As a first time author and new to the industry,  I’ve been fortunate to do book signings, author visits, pop-ups, and school events. I have watched children jump at the idea of Santa using cookie dough for bait and each of these experiences have been very meaningful.  An extra special day, though, was the one I spent at Children’s Specialized Hospital in Jan. 2026.

How It Came Together
It started, like so many things in business, with a phone call and some hope.    
I reached out to Eric LeGrand first. For those who don't know Eric's story, he is a former Rutgers University football player who was paralyzed from the neck down during a game in 2010. Rather than letting that define him, Eric went on to open businesses, inspire thousands, and founded Team LeGrand — a cause dedicated to supporting the over six million people living with paralysis and funding spinal cord injury research.

Eric is also one of the many reasons Beach Santa exists. His story of resilience and generosity lit something in me when I was writing the book, and I modeled one of the characters after him — with his blessing.  So, when I had the idea to bring Beach Santa to the children at Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Eric was my first call. He said yes.  From there, I emailed the director and I hand delivered a copy of the book.  Then I sent a follow-up email, copied Eric and the hospital administrator, and made it easy for everyone to say yes.
They did.

The Day Itself
I won't pretend I knew exactly what to expect walking into that hospital in January. I am a mom of three and an athletic trainer and I have spent many hours in hospitals.   I thought I was prepared.  I wasn’t. 
The children came in — some in wheelchairs, some accompanied by nurses, some with parents hovering close by with the particular quiet tenderness that only a hospital parent knows. They settled in, and I told the “story behind the story” and how Eric opening a coffee shop lit a fire under me to do something.  Then Eric and I began to read.
If you have never watched a room full of hospitalized children listen to a story about a character who chooses kindness, even when no one is watching — I hope you get the chance someday. There is something that happens in a room like that. The story lands differently. The message of generosity and ripple effects of kindness isn't abstract anymore. It is alive in that room, in those faces.
But the moment that will stay with me came after the reading.
We handed out shells and set up the painting supplies. And then Eric and I began to move around the room together — stopping at each child, leaning in, commenting on their artwork, marveling at what they were creating.
Watching those children connect with Eric was special.  Here is a man who cannot move his hands, encouraging others to make something beautiful and not one of those kids saw limitations when they looked at him. They saw someone who showed up for them. Someone who thought they were worth his time.

What It Taught Me
I started writing Beach Santa because I believed in the power of a story. I believed that a book about a generous Santa — one who gives even when he doesn't have to, could plant a seed in a child's heart.
That day at Children's Specialized Hospital, I watched those seeds sprout in real time.
The craft set — the shells, the paint, the simple act of making something with your hands — became something I had never anticipated. It became therapy. It became joy. It became a bridge between a child in a hospital bed and a feeling of normalcy, creativity, and pride.
The Beach Santa craft set was designed as a gift. But in January, I learned it is also something more. It is an experience.
I drove home that evening praying for those children and their caregivers.  Hoping and thinking that if I can find some sponsors, I can offer this to children in hospitals across this country who might benefit from an afternoon like that one. A story. A shell. A moment of pure, uncomplicated ease.
That thought has not left me.
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What Comes Next
If you are a Child Life Specialist, a hospital administrator, a foundation director, or anyone who works to bring joy to children in medical settings — I would love to talk to you.  You can reach me at mb@mbparadise.com or visit mbparadise.com to learn more about Beach Santa, the craft set, and our mission with Team LeGrand.

**Out of respect for the patients and their families, I did not take any photos. However, the of the wonderful team at Children's Specialized Hospital did, so you can see photos from this special day on my Instagram @mbparadiseauthor — posted January 9th, 2026.
 

By M.B. Paradise
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There is a moment from one of my author events that sticks with me.
I was at the Belmar Library, sharing how an idea can become a book and then reading Beach Santa to a group of children and their guardians who had gathered around the edges of the room.
Afterward, a grandmother approached me. She had kind eyes and a directness that instantly commanded my attention. She told me that she thought there was a serious lack of quality children's holiday books in Spanish. And then she looked at me and asked, point blank, if I would consider getting Beach Santa translated.
I thanked her and I told her I would think about it.


