Big feelings don’t need to be hidden.
About the Author
Why This Book Exists
Hi I’m Joy, and like many kids, I was once a little person with very big feelings.
Back then, the people around me didn’t always know what to do with those emotions. They tried their best, but sometimes I got the message that my feelings were “too much.”
Years later, after therapy and a lot of journaling, I’ve learned something powerful – those big emotions? They aren’t bad. They’re trying to tell us something. They reveal what we care about, what we value, and where we need compassion the most.
That’s what inspired me to write Big Feels: The Diary of a Passionate Kitty.
What started as a raw journal entry in my favorite chair became a rhyming story about a kitty with, well, a lot of emotions. And instead of keeping it to myself, I decided to turn it into a book for all the little (and not-so-little) ones who need to hear.
Your feelings are not too much. They matter.
My Journey as a First-Time Author
Creating this book has been vulnerable and exhilarating. I brought together a team I trust – an illustrator, an editor, a designer, and a marketing manager. We shaped the story into something children could enjoy, relate to, and talk about.
There were moments of doubt, waves of feedback, and long nights where I had to push through discomfort to keep going. But what kept me moving forward was the hope that this story could help a child feel less alone—and help a grown-up understand themselves just a little more.
I’m already dreaming about the next books to come. Children’s literature is a space for truth, humor, sadness, curiosity, and hope. I’m honored to be adding my voice to that world.
My Mission
I believe we need more:
- Kids who feel safe to express their feelings
- Adults who feel confident supporting them
- Stories that spark compassion for our younger selves
Big Feels is just the beginning.
Thanks for being here.
© 2025 Joy Lanier | Big Feels: The Diary of a Passionate Kitty. All rights reserved.