From Homeschool Mom to Published Author: 

Jessica Iwanski's Story

For our very first conversation, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Iwanski, a homeschooling mother and the author of Stories by Sea: A Lighthouse Library's Journey. Her story brings together several things close to my heart: family, homeschooling, a love of books, and the pursuit of a lifelong dream.

I've always been fascinated by lighthouses. Living in New England, where they are such a familiar part of the coastline, I've come to appreciate both their beauty and their history. I even have three lighthouse prints hanging in my hallway!

So when Gnome Road Publishing sent me a collection of children's books, Jessica's Stories by Sea, beautifully illustrated by Angela C. Hawkins, it immediately caught my attention.

What surprised me most was discovering the fascinating history behind the book.

During the nineteenth century, lighthouse families often lived in isolation, far from towns and libraries. To help bring books into their homes, wooden library boxes traveled from one lighthouse station to another, offering families new stories and a connection to the world beyond their shores.

It was a piece of history I had never encountered, and I wanted to learn more. But what made me especially interested in speaking with Jessica was discovering that she wasn't just a children's book author. She was also a homeschooling mother who had once been homeschooled herself.

What began as a conversation about a children's book soon became a wonderful discussion about homeschooling, motherhood, the inspiration behind her writing, and what it takes to pursue a dream while raising a family.

From Homeschool Mom to Published Author

Jessica's inspiration for Stories by Sea came from her own curiosity about lighthouse libraries. After learning about them, she searched for a children's picture book she could share with her family.

When she couldn't find one, she had an idea.

"And so I thought, maybe I'll just write one," Jessica told me.

What began as a simple desire to share history with her children eventually became her debut picture book.

Jessica wrote the manuscript in the summer of 2023. After winning a writing contest with another piece, she received an opportunity to submit a manuscript to an editor. Hoping for feedback, she sent Stories by Sea.

To her surprise, the editor wanted to publish it!

The book was acquired in January 2024 and officially published in September 2026.

For Jessica, however, the story is about more than lighthouse history. She hopes families will discover how books bring people together.

"How do books connect us? How do they deepen our relationships with others?" It's a question that resonates with anyone who has experienced the joy of sharing a favorite book with their children.

A Homeschool Connection That Came Full Circle

Jessica was homeschooled from first through eighth grade before transitioning to public high school. Although she enjoyed her homeschool experience, she didn't initially plan to homeschool her own children.

She studied speech-language pathology and began pursuing a master's degree before feeling called toward a different path.

As a Christian, Jessica described feeling that it was "God putting it on my heart to homeschool my own kids."

Today, she homeschools her children, and helps lead an enrichment homeschool co-op with her sister.

Naturally, our conversation turned to the many ways books can inspire learning. I immediately imagined families reading Stories by Sea and then visiting a historic lighthouse. Jessica also suggested virtual lighthouse tours for families who aren't fortunate enough to live near one.

We also discussed children who love creating stories but struggle with writing them down. Jessica shared that her daughter experiences this, so she sometimes types her daughter's stories or uses speech-to-text.

"I try everything I can to preserve the love of reading and stories first and foremost," she explained.

It's a wonderful reminder that we can nurture our children's creativity while continuing to help them develop important writing skills.

Making Room for a Mother's Dreams

One of the most meaningful moments of our conversation came when I asked Jessica what advice she would give to mothers who have set aside their personal interests while raising children.

"Yeah, I love that question because that was me," she replied.

When her children were younger, Jessica sometimes had only enough time to jot down a quick poem in the notes app on her phone. As they grew, she gradually found more time to pursue her writing.

She believes it's important for children to see their parents pursuing interests, overcoming challenges, and persevering through difficult moments.

"I know that I show up as a better mom when I spend the time intentionally being creative," she shared.

I especially loved this part of her story because it's something so many mothers can relate to. Our families require so much of our time and energy, but that doesn't mean the interests and dreams we carry have to disappear.

Sometimes they simply grow alongside our families.

Every Story Has Something to Teach Us

When I first opened Stories by Sea, I expected to discover a fascinating piece of lighthouse history. What I didn't expect was to meet a homeschooling mother whose journey would offer encouragement far beyond the pages of her book.

Jessica's story reminds us of the power of reading together, the creativity that homeschooling can inspire, and the importance of allowing ourselves room to grow as mothers.

And perhaps that's what I enjoyed most about our conversation. A mother searching for a book to share with her children ended up writing one herself.

I'm grateful Jessica joined me for our first HERD Conversations interview, and I hope her story encourages other homeschooling parents to keep exploring, keep creating, and never underestimate where a little curiosity might lead.

Bring Stories by Sea Into Your Homeschool

Learn more about Jessica on her website: Jessica Iwanski website

Learn more about Gnome Publishing: Gnome Publishing website

Shop Amazon: Purchase Stories by Sea through our HERD Amazon affiliate link.

Disclosure: Gnome Road Publishing provided a complimentary copy of the book. HERD may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.