Growing up, they shared bedtime stories. Now, these two sisters are writing their own—with powerful messages for the next generation about law, empathy, and understanding visual impairments. Sisters Heather Holt, 33, and Haylee Holt, 27, have taken the children’s book industry by storm, incorporating their life experiences and knowledge into colorful, entertaining, and informative stories.
From sharing bedtime stories to writing their own children’s books—sisters Haylee Holt, 27, and Heather Holt, 33, are turning personal experiences into meaningful narratives that educate and inspire.
Stories With Vision: How a Teacher for the Blind Is Changing the Way We See Inclusion
In 2019, Haylee published her first novel, To My Wonderwall, a story about a nurse who sets out to complete her “Someday List” before she loses her eyesight. “I wanted to have a character that experienced two different types of grief—one for the loss of her love and one for the loss of her vision,” says Haylee.
After graduating from Kent State University in 2020, Haylee wrote her first children’s book, Monique Monroe: The Mental Health Hero. The story follows Monique, a young girl experiencing depression and learning various strategies to cope with mental illness. “My goal was to write a children’s book that helped young kids with depression. I wanted to create something that I would have benefited from as a child,” Haylee explains.
In 2022, she began her Master of Education in Visual Impairments at The Ohio State University, where she earned her Intervention Specialist: Visual Impairments License and became a teacher for the blind.
While completing her graduate degree, Haylee wrote The Color of Emotion: A Princess’ Tale, part of a multimedia series featuring a children’s book, original song, music video, and animated scene. The story highlights characters with disabilities—such as those using wheelchairs, cochlear implants, and white canes. “Through verses like ‘You don’t need sight to see your beauty, you don’t need ears to hear your heart sing,’ I emphasize that everyone deserves to see themselves as heroes,” she says.
After graduating in 2024, Haylee joined the Miss Volunteer America organization as Miss Cleveland Volunteer, representing her platform: Access for All: Advancing Accessibility in Education for the Blind. “Utilizing my expertise as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired, my skills in digital media, and my platform as Miss Cleveland Volunteer, I plan to continue implementing this mission through a strategy focused on teaching educational professionals, students, and the community.”
Her newest release, My Friend Buddy: A Tale of Acceptance for the Blind Community, helps both visually impaired and general education students understand visual impairments and encourages better classroom integration. “Inclusion is my goal. We all deserve to feel included and understood. I hope that my new story does just that,” says Haylee.
Justice for Juniors: A Lawyer Makes Big Laws Understandable for Little Learners
With a JD and MBA from Cleveland State University College of Law, Heather worked as a transactional and litigation attorney at various law firms in Ohio. During the 2020 pandemic, she used extra time outside of work to create the Sawyer the Lawyer series, designed to introduce children to the legal system and legal professions.
“I wanted children to understand their place in the legal world—and how they can grow up and affect change,” Heather explains. “The character, Sawyer, pursues a career in law and gets the opportunity to make a difference in the world.”
Each book focuses on a different area of law, covering professions like attorney, environmental lawyer, nonprofit lawyer, and judge—as well as rights like the First and Fifth Amendments.
As the series grows in popularity, Heather is incorporating broader themes such as inclusivity, positivity, and courage. Her other titles include You Are Special, Yes You Are and Remember Your Rose-Colored Glasses.
Her most recent release, Charlie Throws a Party, centers around her golden retriever, Charlie, and his stuffed animals.
Heather currently serves as Assistant Law Director for Cuyahoga County, the 29th largest county in the nation. When she’s not writing children’s books, she’s drafting and negotiating contracts, analyzing legal risk, and acting as a liaison for multiple county departments.
“My passion lies at the intersection of writing and law. I want to inspire the next generation of female lawyers!” says Heather.
Characters Brought to Life
When they are not writing their own stories, they are reading as volunteers with A Flash’s Fairy Tale in character costumes in the Pediatric Unit of Metro Health Hospital. During the pandemic, the two sisters would Zoom patients and read stories associated with their characters.
Sisters in Story. Leaders in Learning. Live at Barnes & Noble.
These two sisters continue to inspire the community with their service, education, and creativity. Their original stories will come to life at an author event hosted at Barnes & Noble in Woodmere, Ohio, on September 6, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
Haylee and Heather will be giving a live reading, signing books, and engaging with the audience.
To attend more author events and follow their journey, connect with them on social media.
The Holt sisters bring unique expertise—from education to law—into the world of children’s literature, creating stories that spark meaningful conversations. Their upcoming Barnes & Noble event is more than a book signing—it’s a celebration of purpose-driven storytelling.
