Within the Glasswood Forest — Episode 1 Transcript

"One good book can change how a child sees themselves. That’s the power of story." — Within the Glasswood Forest, Episode 1

This episode covers:

• The origin of our vision — “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

• Why one good book can change how a child sees themselves.

• Our mission: planting seeds of courage, empathy, creativity, and wonder in every story.

• Introduction to our pen names:

• Eden J. Spark → Magical, adventurous, and thought-provoking books for older children

We came up with the idea during one of those busy seasons of life when everything felt full. A good friend of mine once asked me: “When’s the best time to plant a tree?”

At the time, I was caught off guard. I thought, What do you mean? He smiled and said, “Twenty years ago. The second best time is right now.”

And that’s exactly what we’re doing here at Glasswood Storyworks. We’re planting our tree — planting seeds of imagination, courage, and wonder for the next generation.

Here’s the thing: one good book can change how a child sees themselves. That kind of transformation is powerful. The question becomes — what kind of book do we want to offer? Do we want it to build courage? To shape empathy? To spark compassion? That’s what we’re setting out to do: create stories that inspire children to love harder, dream bigger, and see the world with new eyes.

At our core, we’re a children’s publishing company. We believe stories can shape minds, build confidence, and inspire kids to do what they do best — be themselves, explore new ideas, and imagine what the world could be.

Parents and teachers, that’s why we invite you to join us. You can follow our journey on our website at glasswoodstoryworks.com and on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram (and yes, TikTok is coming soon!).

It’s been humbling to see how quickly our community has grown. I think it’s because people connect with our vision. They see the sneak peeks we’ve shared, and they resonate. That tells me the stories themselves — and the heart behind them — speak for themselves.

Of course, there are already so many fantastic authors writing books that inspire. We celebrate that. But we also believe Glasswood Storyworks brings something unique. We’re reaching back to that nostalgic spark — that feeling you had when the DeLorean first hit 88 mph and your whole body lit up with excitement. That kind of magic doesn’t come around often, but it changes you. That’s the spark we want to give kids through stories: to dream big, to attempt the impossible, to feel wonder deeply.

And we’re not doing this alone. Glasswood Storyworks is family-owned, but our goal is to grow. We want to bring in other authors and illustrators who share our vision — those who want to inspire, to plant wonder, and to tell meaningful stories.

Right now, we’re writing under two pen names. Eden J. Spark will focus on older readers — middle school and up — with adventurous, thought-provoking stories. M. Rose will focus on picture books for very young children, ages 3–6. These books will be whimsical, funny, and full of lessons woven into laughter and bedtime joy.

For example, one of our first stories features a silly dinosaur who just doesn’t listen — a character inspired by my own son. He’s headfirst into everything, no matter what you’re saying in the background. Kids are going to laugh, and at the same time, they’ll find lessons tucked into the fun.

We’re also creating stories with deeper themes — like processing grief, exploring unlikely journeys, and discovering hidden strengths. These are the kinds of stories kids will want to return to again and again, whether reading alone or begging their parents for “just one more story” before bed.

Writing has always been in me. I still remember high school assignments where I’d be told to write five paragraphs, but it turned into fifteen pages. The stories just kept flowing. That sense of inspiration has never left. And now, sharing it with children feels like the most important work I can do.

One of my favorite memories as a parent was when my daughter Rachel, still a toddler, experienced her first “magic trick.” I covered a pepper shaker with a napkin at a restaurant, dropped it in my lap, and smashed the napkin down. She lit up with awe — “Where did it go?!” That look of wonder is what I want children to feel when they read our stories.

As a kid, I grew up watching Tarzan on repeat. The story was powerful, the animation was beautiful, but what changed me most was Phil Collins’ soundtrack. The music gave that film its soul. That’s what we want to bring to Glasswood Storyworks — soul. Stories that don’t just entertain, but move, inspire, and stay with children long after the last page is turned.

We’re excited about what’s ahead. We believe these stories can bring joy, laughter, and courage to children, and spark inspiration for parents and teachers alike. The journey is just beginning — and we can’t wait to share it with you.