In this special double episode, Zibby Owens talks to author Sarah Wright Olsen and co-authors Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka about motherhood, navigating big family transitions, and helping children find a true sense of belonging.
First, actress, entrepreneur, and cohost of The Mother Daze podcast, Sarah Wright Olsen, shares her lyrical new children's book, When I Am Not With You. Inspired by a comforting ritual her husband uses with their own kids to ease separation anxiety, the story follows imaginative scenarios that bridge the distance across life's big and small goodbyes. Sarah reveals how the book helped her process the profound grief of losing her father during pregnancy, shares her journey from a Kentucky farm to Hollywood, and reflects on the strict work cutoff times she sets to protect family life.
Then, Zibby speaks with co-authors Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka about their moving debut middle-grade novel, Roxie in Color. They share the story of 12-year-old Roxie, a talented artist desperately trying to navigate the seventh grade while keeping her parents' blindness a secret from her new classmates. Diane and Stacy reveal how their own partnership grew from a Parents magazine interview titled "What Blind Parents Want You to See," and reflect on co-writing across state lines, telling chapters from a guide dog’s perspective, and why we must release the shame around differences to embrace our shared humanity.
Learn more about Sarah and her show through The Mother Daze Podcast, and follow her on Instagram @swrightolsen. You can purchase When I Am Not With You here.
Learn more about Diane here and Stacy here. Follow them both on Instagram @diane.debrovner and @stacycervenka. You can purchase Roxie in Color here.
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