Today’s special guest is children’s author Erin Royce. She’s chatting with me about her new book for 4-6 year olds, Mommy, Why?
Welcome, Erin. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa, majoring in Law and English. In order
to both see the world and pay off school loans, I worked as a fitness instructor on cruise ships, managing the fitness programs. During these voyages I fell in love with the magnificent mountains of Alaska. Longing to be on land again for more than five weeks at a time, I walked off my last cruise ship in New York City and literally flew into the next chapter of my life—to my new home where I continues to reside, among the Rocky Mountains just outside of Calgary.
Though drawing and writing had been a part of my very early life, it was my daughter Morgan who helped me rediscover my passion and love of writing. So, hold on to your bootstraps and stay tuned: Mommy, Why? is only the beginning!
My loving husband Mark, incredible daughter Morgan, and Jackson, my blue standard
poodle rescued from the streets, make up the family. We enjoy many outdoor activities together, as well as weekly game nights.
When I can find a quiet space, I loves to crack open a book and dive into that other world and sometimes . . . just sometimes, think about what world I will create with my own thoughts, words, and imagination.
Please tell us about your current release.
From the moment children utter their first words, they are bursting with questions about the world around them and why everything is the way it is.
Some questions are delightful, naïve, embarrassing, and sometimes nonsensical, while others can be poignant, heart-breaking, and often profound in their simplicity.
We answer our children’s thoughts, concerns, and fears the best we can, calmly on the outside while often screaming inside our head: How do I answer that question?—Am I doing this right?— Do I even know anything?—Argh, my armpits are beginning to sweat—What was the question again?
Mommy, Why? is a book about a young girl’s anxious, yet touching questions about herself to the person she trusts the most in the world—her mother.
I hope Parents will value and find inspiration in the loving mother’s simple yet wise answers to the daughter’s difficult questions and give parents and children the opportunity to discuss the issues raised in the book and encourage children to ask their own questions.
What inspired you to write this book?
The thousand and one questions my daughter asked a thousand and one times!
I looked for books online and in the bookstore to address what my daughter was asking me, what perhaps many kids were asking parents and I couldn’t quite find what I was looking for. I thought, well, I use to write, I love books, I’m mom, I know “a few things”, why don’t I just address her questions in my own book. Then I thought, wholly smokes, am I actually going to do this!! Yep, I guess I am! Every question posed and answer given in Mommy Why? was from real life experience with my daughter.
Maybe, even if one child takes away how special and unique they are, how we all are, no matter their differences, it is worth all of the work thus far. With nervous endeavour and a somewhat nauseas feeling I plunged forward.
What exciting story are you working on next?
Though my focus is currently on completing the marketing of this book, my next (very rough) books in the works are:
1) “Mommy Why Not”
2) Captain Fartzburger (series)
3) Morgan’s Adventures in ErrMorgan (series)
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably when I held my first copy of Mommy, Why?, though I am still wrapping my head around this concept since it has been so many years between when I last wrote something and creating Mommy, Why?. Many Authors are just that, Authors, for many more years then myself so it is hard to think of myself on that same platform.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I wish! My goal is to write full time some day. At present, writing is done in the “inbetween minutes” of full-time work and raising a family and a high maintenance crazy lovable dog (even now, I’ve literally been interrupted 5 times and its only 8:00am- Ha!). Its busy but I love every minute and though the moments I get to write are minimal at times, whenever I get to put pen to paper it feels like home and because of that I am determined to extending those writing moments once I have less interruptions
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hard to say, I don’t think think I’ve been writing long enough to have a quirk – I’m just trying to keep up with the process of things and not fall flat on my face, though I suppose we learn best when we fall or at least trip. Maybe I’ll start walking around with my husband’s hockey helmet on in preparation for those falls – then it won’t smart so much
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A dentist – what an odd ball kid, I loved going to the dentist and thought it would be an awesome job..not so much now
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Continue reading what brings you joy, interact, connect and find the good in every day if you can and know it’s okay if you can’t and instead need a moment to stomp like a toddler before you brush yourself off and dive back into life’s fray again!
Do not be afraid to reach for the stars and accept helping hands when offered and do the same in kind. I do not feel anyone obtains success or reaches goals all on our own. I am more than lucky to have connected with a wonderfully talented group of people in this industry with the utmost patience with my thousand and one questions. They have all played a part in the completion of Mommy Why?. I am also very sure there will be more wonderful advice and assistance as I continue forward in this process and will be ever grateful for all involved in this amazing journey of mine.
Thanks for being here today, Erin.