Within the Glasswood Forest – Episode 4: Rediscovering Imagination | Glasswood Storyworks
In Episode 4 of Within the Glasswood Forest, Jonathon Guidry invites listeners to pause and rediscover something we often lose as adults — our imagination. Joined quietly by his daughter in the studio, Jonathon reflects on the creative spark that drives both storytelling and family life.
Within the Glasswood Forest – Episode 4: Rediscovering Imagination | Glasswood Storyworks
“Rediscovering Imagination” is more than a theme—it’s a reminder that creativity doesn’t fade; it waits for us to find it again.
If this story resonated with you, share it with a parent, teacher, or friend who needs encouragement today.
Planting wonder. Rooted in imagination. Grown through inspiration. Created with heart.™
Planting wonder. Rooted in imagination. Grown through inspiration. Created with heart.™
Behind the scenes. Early reveals. Follow our journey.
This episode explores:
How imagination fades as we grow older—and how to bring it back into daily life
Why children remind us that creativity starts with presence, not perfection
The importance of slowing down to rediscover what truly matters
How small, ordinary moments can inspire lifelong wonder
Why reconnecting with your “why” transforms both work and family life
The balance between ambition, creativity, and being present with loved ones
How perseverance, purpose, and imagination together shape personal growth
A Return to Wonder
Sometimes, imagination feels like something we left behind in childhood—buried somewhere between responsibility, routine, and the race to keep up. In this episode of Within the Glasswood Forest, Jonathon Guidry, CEO & Co-Founder of Glasswood Storyworks, writing with his wife Sarah Guidry under the shared pen names Eden J. Spark & M. Rose, invites listeners to rediscover the joy and purpose found in creativity itself.
This conversation begins with family—specifically, the quiet inspiration of a daughter sitting just off-camera. What started as a simple re-recording session turns into a reflection on parenting, creativity, and the hidden places where imagination still lives.
The Spark of Creation
At Glasswood, several new children’s stories are moving through their final stages—editing, illustration, and design. Each one is a reminder that storytelling isn’t easy work; it’s meaningful work.
Jonathon shares how the team is connecting with new authors and illustrators whose styles capture everything from whimsical fantasy to grounded realism. Together, these projects form the heart of what Glasswood Storyworks is becoming: a collective of dreamers shaping stories that plant wonder in children and families alike.
When a Potato Becomes Magic
During a recent family trip to the Texas Renaissance Festival, inspiration arrived in the simplest way imaginable. Dressed as a Viking, with his kids as elves and a little Frodo in tow, Jonathon witnessed a moment that perfectly captured the theme of this episode.
A performer—dressed as a wood elf—approached and handed his son a single red-skinned potato. For the rest of the day, that potato became treasure. It was dropped, rescued, and guarded like a dragon’s gem.
The lesson was simple but profound: children don’t need the biggest gifts or grandest moments—they just need us. Our presence, our laughter, our time. Imagination grows when we slow down long enough to see magic in the ordinary.
Relearning What We Once Knew
Jonathon recalls building elaborate treehouses as a child—forts that transformed into submarines, spaceships, and safehouses from zombie apocalypses. Those worlds were built with nothing more than scrap wood, a handful of nails, and boundless imagination.
Somewhere along the way, that creative instinct fades. Life fills with deadlines, schedules, and responsibilities. But through writing and parenting, the Guidry family is learning to tap into that childhood energy again—to let imagination breathe, both in art and in life.
Choosing Presence
Balancing creativity, parenthood, and entrepreneurship isn’t simple. There are spreadsheets to finish, stories to edit, and a business to grow. But amid that constant movement lies a deeper truth: children don’t measure love in hours worked—they feel it in moments shared.
Every bedtime story, every laugh, every walk outside matters. Those small pieces become the foundation of who they’ll be. Jonathon reminds us that success isn’t only found in professional milestones—it’s in staying present for the people who give our work meaning.
The Discipline of Wonder
Toward the close of the episode, Jonathon reflects on a lesson learned through his daughter’s experience in Taekwondo: once you start something, finish it. Commitment builds confidence. Finishing builds pride.
That same principle drives the creative process. Whether writing a story, learning a skill, or chasing a dream, progress demands consistency. You show up, you do the work, and you remember why it matters.
Because imagination isn’t a luxury—it’s a discipline.
Creativity, Family, and Purpose
From Renaissance fairs to quiet family nights, from spreadsheets to storyboards, the heart of Rediscovering Imagination is clear: creativity thrives where love and intention meet.
We all have the power to reignite wonder—through play, through storytelling, through choosing to see the world as children do.
That’s the heartbeat of Glasswood Storyworks: planting wonder, nurturing imagination, and growing creativity for generations to come.
Closing Reflection
This episode reminded me that imagination isn’t something we outgrow—it’s something we forget to nurture. Somewhere between work, responsibilities, and the rush of everyday life, that creative spark we once carried so effortlessly begins to dim.
But the truth is, imagination never leaves us. It just waits for us to slow down long enough to see it again—in a child’s laughter, in a shared story, even in something as simple as a red-skinned potato handed to a little hobbit at a festival.
Reconnecting with imagination means giving ourselves permission to see the world as children do: full of possibility, humor, and light. It’s in those moments that we remember why we create, why we tell stories, and why being present with the people we love matters most.
For me, this journey through Glasswood Storyworks isn’t just about writing books. It’s about building memories, nurturing creativity, and reminding families that the smallest moments often carry the greatest meaning.
Because imagination isn’t lost—it’s rediscovered every time we choose wonder over worry, and presence over perfection.
