Q: First tell us something about yourself.
I’m Michelle Martin, a former pediatric nurse from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and these days I work in sales. I’ve loved children and storytelling my whole life. As a nurse, I saw every day how much children notice, how big their feelings are, and how much comfort a good story can bring. Becoming a children’s book author was a dream I carried with me for a long time, and Valerie the Vole is that dream finally come true.
Q: How and when did your journey start as a writer?
It started with a backyard problem! Every spring, voles would leave trails and damage all over our yard. Instead of getting frustrated, I started to wonder what those little voles were up to beneath the grass. I imagined a sweet, curious vole named Valerie who simply wanted to make a friend. I wrote most of the story many years ago, often on scraps of paper, and kept adding to it over time. Eventually I knew it was finally time to bring Valerie to life and share her with young readers. Holding the finished book for the first time was an unforgettable moment.
Q: Tell us something more about your book series.
The Valerie the Vole series follows a curious little vole with a very big heart. In the first book, Valerie the Vole: The Adventure Begins!, Valerie dreams of playing with a boy named Evan. She tries one clever idea after another to get his attention, from sparkling holiday lights to mysterious trails in the snow. It’s a story about friendship, determination and never giving up on your dreams, written in rhyme for ages 3 to 7. Valerie is hidden on every page for children to find, and the back of the book has activity pages like coloring, tracing and connecting the dots. Book 2, Valerie the Vole: The Best of Both Worlds, is coming soon, and there are more adventures planned for Valerie after that.
Q: How did you create the magical system in your books and characters?
The magic in Valerie’s world comes from something real: the hidden life right beneath our feet. Voles live in a busy world of tunnels under the grass that most of us never see, so I imagined what that world might look like if we could peek inside. Valerie has a cozy home, a loving family and friends who play, dig and even throw parties underground. I made Valerie small and often unseen, because so many children feel that way sometimes, but I gave her a huge heart and a never give up spirit. The seek and find element was my way of letting children step into the magic themselves. Every time they spot Valerie on a page, they become part of her adventure.
Q: Do you want to leave any message for your readers?
Never stop dreaming, and never give up, even when you feel small. Be kind, use your imagination, and keep your eyes open, because wonderful friendships can be found in the most unexpected places. To the parents and grandparents reading with little ones: thank you for sharing Valerie with your children. I hope she brings you many cozy story times together. And remember, Valerie is hiding on every page. Can you find her? You can follow her adventures at valeriethevole.com and @valeriethevole.
