My name is Payal Shah, the author and illustrator of the book “A Pile of Wishes.”

It’s true, I’ve always been a dreamer – I’m an idealist to my core, and always looking for the bright side of things...I met the man of my dreams and started planning our perfect little family.  I quickly learned just how complicated and difficult getting pregnant could actually be, but I was eventually blessed with my daughter, Anaya.  Her name means “God answered” and our prayers were definitely answered the moment she came into this world.  Her adorable and smiley little brother, Liyan, came along not too long after that.  I was just bursting with joy for this family I had been waiting for.  

As many working parents might relate, the return to work transition after maternity leave was more difficult than expected.  I remember sitting in the company’s mothering room, pumping, and thinking about how much I missed my beautiful children… and all of the “firsts” I might be missing.  It was then that I began writing this poem.  I wanted them to know that, even if I wasn’t around to tell them, I would always love them and want the best for them.  

In 2020, during the global pandemic, I used my at-home seclusion as an opportunity to turn my poem into a children’s book!  I am so proud of my children – of everything they are and everything they will grow up to be – and I hope they are proud of me too.