Website: http://www.laurathomaeyoung.com
Instagram: lltyoung
Facebook: Laura Thomae Young
Twitter: @Laura_Youngmex
When you were my age (10), did you have a book inspire or impact you?
When I was 10 I read all the time! My all-time favorite books which inspired me as a child, and that I still re-read every few years, are the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, with my favorite being Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I also loved Beverly Cleary’s books: Henry Huggins and Fifteen (she remains one of my favorite authors). These were about ordinary kids who encountered extraordinary circumstances.
Have you read anything recently that inspired or impacted you?
I have been reading The Miracle Equation by Hal Elrod, which is a sequel to The Miracle Morning. It’s about tapping into both faith and effort to reach your full potential. His books have helped me turn into a “morning person,” which is super helpful for getting up early to work on my book projects!
Can you share what your usual day as an author looks like?
I have an office job Monday – Friday, so my writing takes place over the weekends, and in early mornings. When I was writing my first book, Adulting Like a Boss, I got up early and wrote before I had to leave for the office. But for the children’s books, Serena the Sailboat, and the upcoming sequel, Serena Gets Rescued, dedicating the weekends to writing has worked best. My husband also writes, and we actually went away to a cabin in the mountains to work on books! That’s kind of cliché but we actually did it!
Is there a newer or lesser known author you think kids should know about?
I’m in a Facebook group with other new children’s picture book authors who are just getting started like I am, and it’s been fun to be on the same journey with them. We like to see each other’s books and compare notes. My favorite book from the group has been Where Do You Want to Sleep? by Stacey Rayz. It’s a hilarious book about a little kid who didn’t want to sleep in his bed, and explores where and how animals sleep.
What is a cool thing about being an author?
When I was growing up, I wasn’t the most popular kid, but I told my classmates to watch, because one day I would be writing books and speaking! There are lots of cool things about being an author – people are generally impressed when you say you write books – but seeing my name on a book – and knowing that I fulfilled a lifelong dream – that’s the coolest!
Is there anything hard about being an author? I know it is not rainbows, cupcakes, pens and a pot of gold.
Writing is the easy part. Marketing is hard. You have to say, “Hey look at me! Read my wonderful book! Write a review! Yea ME!!!” and that’s kind of embarrassing, because even though I’m very proud of my books, it seems strange to give myself shout-outs and ask people to buy something you created.
Book access and diversity in books is a big topic. As an author what do you think your role is in this topic?
I spent 12 years living in Latin America, and wrote my first book when we moved back to the USA. Living as a foreigner in another country influenced me to be aware of diversity in culture and language. Adulting Like a Boss features several young ladies who are learning to “adult.” These ladies come from different ethnicities, backgrounds, and religions because I wanted to expand beyond those who are “just like me.” In Serena the Sailboat, my characters are a sailboat and her animal friends, however, I hope that the diversity of their backgrounds is apparent. I am also very excited to support other children’s authors who are producing books for diverse audiences, such as a new author I’ve been following, Audrey Hinds, who has written about her own daughter in Hair with Flair.
If you could portal into any book which would it be?
No question about it!!! Absolutely I would portal into The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and meet Reepicheep the Mouse and Aslan the Lion!
