Haylee Woodcock is a high school math teacher and a mom of two girls. She and her husband, Eric, experienced a period of seemingly hopeless infertility, leading to the adoption of a cohort of embryos. To their amazement, right before transferring the first embryo, Haylee became spontaneously pregnant with their first daughter, Mak. This perfectly timed fluke happened again with their second daughter, Tanner. Although she never actually used the embryos she adopted, Haylee deeply felt the despair of infertility. She became inspired to share about the topic regularly, as she realized its prevalence among those trying to conceive.
Haylee’s favorite things are going to the gym and running, trying out new recipes, and scream-singing red dirt country and ’90s punk music in her car after dropping the kids off at day care. She loves living in Texas but doesn’t miss an opportunity to complain about the heat.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: My husband and I couldn’t get pregnant. We tried for a long time and eventually were referred to an IVF practice. I was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve, and after going through two rounds with no viable embryos, we decided to adopt embryos. We had planned to use books to talk to our kids from a very young age about how they were made. We actually ended up getting pregnant naturally and not using the embryos, but I had so many thoughts and plans about the process that I thought it would be cool to get a book out there. The hope is that parents of children born via embryo adoption or other nontraditional ways can use it as a tool to open up the conversation with their kids.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: Lower your expectations for the process’s timing, ha! There’s a lot more that goes into it than I expected. But getting with a publishing company that will walk you through the process, like Blue Balloon Books, is super helpful when you don’t have any experience.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Probably Verity by Colleen Hoover as of recently. I love books that leave you with your jaw dropped.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: I think I may have naturally pulled from my oldest daughter’s way of talking for Leah’s dialogue, but really, I just tried to make her as relatable as possible to any young, curious kid.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Designing the actual pages. It’s so awesome seeing everything come together. It starts to feel real at that point.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
I think some of both. I wouldn’t consider myself a “writer,” having just written this children’s book, but I think some people have a natural aptitude for writing things in an intriguing way.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
I really can’t pinpoint a single one, but you will absolutely find me quoting TV shows and movies on a regular basis, usually just to be goofy.
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
I’ve always wanted to write an actual novel. I used to write little short stories in high school and college sometimes. I’ve gotten away from that and reading as much as I used to, but it’s definitely something that’s not off the table.
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
I feel like Nicholas Sparks is incredibly impressive. He’s somehow been able to put out banger after banger of amazing romance novels that leave every teenage girl swooning. He’s like the Taylor Swift of romance.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
One of the Harry Potter books, one of the Little House on the Prairie books, I Love You Through and Through, Brave New World, and More Than This.
Learn more about Hayleee Woodcock and her new children's book, Pieces of Leah, here. Coming soon July 7, 2026!