What She Was Really Asking
On the surface, she was asking about a book. But what she was really asking was something deeper.
She was asking if the children in her family — children who might be more comfortable in Spanish, children who live in two languages and two cultures — deserved to hold a holiday book that felt like it was made for them. She was asking if the story of a generous Santa who never stops giving,  was a story that belonged to her grandchildren too.
Of course it did.
I knew I would do it. The only question was how. Ironically, that next day I ran into an old college friend who mentioned that his mom was working as a translator.  It was a sign!


The Decision
Creating a Spanish edition wasn't free. It wasn't without effort or risk. As an indie author without a publisher, every decision about the business is mine to make — and every dollar spent comes directly out of my own pocket.
But when I sat down and really thought about it, the decision wasn't hard at all.
If the book was worth writing in English, it was worth translating into Spanish.
So I did.
Papá Noel de la Playa was born — a Spanish-language edition of Beach Santa created for every Spanish-speaking child who deserves to curl up with this holiday book in the language of their heart.


What the Numbers Say
After I made the decision, I started doing some research. And what I found stopped me in my tracks.
One in four children in the United States is Hispanic. By 2050, one in three Americans is projected to speak Spanish. And yet the shelves of most bookstores and school libraries tell a very different story. The grandmother at Belmar Library wasn't just sharing a personal preference. She was describing a real gap — one that affects millions of families across this country every single day.
I am one author with one book. I can't close that gap alone.
But I can make sure that Beach Santa is available to as many children as possible.


What It Means to Me Personally
I live in a community where Spanish-speaking families are my neighbors, my children's classmates, and the people I see at the library. These are not abstract readers to me. They are real people — grandmothers who approach authors after events and say exactly what they mean.  I’m so grateful she did.



Papá Noel de la Playa — the Spanish edition of Beach Santa — is available on Amazon. Linked through www.beach-santa.com.  Free downloadable coloring and activity pages (in English) are also available 

 ​Last year, I had an opportunity to meet a dynamic person/businesswoman named Tina Roth-Eisenberg (pictured far right).  Tina is a Swiss designer based in Brooklyn and the founder of several companies including Friends Work Here, TeuxDeux and Tattly.  Tina is a self-proclaimed “human gatherer” and she’s incredible at welcoming people into her creative and supportive network.  I first heard her on a “How I Built This” podcast and she said something that resonated with me.

“Scrappy is where it’s at.”

I couldn’t agree more.

I’m nineteen months into entrepreneurship and I’m truly a grassroots marketer.  I have no existing platform to catapult my book out into the universe, but… I’ve wholeheartedly embraced scrappiness.  Before I heard Tina, I was questioning my approach to bookselling…constantly wondering…am I simply being persistent or am I being a pain when I ask booksellers/stores to stock my book?   I’ve realized that I’m just being scrappy and there is no shame in that.  

I’m a rookie author.  Many others have way more experience in the world of business and books, but I’m here to tell every aspiring author out there that if I can write and publish a book so can you.  It will take time, patience, a small investment, and SCRAPPINESS, but it CAN be done. 
And when you get your book over the finish line, please let me know because I’ll be happy to cheer you on.  

M.B. Paradise won’t take no for an answer. The mom of three kids, ages 13, 18 and 20, respectively, has a background in sports medicine but changed careers during the pandemic. Living in Manasquan, she used the beach town as her inspiration for her new children’s book and after several non-responses, decided to self-publish the book. Meeting a real-life “beach Santa” and following the inspiring journey of former Rutgers University football star Eric LeGrand inspired the book and her mission to increase beach accessibility to wheelchair users. LeGrand became paralyzed in an October 2010 game and has been wheelchair-bound since, inspiring people all over the world with his positive attitude, perseverance and mission to help others. We asked M.B. Paradise how she got into children’s book writing, the message behind her new book and more.
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New Jersey Family: What inspired you to pivot from sports medicine to writing?
M.B. Paradise: I did something you should never do: I quit one job without having another. Well actually, I thought I had one lined up. I resigned in February 2020 with the intent to take March off and start my new job in April and the pandemic had a different plan. So, this business started because I was in a complete professional funk.

