By: Lisa Patrick

For Gwendolyn Wildt, author of Buckets: The Magic Inside Every Bucket, storytelling has always been more than just words on a page—it’s a way of processing life, sparking imagination, and offering children (and their parents) tools to navigate emotions with hope and love. Her debut book may be whimsical, colorful, and heartwarming, but behind it lies a decade-long journey of creativity, challenge, and personal transformation.

From Dream to Reality

The seeds of Buckets were planted more than ten years ago, in moments that seemed small at the time—dreams scribbled in journals, reflections captured after travel, and half-finished drafts tucked away for another day. Wildt recalls, “The journey of Buckets unfolded over a decade. I wrote pieces of it while waking up from dreams, journaling, and traveling—but for many years, it sat quietly on the shelf.” That changed after she attended the Next Level Experience event in Dallas, where she met both a children’s author and a publisher. Suddenly, what had felt like a distant idea was now possible. “Encouraged by friends and guided by a coach, I embarked on a yearlong editing and production journey,” she says. “Slowly but surely, Buckets came to life.”

Childhood Wonder Meets Adult Wisdom

Wildt’s inspiration didn’t just come from creative curiosity—it was deeply rooted in her own experiences as a child. She remembers having a vibrant imagination that made bedtime both magical and challenging. “I had a hard time sleeping. I’d dream about everything from monkeys in the toilet (yes, really!) to giant animals walking through the bedroom,” she laughs. As an adult, those restless nights became an invitation to explore solutions. She tried medication and mindfulness before discovering practices like breathwork, visualization, and meditation—tools that helped her finally find peace. “Buckets is the visual representation of that—letting go of fear and welcoming in love, with grace,” Wildt explains. The story reflects her belief that children and adults alike can find freedom by releasing what no longer serves them.

Overcoming the Hard Parts

Writing a children’s book is one thing; bringing it into the world is another. Wildt encountered her biggest challenges in finding the right publishing path and, perhaps most importantly, the perfect illustrator. “I reached out to multiple artists who weren’t the right fit or didn’t see the vision,” she recalls. Then, one morning in downtown McKinney, Texas, she crossed paths with the illustrator of Norman and the Shark. That serendipitous connection opened the door to Jewel Bree, the artist who would ultimately illuminate the world of Buckets with color and imagination. “That meeting changed everything,” Wildt reflects. “That meeting truly changed everything,” Wildt says with gratitude. “Jewel’s illustrations helped bring Buckets to life.”

She also acknowledges the support of leaders at C-Suite Network and Linda Fisk of LeadHERship Global, who introduced her to Atlas Publishing—an introduction that opened the door for her book’s publication.

A Tool for Classrooms, Therapists, and Families

While Buckets is charming and imaginative on the surface, it was always intended to be more than just a bedtime story. Wildt envisions it as a resource that bridges conversations about emotions. “Buckets come with a free companion lesson plan that educators can use in the classroom,” she explains. Therapists, too, can use the book to help children identify feelings through colors and shapes, offering a gentle and creative tool for self-expression. Families, meanwhile, will find it to be a conversation starter and a shared reminder of resilience. “For families, I see Buckets as a story to read together, a conversation starter, and a reminder that we all carry things—and we all have the ability to let go,” Wildt says.

Building a Bigger Vision

For Wildt, publishing Buckets was never the end of the story. It’s the beginning of a movement. She is already developing a workshop, a coloring book, and a teacher’s guide to expand on the themes of emotional resilience and self-discovery. “I’m excited to expand this into a broader platform that supports children, parents, and educators,” she says. “Let’s stay connected—there’s more magic to come!”

The Heart of Buckets

At its core, Buckets is about empowerment—giving children, families, and educators a language for emotions and a framework for releasing fear while embracing love. The journey may have taken a decade, but the result is a book that combines imaginative storytelling with practical tools for emotional well-being. Gwendolyn Wildt has proven that sometimes dreams take time to mature, and that determination, serendipity, and the right people at the right moment can turn an idea into something that touches lives. Buckets: The Magic Inside Every Bucket is more than a children’s story—it’s a gift of imagination and healing for readers of all ages.

Buckets: The Magic Inside Every Bucket is available on Amazon.