Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Murphy.
Hi Linda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After retiring from education, I found myself looking for a meaningful creative project. I had always cared about helping people learn and grow, but I was ready to explore a different way of doing that.
I began taking courses through a program titled Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which included Writing a Children’s Book with Gina Casazza, and Intentional Living with Lauren Kerr. Those classes gave me both a foundation for writing and the space to think about what I wanted to say. I kept returning to the idea of simplicity and contentment: how easily we collect more than we need, and how hard it can be to recognize what we truly treasure.
I began thinking about how much time and money we spend acquiring things. We imagine a new purchase will make life happier or more complete, but years later, many of those things sit unused. When it’s time to downsize, we face the difficult task of sorting through belongings we spent decades bringing into our homes. I wanted to explore that experience in a way children could understand: how do we recognize what we truly treasure, and what might happen if we make more thoughtful choices about the things we bring into our lives?
The ocean felt like the right setting. I live by the beach, I love the ocean, and I care deeply about protecting it. The things we discard don’t simply disappear. Some end up in landfills, and some waste finds its way into waterways and the sea. I hoped an underwater story could gently connect Olli’s choices with a broader awareness of the environment, without losing the fun of a children’s book.
That idea became Olli’s Cave of Treasures. An octopus with eight arms seemed like a wonderful character to collect ocean treasures, and Tully the turtle became his friend and companion. As Olli’s coral cave grows crowded, he discovers that keeping everything doesn’t leave much room for the things he loves most. Through his adventure, I hope children enjoy spending time in the ocean world and come away a little more curious about how we care for it.
I continued working on the manuscript after my classes ended, and Olli’s Cave of Treasures became my first published picture book. The English edition was released on Earth Day, April 22, 2026, followed by the Spanish edition, La Cueva de los Tesoros de Oli, in June. I now have the joy of sharing Olli through readings and conversations with children, families, librarians, and educators. I’m also developing activities and resource guides for educators and librarians that help students explore social, emotional learning themes related to contentment and gratitude.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been smooth. One of my earliest challenges was continuing to write once the structure of a class was gone. During a course, there are assignments and deadlines to keep you moving. Afterward, it’s up to you to protect the time for a project that still feels uncertain. I had to work through self-doubt, competing priorities, and the temptation to wait until I felt completely ready.
I learned that progress didn’t have to happen all at once. Small, steady steps kept the book moving forward. When I felt stuck, I returned to why I wanted to write it in the first place: to give children a warm, engaging story about appreciating what they have and making room for what matters.
Publication brought a new set of lessons. As a first-time author, I had to learn how many decisions exist beyond the manuscript, from illustrations and book production to distribution and reaching readers. I’m still learning how to introduce the book to schools, libraries, bookstores, and families. My background in education helps me think about how a story can work in a classroom, but building a life for the book outside my own circle has required persistence and a willingness to keep learning.
The most encouraging moments have come from sharing Olli with children. Their reactions remind me that all the work behind the scenes serves a simple purpose: putting a story into their hands and seeing where it takes them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a children’s picture book author, and Olli’s Cave of Treasures is my debut book. It’s an underwater story about an octopus with eight arms, a crowded cave, and a growing understanding that having more treasures doesn’t necessarily make him happier.
What matters most to me is the gentle way the story approaches its subject. Children form attachments to their belongings, and those feelings are real. Olli’s journey isn’t about getting rid of things for the sake of having less. It’s about noticing which things bring him comfort and joy, appreciating them, and finding the courage to let other things go. The ocean setting also lets children explore that idea through color, humor, and imagination.
My experience as an educator shapes my work. When I think about a picture book, I think about what children will notice during a read-aloud, what they might ask afterward, and how an adult can invite a conversation without telling them what to think. I’m proud that Olli can be enjoyed as a story and also give families and teachers a way to talk about gratitude, contentment, and thoughtful choices.
I’m especially proud to have brought the story to readers in both English and Spanish. Seeing Olli become a finished book, beautifully illustrated by Kacey Barton, was a remarkable moment. Sharing it with children has been even better.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My OLLI instructors played an important role at the beginning. Their courses helped me develop my writing and think more clearly about the ideas I wanted to explore. They gave me a foundation, but also the encouragement to keep going after the classes ended.
Illustrator Kacey Barton brought Olli and his underwater world to life in a way words alone could not. William Lazo translated the book for the Spanish edition, allowing the story to reach more families. I’m extremely grateful to Miriam Laundry Publishing for helping me bring my first picture book into the world.
I’m also thankful for the family, friends, educators, librarians, and booksellers who have encouraged me and helped me share the book. A first book is a new experience at every stage, and their support has meant a great deal.
Pricing:
- Hardcover $26.99
- Paperback $14.99
- eBook $4.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lindamurphybooks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindamurphybooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindamurphybooks
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-murphy-81b769147
