A former addiction recovery nurse shares her inspiring journey from leaving her career to become a foster parent, and how she uses children's books to support foster care and adoption.
Influential Woman · Childrens book author
Holly Seaver
Children's book author, Holly Seaver books
Marstons Mills, MA 02648
4Years experience
1Article published
1Award received
“
A guidance counselor said she could have used my book, "My New Home and Me" to talk to a child about diversity acceptance. I was so overjoyed! The book promotes empathy and inclusion for kids in all family configurations.
Holly Seaver · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Holly
She is a passionate children's book author with a deep commitment to storytelling and inspiring young readers, currently serving as a Children's Book Author at Holly Seaver Books, where she creates engaging and meaningful stories for children. She holds a Master's in Nurse Education from the University of Texas at Tyler and studied Nursing at Cape Cod Community College. She is recognized as a creative, compassionate, and dedicated author who combines her healthcare background with a love for writing to craft stories that nurture, educate, and delight young minds.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Holly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I am passionate about educating and encouraging to people to consider foster care and adoption. With my children's books, I am highly motivated to ensure that kids feel valued and accepted, whether they are in a foster home, adoptive home, grandparent-led home, or blended family. My passion is routed in my own family's lived experience. My husband and I have fostered 18 children and have adopted three. I have experienced my children feeling nervous in a new school and feeling uncomfortable when they are asked about their status as a foster or adopted child. I want all children to know that they are special and loved, regardless of their family configuration.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't be afraid to try something new. Don't let age or inexperience stop a new project or career path. Ask questions and gain as much knowledge as possible. Enjoy the learning process while entering into a new venture. Whether great success is achieved or not, learning something new is always rewarding.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to try something new. You might find a new direction in life, a new career path, or a new activity that you enjoy. Do something creative. Creativity is its own reward.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges is the large number of children's books available, all vying for attention and sales. To get a book noticed takes a lot of reaching out and exploring opportunities available. The marketing and sales opportunities are abundant, though. Podcasts, print interviews, in person book signings, and social media are all great ways to get a children's book and its message noticed. Children's book authors are a great community and are always glad to spotlight each another.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value caring, kindness, education, and generosity. The profits from my children's books are donated to organizations that help kids.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Holly
My Journey - Holly Seaver
From Addiction Recovery Nurse to Foster Parent: One Woman's Journey to Help Children Find Their Forever Home
Have You Heard the Story About the Addiction Recovery Nurse Who Quit Her Job to Care for Children Affected by Addiction?
It was 2018. For nine years, I had been working as an addiction recovery nurse when I learned that the children of many of my patients had been placed in foster care. At that time, about 9,000 children were in foster care. I couldn't help thinking that maybe, as empty nesters, my husband and I could do something to help these kids. The desire became so strong that I quit my job as a nurse, and we became licensed foster parents.
Since then, we have fostered 18 children and adopted three. We have formed wonderful bonds with our former foster children, and some have even become part of our extended family.
But I wanted to do more to help the foster care community.
A story I tell foster children when they come to our home for the first time is the true story of how our two cats, after many stops along the way, found their forever home. That story became the book Jack & Max & the Happy Home. I wrote the book so that other foster parents could share the story with their foster children and encourage them to believe that they, too, would find their forever home.
Then, at the urging of another foster and adoptive parent, I wrote a story about children going into a new home with new family members, titled My New Home and Me. I learned that 40% of U.S. children don't grow up in an intact biological family.* This book encourages not only foster and adopted children, but also children in grandparent-led families, blended families, and multicultural and multiracial families. It promotes racial and cultural understanding and is a wonderful tool for teachers and counselors.
The profits from both books are donated to organizations that help children.
I have also had many opportunities to promote foster care and adoption, including:
- PBS Stories from the Stage — "Foster Care Meant Opening Her Heart and Home"
- May 6, 2025
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glvGRoK7baM
- The Adoption & Foster Care Journey Podcast — "From Empty Nest to a Full House with Holly Seaver"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJKMCEIkZVU&t=5s
My Books
Jack & Max & the Happy Home: A Foster Care Story
Seaver, Holly; Cash, Cecelia
ISBN: 9798429660851
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Max-Happy-Home-Foster/dp/B0B146PQ84/
My New Home and Me
Seaver, Holly; Cash, Cecelia
ISBN: 9781968640460
Available on Amazon
My Website
hollyseaverbooks.com
My Email
* Source: Christian Post, "Share of Children Living With Married Birth Parents Rises, Report"
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