Interview: Luciana Valbuena talks about When the Sky Feels Heavy

Luciana Valbuena is a New Zealand-based children’s author and mental health advocate. Becoming a mother was her greatest dream, but the reality of early motherhood, especially facing postpartum depression, was more complex than she imagined. Inspired by her personal journey, she wrote When the Sky Feels Heavy to support other mothers navigating similar emotional challenges. Her mission is to remind them of their strength and to create safe, understanding spaces for honest conversations about maternal mental health. Luciana talks to NZ Booklovers.

Tell us a little about When the Sky Feels Heavy.

When the Sky Feels Heavy is a children’s book and a love letter to mothers, especially those navigating the emotional ups and downs of early motherhood. It tells the story through the eyes of a child, while gently capturing what it feels like for a mother when everything feels overwhelming. The goal was to create a book that’s comforting for both kids and parents, offering a moment of connection, understanding, and hope. It’s beautifully illustrated, but more importantly, it opens the door to conversations we often don’t have about how hard, yet meaningful, those early days can be.

What inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me to write this book was a mix of personal healing and a sense of responsibility. I first created it for myself as something to hold onto on the days when motherhood felt overwhelming. It helped me say out loud the things I needed to hear, and I still turn to it when I need that reminder. But as I started talking to other mothers, I realised I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. So many of us were struggling in silence. I felt a responsibility to speak up and create something that could bring comfort, connection, and validation to others going through the same thing.

What research was involved?

The research behind the book was from personal experience, real conversations, and professional insight. I spoke to many mothers friends, community members who had gone through similar feelings during early motherhood. Hearing their stories helped shape the tone and message of the book. I also worked with psychologists and mental health professionals to ensure the story reflected the emotional realities of postpartum depression in a gentle, supportive way, especially for mothers reading it with their children. It was important to me that the book felt safe, validating, and true to the experiences we often don’t speak about openly.

What was your routine or process when writing this book?

My writing routine wasn’t structured or traditional; it was emotional and intuitive. I began by writing small pieces on my phone during quiet moments, late at night or in between the busyness of motherhood. At that point, I was finally starting to feel more like myself again. Writing became a way to reflect, process, and put words to what I had been through. I shared those early drafts with my husband, who already knew everything I had experienced during my postpartum journey. He’s passionate about storytelling, so when I told him about my idea, about wanting to create something that could support and speak to other mothers, he really encouraged me. Together, we shaped those pieces into something more meaningful and intentional. From there, the book slowly came to life, with every word and image chosen to bring comfort, hope, and validation to mothers and their children.

How did you work with the illustrator Catalina Bobadilla?

Working with Catalina Bobadilla was such a meaningful part of bringing the book to life. Because this was such a personal and important project, I wanted every detail to reflect what I had lived through. So before Catalina came on board, my husband and I created the initial sketches together. I had specific moments in my mind, real memories I wanted to capture and turning them into visual scenes felt like reliving them in a healing way. When we shared those sketches and the story with Catalina, she immediately understood the emotional depth behind it. We had many conversations about the tone, my journey, and how I wanted mothers and children to feel while reading it. She took all of that and created illustrations that went beyond what I imagined. Her style is gentle and warm, yet deeply expressive. It felt like she truly saw the heart of the story. It wasn’t just about drawing, it was about holding space for something real and tender. She didn’t just illustrate the book; she understood it.

If a soundtrack were made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.

If a soundtrack were made to accompany my book, I’d include 'Keeping Your Head Up' by Birdy. It’s uplifting, honest, and speaks to the strength it takes to keep going through heavy moments, perfect for the boost I want this book gives mothers. I also play the cello, so classical music has always inspired me. Many times while writing, I found myself listening to Bach’s cello suites. There’s something in them that holds both emotion and clarity. I’d definitely include one of those pieces too, for the quieter, more reflective moments in the story.

What did you enjoy the most about writing this picture book?

What I enjoyed the most was how healing the process became. Writing this book gave me the chance to reflect on everything I had been through as a mother, from the heavy, emotional moments to the small, beautiful ones. It felt like I was finally putting into words what I didn’t know how to say at the time. I also loved thinking visually, imagining how each page would feel not just in words, but through the illustrations too. It made me reconnect with moments I had forgotten, and turn them into something gentle and comforting that other mothers could hold onto.8\

What do you hope families will take away from reading?

For mothers, I want it to be a quiet reminder, especially on the hard days, that their emotions are valid, and that softness and struggle can exist side by side. For children and families, I hope it opens up space for empathy and conversation. Sometimes what a mother is going through can be hard to explain, but this book helps put those feelings into words, in a gentle and loving way. More than anything, I want families to feel connected. To close the book with a sense of comfort, understanding, and hope.

What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?

When the book was finished and I held the first copy in my hands, I was with my daughters making breakfast, it was really early in the morning. I just stopped everything and held it. One part of me felt like I was being hugged. I was proud not just of the book, but of the journey that led me there. I sat down and read it with my girls, and that was the most meaningful part. Seeing them connect with it reminded me exactly why I wrote it in the first place

What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?

One of my favourite children’s books I read this year is Love Is by Diane Adams. It’s soft, tender, and beautifully captures the quiet acts of love and letting go. It reminded me of a similar experience I had as a child, and it stayed with me long after reading it. The simplicity of the words paired with the emotion behind them was almost perfect; it’s the kind of story that whispers rather than shouts, and that’s something I truly value. And in honour of the poetry and literature I love, I also reread Springtime in a Broken Mirror by Mario Benedetti. That novel holds so much emotional complexity, love, exile, memory, and identity. Benedetti’s writing always resonates with me, but this story in particular reminded me of the power of quiet reflection and how personal stories can carry universal meaning

What’s next on the agenda for you?

Next on the agenda is continuing to share When the Sky Feels Heavy with as many families as possible, especially mothers who need it most. This book is the first in a series called Muted Moments, which focuses on the quiet, often unspoken parts of the parenting journey. The response so far has been incredibly moving, and it’s made me even more determined to keep the conversation going around maternal mental health and emotional wellbeing. I’m currently working on the next book in the series, which will explore another tender, overlooked moment in early parenthood, with the same gentle tone and emotional honesty. Beyond that, I hope to keep creating stories that bring comfort, connection, and healing, one page at a time.

Paperwave Publishing