NJF: Have you always been a writer?
MBP: I’m not a writer by trade; I’m a sports medicine professional. I tried to get multiple scientific papers published, but I had no luck. I tried to get different children’s books published in 2010 – again, no luck. I even took my manuscript and tied it to a small house plant (in an attempt to get noticed) and walked into different publishing houses in New York City. I got zero responses. So finally, getting something published – even though it was self-published – felt like such a huge accomplishment.

NJF: Why did you decide to write a book? 
MBP: The origin of this story is unique. We live at the Jersey Shore, and when my kids were small, they were down by the water looking for shells, but they couldn’t find any good ones and they were very vocal about it.  A slim older gentleman with a white beard was fishing next to us. He overheard this conversation and reached into his cargo vest and pulled out three beautiful conch shells and throws them on the ground. He said, “Hey, you forgot these.” One of my daughters said, “That guy is like a beach Santa.” And the idea was born. But, I was a busy working momma so I didn’t write the story until 10 years later.

NJF: Tell us about the plot.
MBP: Most people are familiar with what Santa does on the night before Christmas, but what about the night after? He’s exhausted and needs a vacation! He’s focused on catching up on sleep, catching waves and catching a fish. But, as he finally dips his toes in the water, he catches wind about children in need, and Santa jumps into action!  He ultimately catches something, but it may not be what you think.

NJF: Tell us how Eric LeGrand helped inspire your book.
MBP: The day I saw Eric LeGrand, on social media during the pandemic taking steps to open a coffee shop, it lit a fire under me to finish my book and I vowed then and there to donate to his cause which is Team LeGrand. Eric is a former Rutgers University football player who sustained a spinal cord injury and continues to inspire others through his amazing example of positivity and perseverance. My specific mission within Team LeGrand is to increase beach accessibility to wheelchair users through the purchase of beach mats and beach wheelchairs; 25 percent of book sales are donated to this cause.
Other important sources of inspiration include my cousin Becky from Texas, who spent her life in a wheelchair. We were pen-pals growing up and the mission behind the book is to honor her memory. And aside from Eric LeGrand, Sam Jarmer and Aaron Van Trease are other New Jersey athletes who continue to push through the physical and psychological challenges of a life-altering injury with grace and grit.

NJF: How will you be promoting your book in NJ? 
MBF: I have an author visit at Lady of Mount Carmel camp in Asbury Park on July 18 at 8:30 am. I have storytime at the Brielle Library at 3:30 pm on July 18. I will be part of the Manasquan Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet Me in Manasquan – Christmas in July Day” on July 20 from 6-9 pm. I will appear at Ladies Night – Christmas in July at My Sister’s Favorite Things in Lavallette on July 21 at 7 pm. I will make another author visit at the Red Bank Elks Club on July 22. I will be part of “Beach Santa” inspired crafts at Hoffman’s Ice Cream in Spring Lake Heights for their Christmas in July celebration from 5-7 pm July 25.

NJF: What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?  
MBP: Before Christmas, I was selling 150 books per week when the expected number for an indie author is 10 per week. And actually, it’s following through on one of my ideas. I don’t know about everyone else, but I have ideas come to me, I think they are legit and then I get busy, and they fizzle out. For this book, just finishing something, something that I had been wanting to do for a long time, something that I’d never done before, and having the guts to throw it out there has been very cool to see unfold.

NJF: What advice would you give to moms who want to write a book?
MBP: This goes for anyone: moms, dads, grandparents, teachers, and librarians: You can be scrappy, like me, and self-publish a children’s book for a lot less than what most people want to charge. But this does take some time, creativity and tenacity.

NJF: How do you balance parenting Madigan, Katie and Teagan with writing and all your other projects?
MBP: I regularly binge on dark chocolate chips.

NJF: What’s your favorite place to go with your kids in NJ?
MBP: The Asbury Park boardwalk. All three of my kids love it there, especially when I’m treating for crepes.
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NJF: What’s your favorite way to spend me time?
MBP: In the summer, nothing beats the chill vibe at the beach early in the morning with a cup of tea. In the winter, I love checking out different indie-owned coffee shops–one of my faves is Turnstile in Belmar.