By Julia Train
Deirdre Palm Adams just released her third children’s book in a series inspired by her poodle, Rocky, and their walks on the beach.
The book series is called “The Adventures of Rocky” and each story focuses on helping children build up their confidence with affirmations to overcome negative feelings, like fear in “Don’t Be Afraid Rocky” and worry in “Don’t Worry Rocky.
The books’ illustrations were brought to life by Adams’ niece Lindsay Morano, who has adorned the author’s Ocean City house with her art for years. Morano is a life-long artist with her talents that span across children’s books, graphic design, painting, jewelry, making and even food art.
The third book was released on Tuesday, with the title “Don’t Be Bullied Rocky,” in which the pup encounters a bully and learns how to find courage to stand up for herself and empathize with the bully, who turns out to be mean because of their lack of friends.
“Rocky found through friendship, how to help the bully to overcome being a bully,” said Adams. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 20 percent of students ages 12–18 reported being bullied at school during the school year in 2019.
While on her strolls with Rocky, Adams noticed the pooch was afraid of just about everything, except for children.
While Adams doesn’t have children herself, she loves them and was inspired to write a book for them while seeing how Rocky interacted with them on their walks.
“She would see children and the interaction between the two, I always felt such joy…There’s no emotion more pure than that,” said Adams. “I love to inspire children to feel good about themselves and to believe in themselves.”
This led Adams to come up with the idea to write a book for children about life lessons and how characters on the beach could teach Rocky to overcome her fears.
Rocky even has a “fan club” who looks for her on the beach, which Adams discovered at one of her book signings at Sun Rose Words & Music.
Adams’ work to help others feel good isn’t just through children’s books. She’s worked 40 years in the fashion industry and works full-time as a fashion executive.
Adams also has an online wellness brand called “Love How Good You Feel,” promoting wellness products and feel-good fashion.
“I always felt like fashion helps you feel good. And then writing these children’s books is part of it as well,” said Adams. “I’m always looking for ways to help people feel good. I’m a very positive person and I get motivated by positivity.”
On the newest book’s launch day, a portion of proceeds were donated to Kidpower International, a nonprofit that teaches both kids and adults “how to build confidence, prevent bullying and abuse, and stay safe through open communication and personal safety skills.”
Upcoming events
Saturday May 25: Book signing at Sun Rose Words & Music in Ocean City.
Saturday June 1: Live book reading and dog adoption by The Humane Society of Ocean City at Bright Spot Cafe in Sea Isle, along with the debut of their Puppy Menu with breakfast items for the pups!
Julia is a student at Rider University, majoring in multiplatform journalism with a minor in social media strategies. At school, she writes and is news editor for The Rider News and is the News Director for the radio station, producing news updates. She’ll be graduating in the spring. Connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
