Lauren Sánchez Bezos is a philanthropist, helicopter pilot, and former journalist. She was recently named Literacy Champion for Impact Reading’s United States of Readers Program, a proven literacy initiative that provides free books to students in high-needs schools with limited access to reading materials. Her beloved character, Flynn the Fly, will serve as the official “Spokesfly/Portavoz” for the program. Flynn will return for her second print outing in The Fly Who Flew Under the Sea in March 2026, published by The Collective Book Studio.

Have you explored deep-sea coral habitats up close?

I’m an avid diver and have my dive license. I’ve explored reefs around the world: Palau, the Bahamas, the Caribbean. Every dive feels like stepping into another universe. It’s silent, alive, and humbling. Through the Bezos Earth Fund, I’ve also learned how deep-sea corals thrive under immense pressure and total darkness. They’re nature’s reminder that beauty and resilience often live in places we can’t see.

How can parents inspire kids to care about “scary” sea creatures?

Kids start with curiosity, not fear. If we nurture that, empathy naturally follows. In the book, Flynn isn’t afraid of the giant squid, she’s fascinated by it. That’s how I tried to raise my kids: to look closer instead of turning away. When children see how connected everything in the ocean is, they start wanting to protect it.

What can Flynn teach us about dyslexia?

Flynn might mix up her letters, but she never loses her voice. That’s the heart of it. Dyslexia doesn’t define her—curiosity and courage do. I’ve lived with dyslexia my whole life, and it taught me to see the world differently, in patterns and movement. Flynn shows kids that the way they learn isn’t a limitation, it's a strength.

Will Flynn go back to outer space?

Flynn’s next stop is the Moon, which is especially exciting because Blue Origin is helping NASA return there. It builds on the thousands of hours and decades of effort that first took humanity to the lunar surface. Maybe we’ll get to see those footsteps again. When you see Earth from space, you realize how fragile and united it really is, and that perspective changes everything.

What do you enjoy most about creating Flynn’s adventures?

Flynn keeps teaching me. She recently became the “spokesfly”—or portavoz—for the United States of Readers program. Kids are writing letters to her about their own dreams and adventures. That’s what I love most. Flynn is helping kids realize that curiosity and courage go hand in hand, and that getting a little lost can be part of finding who you are.

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