Cork author: ‘My book has a message for my daughter, and for every child’

Since my daughter was born, storytime has been such an important aspect of her life.

I’ve enjoyed nothing more than reading books and showing her the lovely illustrations that they contain.

While it’s possible to find books that touch on family diversity, it is not as easy to come by as some other types of stories.

I wanted to provide a book for her and other children that would explore family diversity.

My motivation for the book was solely my daughter. Amelia has two moms, and, as mentioned, I wanted this representation in an easy-flowing way.

The book is not solely about having two moms, or same-sex parents, but it is a book about empathy, understanding, and celebrating all family types.

I want my daughter to grow up with books that reflect her family life in the pages and recognise that when it comes down to it, love is what makes a family whole.

It has always been a dream of mine to write a book, and there is no better motivation than writing one for my daughter.

Self-doubt continually crept in throughout this journey, and at times I started to think if anyone would actually be interested in this book.

I kept reminding myself that I was creating something for my daughter, and the doubt would go to the back of my mind.

This process became more to me than just writing a book. It became a journey of perseverance, creativity, and holding the belief that small stories have the potential to make a big difference.

Like a lot of people, within my own extended family, there are many different family structures, and I hope this book makes children feel seen and represented.

The message is simple for kids: You are loved just the same. It helps children to see the beauty in all kinds of families.

Through gentle questions and reassuring answers, kids discover that no matter how different families may look, whether two moms, one parent, stepparents, grandparents, or siblings near and far, love is what binds a family together.

Loved Just The Same celebrates love, belonging, and the many ways families show they care. It’s a timeless message every child deserves to hear.

The idea had been circulating in my mind for a long time, so I decided to bite the bullet and put pen to paper.

It was sometimes difficult to find sufficient time to work on this book between working my day job and being a mother.

My wife is very supportive of my aspirations and gave up as much of her time as she could to ensure I could make this all come together.

As I have not published a book before, I found elements of the process challenging, such as finding an illustrator who aligned with the ideas in my head.

It was also a challenge to get the book print-ready, and it took many weeks of trial and error to make it feel right for me.

The actual content of the book is something that came a little bit easier, as it is an important topic, but articulating that in a light, rhyming, and heart-warming way was also equally important to me.

It is a children’s book, but there is a message to be taken away for adults as well.

Some people believe that anything different to their own version of ‘normal’ isn’t right. But it is not about what’s right for you when it comes to family structures.

We all operate in different ways and grow up in different circumstances, and that’s all okay.

The most important thing for a child is to feel loved, heard, and shown care.

If Loved Just The Same even helps one child or one parent to start the conversation about kindness and inclusion, then I feel like my work was worthwhile.

We live in a world that is beautifully diverse, and stories are one of the simplest ways to remind children (and adults) that love can appear in many different forms.

My book’s journey has been fantastic, and I am very proud that it has finally been published.

All the struggles, late nights, and endless editing have been so worth it, and I hope that my readers can get as much enjoyment out of it as I have.

It is now available on Amazon by searching the title Loved Just The Same.

It is still surreal to see my name on a book, but it is a reminder that sometimes the stories closest to your heart are the ones that are important to share.