The Parenting Choice That Turned a Mother-Son Book Into a Movement

A six-year-old bestselling author explains how a picture book, a gold sticker, and a whole lot of follow-through turned into a real writing career. If you want to know what adult writers can learn from a child who actually finished the book, this conversation with Clay and his mom Amber will change the way you think about creativity, discipline, and what makes a children's story stick. 💥 Please share with a friend who could use the value in this video. 📍 Subscribe for more interviews, tips, and more. Clay breaks down the spark behind The Long Forest Trail, the fun of writing Dragons Love Tacos, and why his new book What Nature Teaches Us is built around a simple idea with big impact: every element in nature has a purpose. Amber shares the behind-the-scenes reality of co-authoring with your child, protecting a young writer’s voice, and turning hikes, questions, and everyday moments into a book that feels personal and meaningful. You’ll discover: -why Clay wanted to write a book after seeing a bestseller sticker on Dragons Love Tacos -how editing worked when the goal was to preserve the story, not polish it into something generic -the creative decisions behind characters like Mr. Mosquito and Love Puppy -how nature walks became both a parenting ritual and a storytelling method -what it takes to launch a children’s book as a family, from audiobooks to workshops to a six-state book tour Amber also explains why she chose to make this project about presence, not pressure, and how writing together became a core memory instead of just another item on the to-do list. Clay shares the moment he realized he had truly become an author, plus the advice he’d give any kid who wants to publish a book of their own. This episode is essential if you’re a parent, teacher, aspiring author, or anyone who wants to help a child turn imagination into something real. It’s also a reminder that some of the biggest publishing lessons come from the youngest voices.