An Interview with Kristen Capezza

Kristen Capezza is a nationally recognized leader, storyteller, and creative strategist. After more than fifteen years as a senior executive in higher education, where she led award-winning marketing and enrollment initiatives, Kristen followed her calling to write children’s books that inspire imagination, wonder, and heart. She is president and founder of Three Little Lights LLC, a company dedicated to bringing ideas to life through personalized consulting and children’s book publishing.

Her career has been marked by innovation and impact, earning honors such as Long Island Premier Business Woman and Top 40 Under 40 Professionals of Long Island. Kristen has served in statewide and national leadership roles, frequently called upon by organizations and media for her expertise. She holds degrees in marketing and finance from Bryant University and an MBA in marketing from Adelphi University, where she also completed a certificate in diversity and inclusion.

Kristen lives in New York with her husband and three young children – her greatest inspirations and the ‘three little lights’ behind her creative journey.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

When I was a little girl, my mom would say ‘I’ll meet you in Dreamland’ as her way of sending me off into a peaceful sleep. I carried that tradition into my own motherhood, my children ending their nights with the promise of magic and love awaiting them in Dreamland.

As I’ve grown older and sadly experienced the fragility of life, that phrase has taken on a deeper meaning. It reminds me that the people we love never really leave us. Even when we can’t be together in person, we can still find joy and comfort in the memories that live inside us. Milly’s Dreamland Adventure was born from the belief that imagination can be a bridge to the ones we hold dear, and that the memories of love are strong enough to keep those connections alive.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Choosing the title took a little time. In my own life, I say “See you in Dreamland” almost every night (as it’s a family phrase with deep meaning for me) but the story itself doesn’t literally center on meeting someone in Dreamland. I realized that exact phrase didn’t quite match the reader’s experience on the page and so I had to find a title that honored the heart of the story and captured what resonated with children…like adventure. That led me to shift toward Milly’s Dreamland Adventure. It keeps the magic and softness of the word ‘Dreamland,’ but pairs it with the sense of exploration and whimsy that children naturally love. In the end, the title became a bridge between tradition and imagination.

Describe your dream book cover.

I truly love my current cover. I think it captures the soft magic of Dreamland beautifully. However, if I were to take it up a notch and give it that ‘ultimate’ touch, I would add foil details to the stars so that they actually twinkle. That little bit of shimmer and whimsy would elevate the magical first impression Dreamland deserves and make the cover feel even more enchanting for young children and their parents.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

This is a great question! I think you’d find these songs on Dreamland’s soundtrack:

For Good (Wicked)

You’ll Be in My Heart (Phil Collins)

You Are My Sunshine (Elizabeth Mitchell)

Rainbow Connection (Kermit the Frog)

A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)

Growin’ Up Raising You (Gabby Barrett)

My Wish (Rascal Flatts)

I Hope You Dance (Lee Ann Womack)

Lullabye (Billy Joel)

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

As I continue my writing journey, most of my reading these days is shared with my children. Every day, I read picture books and baby books to my three little ones. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected to children’s literature, uncovering the rhythms that resonate and the humor that can make four and six-year-olds giggle. I think of these reads as a kind of market research; every book we read helps me think about pacing, language, and storytelling for future projects.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Before becoming an author, I spent my career in higher education. I served as the vice president of enrollment management and university communications at Adelphi University in Garden City, where I led award-winning marketing, recruitment, and enrollment strategies that helped the university achieve record-setting classes. I also served as president of the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC), a statewide elected role supporting professionals across New York.

This work focused on shaping strategy and telling a university’s story to create connection with prospective students and families. Perhaps quite surprisingly, it was a perfect foundation for writing children’s books. It taught me how powerful storytelling can be in helping young people feel inspired and connected. It brought out the dreamer in me and for that, I’m forever grateful.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My great uncle, Robert Seaberg, is the person who first inspired me to write. He’s not only a brilliant mind, but also a natural storyteller who has published fiction of his own. He’s always been my greatest cheerleader. After a conversation with him, I walk away feeling like I can do anything. There’s a deep sense of fulfillment in making him proud, and his belief in me has been a quiet, steady force behind my writing journey.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Milly’s Dreamland Adventure was actually first drafted on an airplane, surrounded by my three napping children. The quiet hum of the cabin, the warmth of my little ones snuggled at my side, and the soft glow of the map in front of me created the perfect writing environment. If I could recreate that moment every time I sat down to write, I absolutely would in a heartbeat!

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

Interestingly, I just gave this tip to my Instagram followers: Start before you feel ready. Perfection is a mirage, and the ‘right time’ simply doesn’t exist. Clarity and confidence come through the act of writing, not before it. Trust your voice, embrace the messiness of the first drafts, and allow your imagination to lead the way.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope families feel a sense of closeness. I hope children feel comforted knowing that they’re deeply loved, and I hope parents feel reminded of the impact their words have on shaping children’s minds and making them feel supported and loved always. More than anything, I hope the story becomes a shared language…something families say to one another the way my mom said it to me and I say it to my kids. I hope it is a reminder to readers that no matter where life takes us, love is something we always carry with us.

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