If you attended Write2Ignite's most recent Master Class, you've already been introduced to Sherri Seligson, marine biologist, homeschooling mom, author, and speaker. Today, I'm delighted to chat with Sherri about her most recent book, Wonders of the Ocean Realm (co-authored with Tricia Goyer, illustrated by Vlad Stankovic, published by Tyndale Kids, 2024) – a middle grade book for STEM-loving kids. Welcome, Sherri! Let's dive in!

Interview

Sue: Please tell us the story behind the writing of Wonders of the Ocean Realm. What were your goals as you set out to write the book?

Sherri: Tricia Goyer and I were both speaking at a women’s retreat and it was the first time we got to hear each other speak (conference schedules usually make it difficult to do that). We just started talking and brainstorming about what kinds of books we would like to write, and this middle-grade faith and science book about ocean animals was something we both thought would fill a need for kids and parents who love the ocean and want to learn more about animals from a biblical world view.

Sue: Both you and your co-author, Tricia Goyer, are homeschooling parents. How did your experience in that role impact your writing of this book?

Sherri: Homeschoolers are always trying to make learning memorable and fun, and stories are one of the best ways to do that! Our desire to make education a natural part of a family’s day also inspired us to include fascinating ocean facts throughout our stories as well as to add insightful conversation questions in each chapter. As homeschooling moms, we see the importance of family conversation, and we wanted our book to foster deeper dialogue.

Sue: Of the five creatures featured in Wonders of the Ocean Realm, which has a personality most like your own?

Sherri: I’m most like Astrid the multicolor sea star. She is made by God for a purpose, but she must be flexible as her life situations change. He has given multicolor sea stars unique gifts and abilities to face challenges and thrive in the world.

Sue: What's next for you in your writing journey?

Sherri: There are always “nexts” aren’t there? I’m currently traveling to several countries to film on-location videos for a high school biology course I’m producing for Apologia Educational Ministries.

I also am working on a rough draft for a science-themed devotional as well as a young adult fiction story that has secretly woven science content inside!

Sue: Please finish these thoughts:

I wonder... what chairs would look like if our knees bent the other way.

My favorite marine creatures… (and this is SO hard to narrow down) are beluga whales, because not only are they intelligent, but they are also musical, expressive, and extraordinarily playful.

I was hoping you'd ask... how did a science nerd like me become a writer? The short answer is that I built my grammar and writing skills by learning along with my children as I homeschooled them. (I didn’t have a solid writing education due to my family moving a lot during the ages students learn how to write!) Then by God’s grace, I bumped into the owner of a publishing company who encouraged me to write a marine biology textbook (I thought, “I could never…”). That led to more writing (and more “I could never”s). I believe most of us struggle with feeling we must be an expert on something before we can actually do it. Just start! What are your passions? What do you like to talk about? Believe me, there are people out there who are just like you and want to read about it!

Sue: Wonderful! It was fun chatting with you today, Sherri. Thanks for stopping by!

GIVEAWAY!

Sherri is giving away a copy of Wonders of the Ocean Realm to one reader. Want to win? Enter the contest by leaving a comment on this post by July 31.

Children’s author and educator Sue Irwin has written nature features, biographical articles, and how-to craft articles for various magazines, including AppleSeeds and Highlights for Children, and she’s a regular contributor to Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. Her middle-grade nonfiction books for the general market have received top awards, and she’s excited about her upcoming board book, Hey There, Blue Bird! Why Do You Chirp? (B&H Publishing, 2026). Sue hosts W2I’s monthly Time2Write sessions, and she invites you to connect with her here.