Transcript of the interview Podcast: Within the Glasswood Forest – Episode 4
Opening
All right, so let’s get this thing going. This is Episode 4 of Within the Glasswood Forest, and I have a special guest today. She won’t be talking, but she’s definitely here. My daughter is in the studio helping out because we actually recorded this video once already, and the camera focused off into the distance. So, we’ve got a little extra support today.
I want to talk about what we’ve been working on at Glasswood Storyworks—some of the stories in development, the authors we’re connecting with, and how the business continues to grow. But more importantly, I want to talk about imagination. What it means for adults, for parents, for teachers, and why it matters so much to rediscover it once it starts to fade.
What’s New at Glasswood Storyworks
We’ve been hard at work on several new books. Three or four are already finished and now moving through final editing and artwork—the most time-consuming but rewarding part of the process. It’s a massive challenge, but we’re excited.
If you’re an author or illustrator, we’d love to connect. Visit GlasswoodStoryworks.com, go to the Contact page, and send us an email. We’re always interested in reviewing new material, particularly from artists with creative, whimsical styles suited for children’s books, as well as illustrators who capture deeper tones for young adult or fantasy works.
Each book carries its own essence—its own theme—and we want the artwork to reflect that spirit. So, if you’re out there creating, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re inspired daily by the incredible creativity we see online, and we’re eager to expand our network of storytellers.
Inspiration Starts at Home
Our oldest daughter draws constantly. She spends hours lost in her imagination—sketching characters inspired by the mangas she reads and the anime she watches. She’ll disappear into her room, silent for hours, and then emerge holding a drawing that leaves me speechless.
It’s one of those proud moments as a parent—to see a child so deeply connected to her imagination. It reminds me of how powerful creativity can be and how important it is to nurture it in our children.
That’s a big part of what today’s episode is about—how imagination shapes who we are and what happens when we lose touch with it.
The Power of Simple Moments
Recently, our family attended the Texas Renaissance Festival. We went all in—costumes, characters, the full experience. I was dressed as a Viking, my kids as elves, and my youngest son as Frodo.
At one point, a performer dressed as a wood elf approached us, carrying a basket of vegetables—carrots, squash, potatoes. She asked if she could give the little hobbit a red-skinned potato. He accepted it with joy, and that potato became his treasure for the rest of the day. He held it like it was the most valuable thing in the world.
It struck me how such a simple moment could bring him so much happiness. As parents, we often think our kids need the newest toy, the latest video game, or grand experiences. But in truth, they just want us—to share time, laughter, and attention.
That day reminded me that presence is far more powerful than perfection.
Finding Purpose in the Everyday
Running a business, raising a family, and creating art—it’s easy to get buried in the rush of it all. There’s always something demanding attention. But we have to remind ourselves why we’re doing it.
Our children don’t care about metrics or milestones; they care that we show up. That we’re there. It’s not about having the best of everything; it’s about being present in the moments that matter.
When I get caught up in work—deep in spreadsheets or stories—it’s easy to miss those little family moments. And once they pass, they’re gone. You can try again tomorrow, but you can’t reclaim today.
That’s why I try to remind myself: your kids don’t just want things from you—they want you.
The Imagination We Left Behind
As adults, we tend to lose touch with the creative worlds we once lived in. Life becomes a series of tasks—zeros and ones. Responsibilities pile up, and imagination takes a backseat.
When I was a kid, my best friend Renee and I built treehouses out of scrap wood from his uncle’s construction business. We’d walk to the local hardware store, buy nails with our allowance, and spend days hammering together walls and floors.
Those treehouses weren’t just forts—they were submarines, spaceships, and safehouses from zombie apocalypses. Our imaginations turned those simple structures into entire worlds.
Over time, that instinct fades. The adult brain gets rewired for survival and productivity. But I’ve found that writing and storytelling help reopen that door—to reconnect with the part of myself that once believed anything was possible.
Choosing to Be Present
We all want to build something meaningful—whether it’s a career, a company, or a future for our families. But we can’t forget the moments in between.
I remind myself often: tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Every bedtime story, every laugh, every shared moment with my kids counts. If I pour everything into work, I might achieve success but miss the very memories I’m working so hard to create.
Being intentional with our time helps everything else fall into place—our creativity, our relationships, and even our success.
Lessons in Gratitude and Growth
A friend once shared a story that stuck with me. He was picking up his kids from school, and a teacher told him, “We love when you come through the car line. You always smile.”
Same line, same wait, same routine—but two different mindsets. Some parents were stressed, frustrated, or distracted. He was joyful.
That story reminded me that our mindset defines the quality of our moments. My wife, Sarah, often reminds me of the same thing: we can choose creativity, happiness, and inspiration—or we can let life weigh us down.
When we remember why we’re doing what we’re doing, even hard work becomes meaningful.
Teaching Perseverance
My daughter recently joined Taekwondo. Like many kids, she thought it would be all high kicks and board breaking. But the reality was drills, laps, pushups, and practice.
We made a rule: if you start something, you finish it. No quitting halfway. And when she finally earned her yellow belt, the pride on her face was everything.
That’s the lesson I want to pass on—to my children, to our authors, and to myself. Things worth doing aren’t always easy, but when we commit, we grow.
Why We Create
At Glasswood Storyworks, our mission is to plant wonder and grow imagination. Whether through books, podcasts, or partnerships, our goal is to inspire families and creators alike.
We’re currently onboarding a few new authors, bringing them into our publishing family one at a time so we can give each project the care and attention it deserves. Our growth is intentional and creative.
We believe imagination is a skill—and it’s one the world needs more of.
We’ll be filming our next episode on the road during our family trip to Arkansas, exploring waterfalls and new landscapes that continue to inspire us.
If you’ve made it this far—thank you for listening, for reading, and for being part of this growing creative community.