A Story About the Kind of Love That Never Truly Leaves
To many readers, Nelly and the Night Sky may appear to be a simple children’s book filled with cute characters and an imaginative story. To my family and I, it is much more than that.
Some stories are born from creativity alone. Others are shaped by the experiences, memories, and people who leave a lasting mark on our lives. Nelly and the Night Sky is one of those stories.
On the Surface
To the naked eye, Nelly and the Night Sky is a story about a young narwhal learning about the stars.
Nelly is a young narwhal who lost her mother and embarks on a starlit adventure. When she discovers a telescope, she and her friends set off beneath the stars in search of answers. Along the way, they explore constellations, share stories, and discover the beauty hidden in the night sky.
As Nelly follows the stars and the guidance of her friends, she learns that the people we love never truly leave us. Their love lives on in our memories, in the stories we tell, and in the light they leave behind.
The Story That Stayed With Me
Quietly and gently, this story has lived in the back of my mind for years, waiting until I was truly ready to tell it. Now and then, pieces of it would resurface; a feeling, a memory, a question I couldn't quite let go of.
I knew I wanted to write a story about love, loss, and the people who stay with us even after they're gone. But I also knew it needed time. Some stories aren't meant to be rushed. They grow alongside us, gathering meaning as we experience life ourselves.
When Nelly finally began to take shape, I realized this wasn't just a story about a narwhal searching the night sky. It was a story about grief, hope, friendship, and the comforting reminder that love doesn't disappear; it simply changes form.
At its core, this story is about navigating loss while holding onto love.
While loss can change us, it is important to remember that even in the darkest seasons, there is still beauty, hope, and light to be found.
The Story Behind the Story
This story was shaped by my own life over recent years, shaped by the people I love, and by the toughest moments that have shaped me.
In 2020, my mom passed away from cancer. She was the only true parental figure I had in my life and the person who shaped so much of who I am today.
She fought long and hard for many years. Deep down, I knew she wouldn't be here forever, but that knowledge never made the reality any easier to accept. Like so many others facing the possibility of losing someone they love, I found myself hoping, praying, and wishing for more time. I wanted her life on this earth to be infinite.
In her words, “cancer is a gift of knowing that life is finite and that we need to live life every moment of every day as if it will be our last.”
Losing her changed me in ways I am still discovering. To this day, I still notice myself finding joy in the little things that remind me of her. While people may leave our sight, their love remains in many ways.
A few years after my mom passed away, I was diagnosed with cancer myself and faced a battle that no one should ever have to endure.
Family has always been at the center of my life. Some of my most cherished moments are the ones spent with my husband and children. While this season of life was one of the most difficult I have ever faced, it also reminded me of something incredibly important: the true value of the people we love.
My family was by my side through it all. They spent countless nights with me in the hospital, showed up for every visiting hour, helped me recover after surgery, and supported me through every challenge along the way. They carried me through moments when I didn't feel strong enough to carry myself.
Their unwavering love, encouragement, and presence became my source of strength, hope, and comfort. More than anything, this experience deepened my appreciation for family and reminded me that even during life's hardest battles, we do not have to face them alone.
All of these experiences became the foundation of Nelly and the Night Sky.
I didn't want to create a book without a heart. I wanted to create something meaningful that reflected the love, loss, hope, and support that shaped my own journey.
More than anything, this book is a reminder that the people who mean the most to us never truly leave us. Whether they are standing beside us or living on in our memories, their love continues to guide us, comfort us, and light the way forward.
Who is who?
While Nelly and the Night Sky is a work of fiction, many of its characters were inspired by the people who mean the most to me.
Nelly the Narwhal represents me. Like Nelly, I have experienced loss, searched for answers, and learned how to carry love forward even when life doesn't go as planned.
Willy the Whale Shark is inspired by my husband. Throughout every challenge and every triumph, he has been a steady source of strength, support, and encouragement. Much like Willy in the story, he helps guide our family through life's journey with patience and love.
Opal the Octopus represents my son. Curious, creative, and full of wonder, he brings a unique perspective to the world and reminds me to look at things differently.
Luna the Sea Turtle is inspired by my oldest daughter. She has a calm, caring spirit and a wisdom beyond her years. Her kindness and steady presence make her someone others naturally turn to for comfort.
Tilly the Seahorse represents my youngest daughter. She is energetic, joyful, and full of personality. Her laughter and enthusiasm have a way of brightening even the most difficult days.
Including my family in this story was important to me because they are at the heart of everything it represents. They were the people who stood beside me through loss, uncertainty, and healing. In many ways, Nelly and the Night Sky is not just my story; it's ours.
Why the Night Sky?
The night sky wasn't something I originally set out to write about. In fact, it appeared gradually as the story began to take shape.
I knew I wanted to include a special tribute to my husband in this book. He works for Amentum, a NASA customer, and has always had a deep passion for learning.
More specifically, he has always found joy in the stars, telescopes, and the wonder of the night sky.
As the story developed, what began as a small detail grew into an important part of the story, and I realized there was no better place for Nelly to search for answers than beneath a sky full of stars.
This would also serve to honor my husband's lifelong fascination with the night sky.
There is also something about the night sky that has always felt comforting to me.
No matter where you are or what you are going through, you can look up and see the same stars that countless people have looked at before you.
They are steady, constant, and enduring. In a world that can sometimes feel uncertain, they remind us that not everything changes.
When we experience loss, it can feel as though the ground beneath us has shifted.
We search for answers, for understanding, and for signs that the people we love are still somehow connected to us.
The night sky felt like the perfect symbol for that search. It is vast enough to hold our questions, our memories, and our hopes.
As I wrote this story, I found myself returning to the idea that light is most noticeable in darkness.
Stars shine brightest against the night sky, and in many ways, love can be like that too. It often reveals its deepest meaning during life's most difficult moments. Even when someone is no longer physically with us, the love they shared continues to guide us, comfort us, and shape who we become.
That is what I want Nelly and the Night Sky to feel like.
Not a story that provides every answer, but one that offers comfort. A story that gently reminds readers that grief and love can exist together.
That it is okay to miss someone while still carrying their memory forward. That even when life feels heavy, there is still beauty to be found.
Most of all, I hope this book feels like looking up at a sky full of stars on a quiet night; a reminder that we are never truly alone, and that love doesn't disappear. It changes shape, glows in unexpected places, and stays with us long after we think it is gone.