Pleasanton Woman Publishes Children's Book On Self-Discovery

PLEASANTON, CA — When longtime Pleasanton resident Roberta Gonzales was growing up in the Mojave Desert, she didn't get to play with other kids in their homes because of her ethnicity. So began a journey to find herself.

Gonzales said she pulled from that journey as inspiration for her recently published, colorful children's book, "Marina: The Fish with Teal Lips."

Seven years ago, Gonzales was training for a triathlon, swimming two miles each day off the coast of Maui. She noticed a beautiful fish with big blue lips and a colorful tail swimming alone, Gonzales said.

The two swam together. She named the fish Marina.

But why was Marina alone? Was she different from the other fish?

Gonzales said she made up a story about the fish's journey to find her identity and make friends. The journey her to the Bay Area, where she befriended San Jose Sharks mascot Sharkie.

Gonzales is a longtime Sharks fan and season ticketholder. The Sharks have a Reading is Cool literacy program that Gonzales admires, and she is working to arrange a book signing event at the SAP Center.

She said she eventually hopes to make a series about Marina and have her meet the mascots of other hockey teams.

Gonzales said it several years to finish up the book after her first encounter with Marina's muse because she was working full-time as a weather anchor for KPIX. When she left after two decades to start her own production company, she finished up her book.

She said she also dealt with the death of her mother, father and brother while writing the book. She worked her loved ones into the book, and did a lot of rewriting and soul-searching.

"It's been an incredible journey," she said.

Gonzales ultimately self-published the book and launched it right before Christmas, she said. Her book also comes with a plush Marina toy for $29.29.

Gonzales packages up and mails off the books with help from one other person.

"It's a one man band," she said, laughing.

Her book has already garnered fans across the country, Gonzales said.

"I just want to spread reading," she said. "I think it's so important to get kids off their phones and get their noses into books ... books that you can hold."

Buy her book and plush toy set here.