Meet the Author: Wendy Hazlett

Get to know our newest author, Wendy Hazlett. She wrote Sonny Learns to Snow. Hear about her life, writing, and journey to publishing!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am blessed beyond words with a wonderful husband, fabulous kids, and a super church family!

I was born the second of four children to a working-class family in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Venango County had already seen the oil industry come and go by the time I was growing up, but its legacy lingered in the landscape and in the lives of the people around me. It is here I learned perseverance, community, and how history continues to shape identity long after the economic tides shift. Love of God, love of family, and yes, love of country were instilled in me from a young age.

Life was not easy for my parents, but they made it easy for their kids. As children, we never worried about food, bills, or any of the adult things in life.

What inspired you to write your book?

Not a what, but a who. Who inspired me to write this book? It was my children. My kids needed something to hold their attention during car rides, long waits, and all those in-between moments when boredom turns into restlessness. I wanted a story that felt fun and comforting, something they’d actually want to hear again and again. But I wanted it to be educational.

How did you come up with your characters?

It was a rainy day, and I needed to entertain my kids. As a lifelong learner, I wanted characters who would inspire my children to want to learn and not just be entertained. Sonny the Cloud was created to teach my children a simple lesson about how rain is made by clouds.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

No.

What challenges temporarily stumped you when you were working on your story?

It was the rhyming! I wanted a fun and educational story that also had a sing-song rhyme to it. That was the hardest part. I’m just thankful that evaporation rhymes with condensation!

What kind of research was needed to write this book?

My education is in science. I pulled from my knowledge of weather-related Earth Science topics to help write Sonny.

What was the easiest and most difficult part of publishing?

The easiest part was working with Katie. She made everything easy! The most difficult part has been waiting for the launch day!

Did you always want to write a book? If not, why now?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to write a book. I just never thought my first book would be a children’s book. I’m not at all disappointed by this turn of events!

Do you think you'd ever write another book?

HAHAHA!!! I have three more Sonny the Cloud book coming out this year. I am also currently writing my Ph.D. dissertation, which feels like I’m writing a very intense book!

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to write a book?

If God has given you something to say, then say it. Not everyone will listen, but you have to speak from your heart. Write it down! There are those who want to hear your words. There are those who NEED to hear your words.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

God is faithful! Trust him for the outcome!

What have been some of your favorite books to read? What were your favorite books to read to your children?

As a young girl, I loved the fairy tales. Cinderella and Sleepy Beauty were among my favorites. The “princess in disguise”... the story of the tragic beginning that ended as... well, as only a fairy tale can! Those were my inspirations as a child. In my teens, I read the likes of John Steinbeck, C.S. Lewis, and Jane Austen, with guilty pleasure young adult Christian romances. As an adult, I loved to read Francine Rivers. My current list of authors includes Cynthia Long Westfall, Christa L. McKirland, Linda L. Belleville, and Lucy Peppiatt, very strong women and academic writers!

Where can people find your book?

Sonny Learns to Snow is available online everywhere books are sold: Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Amazon, & Target!

Thank you, Wendy Hazlett, for sharing your time and insights with us!

If you would like to follow along with Wendy's book and further updates, you can find her on social media.

You can order her newest book here.

Available everywhere January 30th, 2026!