A brief summary of yourself and your latest book, A Bite-Sized Pirate:

My most profound passion as a writer is my Humanitarian pieces. I am inspired daily by the world around me, as we continue to search for better ways to make this earth a kinder and more loving place for us all to live. Not only for ourselves, our children, wildlife, and all of humanity, whether through the awareness of wildlife conservation or the betterment of self, self-improvement, and self-empowerment.

As a poet, much of my writing flows at a rhythmic pace adding a unique flavour that keeps my books interesting and playful whilst delivering profound messages.

A Bite-Sized Pirate, although being the 3rd book published, it was, in fact, the first children's book I penned with the intention of publishing.

A Bite-Sized Pirate is a magical interactive book that sparks an adventurous invitation for children to use their imagination within the storyline. It speaks of a passcode that the readers must come up with in order for the book to end.

The message is one of self-empowerment. We all have the power to change our reality and conquer our fears. Much of our worries, our children's fears and nightmares exist only in our minds, in our imagination. A Bite-Sized Pirate encourages children to use the power of their imagination to defuse, shrink and reduce any fears they may face.

I enjoy inspiring our children to look inside themselves for strength and courage, trusting their own instincts to create a better reality. My deepest hope is that we can inspire and support our children to become uniquely self-empowered through our beautifully captivating children's books.

'EVERY CHILD UNIQUE'

How many books have you released so far and could you please tell us about them?

I have published three beautiful children's books, with the fourth due to be released over the next few months, one of which received a prestigious Australian Good Design Award Winner Accolade in the Communication Design category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation.

The Good Design Awards Jury commented: "A Bad Gorilla Day is a beautifully designed children's picture book aimed at helping kids through difficult times. This is a beautiful concept for a story that has been stunningly designed and executed - a visual feast for children's eyes that will undoubtedly have a positive impact on anyone who reads it. Well done."

All four of our beautiful children's books have been illustrated by international artist Zenja Gammer, whose wildlife illustrations are captivating and owe inspiring.

Through the playful, poetic rhythm and wildlife imagery, we have successfully brought awareness to fundamentally critical social issues that children face whilst also creating empathy for our wildlife and planet.

What inspired you to become an author?

"To have soothed the heart of even one soul is a precious gift."  - K.S.D'arcy

As a poet and humanitarian writer, I had hoped to use my talent to bring comfort, inspiration and hope at a time in history when life seems to be spinning fast and unpredictably.

Comfort not only for children but parents, grandparents, teachers, caregivers, and anyone who resonates with my work.

This is why I decided to share my work as an author.

What inspired the plots and characters in your books?

My goal as a writer has never been to give you answers but rather to inspire you to find whatever you seek within yourself, self-empowerment.

That being said, each one of my characters was explicitly chosen to reflect the reader and child themselves. We created characters that children can personally resonate deeply with. A Koala who dreams of the ballet, A Gorilla who is having a bad day, A Sweet Little Cub who can't wait to grow up and a Scary Pirate Parrot who we can shrink with nothing more than our imagination.

All characters were given big, reflective eyes and personalities to which any child can easily connect. Each character addresses problems that all children and adults will face at various times in their lives.

We used wildlife animals for our characters because wildlife conservation is very important to me. I believe our children are the key to a kinder, greener and more sustainable planet.

We aim to reach our children's hearts through our marvellous wildlife.

Is there a message you wish to deliver with your books?

Absolutely, each one of our books gently delivers a reflective but impactful message. The message of hope, resilience, self-empowerment, self-love, positivity, persistence, strength and courage.

What was the best advice (if any) that you received in your writing journey?

"The most dangerous phrase in our language is, 'we've always done it this way." - Grace Hopper

Along my publishing journey, I encountered many hurdles, many of which were outdated beliefs and structures on how writing itself should be done. All of which held merit until they didn't.

I knew I would become a published author, but I also knew to get where I was headed would look different to those who had come before me.

For many reasons, I would not tick the boxes for the mainstream publishing companies, and my success would require strength, patience and unwavering determination. All skills I have in bucket loads.

Just like Beatrix Potter, I would be my greatest supporter and believer. I would do it my way, even if that required creating a new way of writing and publishing children's books.

The very message I line my children's books with is the same message I live by;

“Those that dare to dream and wish upon a star,

Are the ones who shall be gifted, the ones who shall go far.”

- Sweet Koala KuKu

What feedback have you had on your books that you've been most proud of?

I have been blessed to have received a warm, positive response from all our books, including a Good Design Award. But, if I had to choose the most profound feedback I am personally proud of, it would be my children's feedback.

The first night my 8-year-old son held our first book, Sweet Little Cubs, I found him fast asleep with our book tightly wrapped in his arms. I asked him the following day if he had fallen asleep reading the book or just gone to sleep whilst holding the book? He responded, "I was reading your book, and I started to cry, happy tears because I was so proud of the beautiful book you had created." (True story!)

Well, needless to say, it was by far one of the greatest moments of my job as an author and mother. Sharing my resilient publishing journey with my beautiful children is an honour I hope never to take for granted.

Do you have any additional titles in the works and if so, will you be staying within the children's genre?

Yes, I have two more children's books currently in the making. International artist Zenja Gammer once again illustrates both books. These are incredibly moving books that precisely touch on wildlife conservation and sustainability.

As my writing is for young and old, I will also branch out into Adult literature in the coming years.

Is there anything further you would like to say that isn't covered in the above?

I would love to conclude that no matter what brought you here today, I thank you for the generosity of your time and interest. It gives me so much pleasure to share my work with beautiful souls from all over the world.

Whether it be my bubbly and magical work that attracts you or my thought-provoking and profound pieces that touch you, please rest assured that each piece will always be an authentic representation of myself, a curious ever-evolving author, mother and humanitarian.

“May her whisper be,

The magic that grounds you,

The softness that strengthens you,

The peace that inspires you.”

- K.S.D’arcy

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