Old Mrs Moody

One day, while recording, I opened my mouth—and the voice of Old Mrs. Moody came out. When I added sound effects and music to the story and heard it spring to life, I was instantly hooked on creating audio dramas.

Now, most days, you’ll find me in a room at the top of the stairs, at the back of my house nestled deep in the woods, in the heart of the U.S., telling Old Mrs. Moody stories into a microphone. And I love it.

The main character in all my stories, Old Mrs. Moody, was a real person—an ancient and enchanting woman who lived next door to my childhood home. She was a beautiful soul, as old as dust, with a single long white braid that reached down her back. I spent many hours perched on the limb of an oak tree that stretched over her yard, watching her tend her flower gardens and chat with the squirrels, rabbits, and birds that came to visit.

My audio drama-style stories imagine the friendship I wished we’d shared—and the wonderful adventures I dreamed we might have had together.

I imagine kids listening in everyday moments: in their car seats, waiting in a doctor’s office, or snuggled down at bedtime.

But I also picture them in their playrooms, turning my audio dramas into something of their own—using the stories as scripts for their plays. Maybe while listening to Puff Kitty, they’ll piece together a costume and become Old Mrs. Moody and find a kitten to rescue. Or perhaps while listening to Roylene, they’ll make a zoo with a stuffed giraffe and lion, or gallop around the room on a make-believe horse as they listen to Sonora.

Using their imaginations to bring the stories to life with things they find around them, they turn their space into a little theater—with themselves as the stars of the show.

At the heart of all my stories is this: giving feels good, and helping makes you happy. Patience, gentleness, and unselfishness are the good seeds to plant if you want life’s beautiful garden to grow. One of my favorite messages is in the story Sonora, where Old Mrs. Moody says, “Words have power. They can help, or they can hurt!”

Kids do learn by example, so I think it’s important that my characters speak to each other with respect and kindness—they’re nice to each other. They show patience, warmth, selflessness, and love, all wrapped up in funny situations and wild adventures.

Creating for the Yoto experience isn’t just about sound—it’s about giving kids a world they can explore on their own.

They hold their Yoto player—not someone else’s phone. They choose a card, pop it in, and listen. Every part of that process adds to their enjoyment because they truly own the experience. Even the cards themselves, with their lovable designs, become part of the fun.

And because I know kids are the ones tuning in, I carefully choose each sound effect and piece of music to help them get lost in the story. In Pipi Pumpkinseed, when Pipi digs a hole, drops in a seed, and waters it, listeners can hear the shovel, the soft drop of the seed, and the sprinkle of water on the soil. Those little sound details help them feel like they’re right there beside Pipi—part of the story, even with their eyes closed.

I have several Yoto cards in the works:

The Goody Goat Cart and Other Old Mrs. Moody Stories - with Lullaby Endings A four-story collection perfect for winding down at bedtime, as each story ends with a gentle lullaby.

Old Mrs. Moody Stories - Adventures in American History Three exciting, interactive stories that transport listeners to memorable moments in American history—the Pony Express, the silver rush, and the Wright brothers’ first powered flight.

Old Mrs. Moody Stories - Mini Mysteries Four fun mysteries for Old Mrs. Moody and her listeners to solve together.

Showtime Toady and Other Old Mrs. Moody Stories Four lively tales filled with hilarious, lovable characters—a singing toad in Old Mrs. Moody’s backyard, a young seahorse in an underwater horse race, performing dogs in a parade, and a tiny mermaid rescued from a crab tank at the supermarket.