The Heart Behind Flat Daddy: When a Reader Truly Sees You

Every book has a heartbeat, and sometimes—if you're lucky—someone out there hears it.

Recently, I received a message that took me completely by surprise. A reader reached out to say:“Flat Daddy is honestly one of the most touching books I’ve come across this year. It doesn’t just feel like a story... it feels emotionally driven.”

I had to pause when I read that. Just sit quietly with it.

Because Flat Daddy is emotionally driven. It’s not just about a fun character or an imaginative family adventure—it’s about love that shows up in small moments and big feelings. It’s about seeing magic in the everyday and knowing that, with a little creativity and a lot of heart, families can turn even the flat times into something unforgettable.

In the story, Mia and Leo see their dad not just as a parent, but as their superhero—a man who can turn a simple backyard into a treasure island, or a camping trip into a starlit memory. When a twist of playfulness leaves their beloved Daddy “flat,” it’s their love, teamwork, and unshakable belief that brings him back to his full, bouncy self. And in that moment, I think a lot of us can see a bit of our own families.

So when that reader asked, “Did something personal inspire this?” the answer is yes—many things, really.

It was inspired by the wonder of my own childhood, the magical way parents can turn the mundane into the magnificent. It was inspired by the way children cope with change, with the unpredictable ups and downs of growing up, and how the bond between parent and child can hold steady even when life gets a little… flat.

It was also inspired by watching families—mine and others—navigate love, silliness, frustration, and triumph, all in a single day. The kind of families who fix broken things with glue and hugs, who laugh at burnt toast and turn rainy days into pirate missions.

So yes, Flat Daddy is fiction. But it’s stitched together from very real emotions, from the fabric of home, memory, and unconditional love.

To the kind soul who wrote that email—you saw that. You heard the heartbeat. And I can’t thank you enough for that. Your words mean more than you know. You reminded me that this story didn’t just land—it connected. And that’s everything.

With all my heart,

Lady Peta Young