Q: First tell us something about yourself.
Aloha, I’m Peggy Kan Hai—a Psychotherapist, Author, Mother, and lifelong storyteller.
My work is rooted in connection, healing, and the quiet moments that often matter most. Alongside being a mother, I’ve spent nearly 30 years working with children, families, and emotional well-being, which has deeply shaped the way I understand both the inner world of a child and the needs of those caring for them.
That experience naturally found its way into my writing. At the heart of everything I create is a simple intention: to help people feel seen, safe, and a little less alone—whether that’s a child at bedtime or an adult finding their way through life.
Q: How and when did your journey start as a writer?
Writing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I was always creating stories and finding ways to express what I felt through words.
About fifteen years ago, during a deeply challenging time in my life while healing from two amputation surgeries, writing became something more than expression—it became a form of healing. I published my first inspirational and poetry books during that time, and the process was incredibly cathartic. It allowed me to move through that season with intention, reflection, and hope.
Later, my journey as a children’s author began in the most natural and heartfelt way—through motherhood. Thirty years ago, on the night I became a mother for the first time, I made up a bedtime story for my son. Years later, I did the same for my daughter.
And then, much more recently, my daughter Kaʻewa and I created Abby’s First Day together as a special project just for her—something she could always hold onto. When others began to see it, they connected with it in such a heartfelt way and encouraged me to share it more widely. That was the moment I realized these stories might be meant for more than just our family.
Those quiet, intimate moments became the foundation for everything that followed. What began as something deeply personal has grown into stories I now feel honored to share with others.
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Q: Tell us something more about your books.
My books are gentle, lyrical stories designed to be felt rather than rushed through.
When the Stars Linger and Wherever You Wander are part of The Golden Thread Bedtime Collection, created to bring calm, comfort, and a sense of being deeply loved at the end of the day.
Alongside these, Abby’s First Day holds a very special place in my heart. It was created together with my daughter Kaʻewa, inspired by her own drawings and our shared creativity. What started as something just for us became a story about courage, new beginnings, and the quiet emotions children experience when stepping into something unfamiliar.
While each book stands on its own, they are all connected by the same thread—heart-centered storytelling rooted in connection, imagination, and emotional understanding.
Q: How did you create the magical system in your books and characters?
The “magic” in my books isn’t something I set out to build in a traditional sense—it’s something that naturally emerged from emotion and presence.
I draw heavily from nature, imagination, and the quiet inner world of a child. Light, warmth, animals, and gentle environments all play a role in creating a feeling of safety and wonder.
Rather than structured magic systems, my stories lean into a softer kind of magic—the kind that feels like being held, guided, and reassured.
It’s less about rules and more about feeling… the kind of magic children already understand intuitively.
Q: Do you want to leave any message for your readers?
I would simply say this—
Take your time with these stories.
They’re not meant to be rushed or checked off a list. They’re meant to be shared, felt, and experienced together.
Whether you’re reading to a child or simply holding space at the end of a long day, those quiet moments matter more than we often realize.
And if these books can bring even a small sense of peace, comfort, or connection into your home, then they’ve done exactly what they were meant to do.
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