Today I am kicking off a new Friday series in which YOU get a chance to guest blog about someone who has inspired you in the writing community! I look forward to hearing from many of you.
I am also going to use this series as an opportunity to introduce you to members of my Critique Group in NYC. They are a group of fabulous people and I think you should know who they are.
Carol Higgins Lawrence joined my Critique Group in January 2012. She has been a wonderful addition to the group, always providing insightful, carefully thought out critiques of others' manuscripts. Her own works are so sweet and poignant, brilliantly capturing tender moments between children and parents. She is both a delight to read and a delight to know.
Please welcome Carol Higgins Lawrence.
What do you do in
real life?
I am an adult literacy instructor. I
have 2 part-time “paid” jobs at the moment. I teach computer literacy for a
non-profit organization and I teach English as a Second Language at college. I
live in Brooklyn with my husband, our 4-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter.
When did you know you wanted to
be a writer?
When I was 5 years old and I used
to write stories and give them to my father. He’d smile, read my story aloud,
pay me a quarter and congratulate me every single time.
How often to do you
write? Where? What time of day?
Honestly, it varies and I’ve stopped
beating myself up about that. My current work and family schedules allow me to
commit to writing at least 2 times a week. I write on Thursdays and Fridays in
the morning from 9:00-12:00 and I am 100% focused for those 6 hours a week. I’m
always working stuff out in my head; some thought, idea, story or inspiration
so that I show up prepared to produce for my weekly writing time. If I am
inspired or have time to do more writing in a particular week, then I consider
it gravy! I write using my laptop on the couch or in my bed. I write in the
mid-mornings because I have my best physical and mental energy at that time of
day. I’ve recently realized that it is pointless, unproductive and downright
frustrating for me to try to write in the evenings or on weekends when my
energy is low and while I’m trying my best to be an active and caring wife and
mother. I’m accepting of the fact that as my life changes so too will my
writing schedules.
What was your favorite
story/book as a child? and why?
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by
Dr. Seuss. The Grinch was such an interesting character. I was captivated by the
illustrations and language and I’m a sucker for a Christmas story. I also liked
the Mr. Men series by Roger Hargreaves. I loved the simplicity of each
character and the straight forward storytelling.
…I know you asked for one, but I
couldn’t resist :)
What kind of stories do you
like to write?
I like to write stories about the
small tender moments experienced between family members. I like to conjure the
sights, sounds and feelings that remind me of my childhood. My hope is always
that readers will connect emotionally with my stories. Also, as a writer of
color, it is important to me that I represent the experience of children of
color. So often, we do not see ourselves and family life normalized in
different forms of media, including children’s books. I like writing books for
children of all ages. A few years ago, I was writing more YA stuff. My poem, “Patriarchy”,
was published in a YA poetry collection entitled Black Girl Talk by Sister Vision Press. For now, my focus is more on picture books. Many
of the stories I’m working on currently are inspired by members of my family
and my 2 children.
What did you want to be when
you grew up?
A writer, a photographer, a writer,
a hairdresser, a writer, an interior decorator, a guest writer on the Oprah
Winfrey Show, a writer.
If you could go back in time
and tell your 8 year old self one thing, what would it be?
Always focus on your strengths and not
your weaknesses. In fact, if you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else, forget
about your weaknesses entirely.
What is the
greatest piece of writing advice you have ever received?
Write
what you know.
Thank you, Carol!
Do YOU have a Friendspiration you would like to introduce us to on a future Friday? Please send an email to marciecolleen@gmail.com and we will make that happen.
For a Children's Book Writer nothing is more important than making a child laugh, allowing a child to see themselves in a story, and/or winning a reader over.
However, it became very clear early on that Bethany Telles was a special member of the community. Although she lives clear across the country from Brooklyn, NY in Clovis, CA it was easy to become her friend and immediately feel a bond. 
We love you and hope to hear good news soon. My prayers are with you. 
Please welcome, Julie...
I only recently discovered the work of Jon Agee, but its
impact on me as a picture book maker has been none-the-less powerful. He is as
capable with words in telling stories as he is with pictures, a trait I don’t
find to be common. His books on palindromes, oxymorons, spoonerisms and
tongue-tanglers are visual proof of an artist in love with words. Agee mentions
on his website (www.jonagee.com) that he
was influenced by the work of Tomi Ungerer, also one of my top favorites in the
picturebook pond. Between the bold, simple lines and casual yet careful use of
color I feel Agee’s straightforward and quirky humor, like butter in my
belly-fly!
"There is nothing a good night's sleep won't cure" sounds alot like advice my mother would have given me after hours of crying over a boy who broke my heart. And although this advice seems incredibly basic there is a lot of truth to it!
How
exciting to be in at the beginning (well, near
beginning) of Marcie’s new feature, Friday Friendspirations – and what a great
idea it is!
When I
asked Marcie how long this post should be, she said, “as long
as you need to tell us how fab she is!”
Well, I could go on and on about how fab Bev is, but I think the best way for
you to find that out is to read her books. Thanks, Marcie, for giving me this
opportunity to talk about one of my favorite writers – and one of my favorite
people.
Anyone have another story? I could use the inspiration...
So what is a girl to do?