One day, while clamming with my wife and friends, a thought occurred to me while I was digging my feet in the muck: "What if a seagull wanted to look like an eagle, so he covered himself in mud?" The throughline of him discovering the downside of superficiality came shortly after. 

 

Four years later, I finally finished something for once.  

Thank you to Dave for bringing the story to life and being endlessly patient with me (one of the benefits of working with a teacher). 

 

Much of the illustrations draw inspiration from my hometown of Highlands, New Jersey and Assateague Island, where the story was conceived. 

​

​The book is dedicated to my wife Ellen and our son Ryan. It's all for you.