About

About Newton: Creator of Life of Radley

When chronic pain changed the trajectory of my life, I never imagined it would lead me to create something that helps children navigate their biggest emotions. But sometimes our most challenging experiences become the foundation for our most meaningful work.

From the Ocean Depths to Emotional Depths

My journey began underwater. As a scuba diver, I found peace in the quiet, mysterious world beneath the waves. There's something magical about that underwater realm - where colorful creatures navigate vast spaces, each with their unique way of surviving and thriving. When chronic pain forced me to spend more time on land than I ever wanted, I carried that underwater world with me.

Living with chronic pain taught me things no textbook could: how big feelings can overwhelm us, how isolation creeps in when others don't understand our struggles, and how desperately we need tools that work; not generic solutions, but something real, something that gets it.

Creating Resources That Understand

That's where Radley was born. In 2018, I began translating my underwater experiences and chronic pain insights into something that could help others, specifically children aged 6-17 who are navigating their emotional depths. Whether they're dealing with anxiety, processing difficult experiences, or simply trying to understand their big feelings, Radley's underwater world provides a safe space to explore.

Hand-Drawn Stories for Real Healing

Every illustration you see is hand-drawn. Every story comes from a place of genuine understanding. I'm not just a writer and illustrator, I’m someone who knows what it feels like when life doesn't go according to plan, when your body or mind feels like it's working against you, and when you need something more than surface-level solutions.

The underwater characters in Radley's world each represent different emotional challenges: Angela the Anglerfish guides us through dark times, Murray the Sand Tiger Shark deals with bullying, and Zooey the Squid learns to manage overwhelming fear. These aren't random metaphors, they’re carefully crafted representations of real struggles that children face.

Resources for Families Navigating Difficult Times

Whether you're an educator working with diverse students, a therapist seeking engaging tools, a family member supporting a child through challenges, or someone who simply believes children deserve better than generic worksheets - these resources are designed for real-life use. They're trauma-informed, screen-free, and created with the understanding that healing happens through connection and creativity.

The Life of Radley Mission

My goal is simple: help kids feel less alone, more heard, and braver. In a world that often feels overwhelming - whether you're dealing with chronic conditions, family stress, school pressures, or just the complexity of growing up everyone deserves tools that understand their experience.

This isn't just a business for me. It's a creative, personal playground born from my journey through chronic pain and my deep belief that art, storytelling, and genuine understanding can transform how we process difficult emotions.

A World of Creativity, A Journey Into the Mind

Every SEL toolkit, every story, every hand-drawn illustration is created with one purpose: fostering emotional growth through creativity and connection. Because sometimes the most profound healing happens, not in clinical settings, but in the quiet moments when a child sees their struggle reflected in an underwater character's journey and realizes they're not alone.

Ready to dive deeper? Explore our SEL resources designed for real families, real challenges, and real healing.