtured and loved as much as anyone possibly can.

It takes a village, and the time has come where we need to gather together as a village again, to treasure and raise brilliant, creative, loving little humans again. And, who could ask for a better backdrop, canvas and playground, than our beautiful and precious Mother Earth?

My sincere wish is that you find reading the Isabella’s Earth books as inspiring as I have in writing them.

It’s time.