From a Father’s Love to a Child’s Imagination: Meet Judith, the Author Behind Light and Shadow’s Dreamy Adventures

Some of the most meaningful stories begin with the people who shape our lives. For author and illustrator Judith, Light and Shadow’s Dreamy Adventures began with her father’s love—and a desire to carry the lessons he taught her into the lives of a new generation.

After losing her father in February 2025, Judith turned to writing and illustration as a way to remember him. What emerged was a children’s book inspired by kindness, compassion, hope, and the bond between a father and daughter. Through her characters, Light and Shadow, she created a place where those memories could live on, offering her grandchildren a way to know the special man who helped shape her world.

At NS Lifestyles, we love discovering the personal stories behind creative work. In our conversation with Judith, she shares how faith supports her through grief, why she chose to write for children, and what she hopes families will find within the pages of her books.

A Conversation with Judith

What inspired you to become an author, and why did you feel drawn to writing for children?

My dad passed away in February of 2025. Through my grief, I felt inspired to write and illustrate the lessons he taught me in the form of a children’s book so that I would always remember him and those beautiful life lessons he taught me. I felt drawn to do this in the form of a children’s book so I could pass down these lessons to my grandchildren, whom I hope will know that my father was such a special, intelligent, and wonderful man.

What sparked the idea for Light and Shadow’s Dreamy Adventures, and what does the title mean to you personally?

My father always referred to me as the light of his life, and truly made me feel as though I was the light of any room I was in. When creating this book, I could not think of any better name for the two main characters than Light and Shadow – who represent my father and I. I know I will meet my father again one day in heaven, but until then we get to meet in my dreams. This led to the perfect title for my book, Light and Shadow’s Dreamy Adventures.

Your father helped inspire your writing. What memories or lessons from him did you most want to carry into your stories?

My father taught me so many different lessons and showed me love in so many ways. I feel so incredibly blessed that I was able to be raised by a man like him. I think the memories I wanted to carry the most into my stories were kindness, love, hope, compassion, care. We live in a world where we move so fast and get caught up in the hustle of our day-to-day life, I wanted to make sure I shared the life lessons my father taught me that at the end of the day matter the most.

How would you describe the role faith plays in your life, and how does it shape the stories you tell?

Faith is such a huge part of my life and has allowed me to meet some incredible people. I spend a vast majority of my day in prayer or listening to prayer while I accomplish my daily tasks. Where many people would listen to music or an audiobook, I find comfort and joy in the quiet moments of prayer throughout my day. Both of my books have characters that have played a role in my spiritual journey through my faith, and I feel incredibly blessed to have the faith filled life that I do.

Does prayer or quiet reflection play a part in your writing process? Can you share a moment when it helped you find inspiration or clarity?

I don’t know that there is a specific moment that has led to inspiration for my books in regards to my faith, however I think I choose to live a life full of prayer and quiet reflection which allowed me to create these beautiful books during a time of grief for my father. It is through prayer I felt called to write my books, and also is a way I feel closer to my father.

How do you weave values such as kindness, hope, forgiveness, and compassion into a story in a way children can connect with?

The characters in my story and the messages are presented in a simple way, but they have deep meaning. I felt that kids of all ages would enjoy my characters and as they get older they will understand the deeper meaning of kindness, hope, forgiveness, and compassion embedded in the characters’ experiences.

What do you hope your stories offer a child or family going through loss, uncertainty, or a challenging time?

I hope that my book can offer a place of comfort for anyone going through a time of loss, uncertainty, or a challenging time in their life. I hope they can realize they are not alone and are truly loved. The characters in my book represent various people in my life who have helped me guide the way through my grief and hard times, and I hope others can realize that there are people out there to help them through it too.

What can you share about your next book and the inspiration behind it?

My next book will share some of the same characters of Light and Shadow’s Dreamy Adventures but also will introduce some new characters, as well! The inspiration behind this second book came as a continuation of the lessons from my father, the love I have for my family and grandchildren, and the response I received from my first book. I felt the need to continue to share with you all how great the lessons that my father taught me were, in a way that relates to people of all ages. Be on the lookout for Light and Shadow’s Unconditional Love coming soon!

Sharing Love Across Generations

What stayed with us most from Judith’s story is her desire to give her grandchildren something lasting: a connection to her father through the love and lessons he shared with her. Her books also offer a starting point for families to talk about kindness, faith, memories, and the people who help us through difficult days.

We look forward to seeing how Light and Shadow’s adventures continue in Light and Shadow’s Unconditional Love.

To learn more about Judith’s books and follow along for updates, visit @lightandshadowbook on Instagram.

And puchase this book HERE!