20Q Creativity Interviews
Children's Picture Book Author Maggie Grinnell
Is promoting a good thing for a writer?
By Chris Dunmire | Updated 7/23/15
What's your name?
Maggie Grinnell.
Where are you from?
Southern California.
Who are you today?
Famous, not well-known writer. Lol.
What do you do?
I write children’s picture books. I am a kid at heart and always thinking with the mind of a child.
What's your story?
I use to write suspense stories but find my voice when I realized all the children’s books I loved growing up I could write like that.
Why is creativity important to you?
It sparks the brain and opens up a new world.
When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?
I think I realized it much later in life, like after college. I just couldn’t stop writing.
How did you embrace it?
I love it and hate it. I love the creative process and coming up with story ideas. But I hate the pressure of having good stories like other writers.
How did that feel?
Horrible. I question myself all the time if I am cut out to be a writer. When I read a book, my hands are itching to take pen to hand and write.
Where has your journey taken you?
It has taken me to write several short stories and two children’s books. I am working on my third one now.
What challenges have you faced?
When my dad passed away, I have writer’s block for over two years. It was horrible not having ideas to write down and worse, not wanting to write.
What worked for you?
Reading helped a lot. From these books I read, I come up with all these ideas.
What didn't work for you?
Trying to go to a different genre I wasn’t comfortable with.
What 3 tips can you share to help others starting on a similar path?
What are you working on now?
I am working on a children’s pirate book. It is about a little boy, his pirate teddy bear and how they come to be on board of a pirate ship.
What's coming up for you in the next year?
I hope to finish this book in 2015 and also attend the Orange County Children’s Book Festival.
What else do you want to do?
I want to write two newsletters. One with me as a writer and have fans follow my progress. The other newsletter would be for writers of all kinds and offer tips, articles, etc.
How might you make that happen?
I have one writing friend who could help with the 1st newsletter. Another writer friend is going to help with the next newsletter.
What question would you like to answer that hasn't been asked?
Is promoting a good thing for a writer?
I believe it is. You never know where it can take you. My second book is about grief. Even though it is about a little girl and the loss of her dad, I sent this book to adults who were grieving when they lost family members.
Where can people find your books online?
- My author profile at Amazon.
- My profile page at Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. •
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