Hello, I'm Hayley.

I am an author and photographer who loves writing children’s books; books I hope will inspire and bring joy to children and adults alike. My first book, How to Send a Hug (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) is my first collaboration with my husband, author/illustrator, John Rocco.  It will be published in the fall of 2022 and I couldn’t be more thrilled!

Prior to my writing career, I worked in children’s book publishing promoting amazingly talented authors and illustrators for over a decade. I consider myself very fortunate to be in such incredible company as a peer today. When not writing children’s books, I love exploring nature—especially near the ocean—and photographing animals, whether in their natural habitat or at a zoo. I also love swimming, running, traveling, exploring and learning all about the world around me.

I live with my husband, a very excitable dog, two cats, three budgies, and a plethora of fish in a creaky forest near the ocean in Rhode Island.

Thanks for reading my bio! I’m so glad you made it this far. I have a few extra things to share with you. Since you won't be able to see my first published book until this fall, I thought I’d share my very first picture books with you. I created them with the help of my 2nd and 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Rivera. You can find them below.

To learn more about my passion for animal photography, you can follow my journey on Instagram @photoanimalism

Click on the book covers below to see inside.