Author Migraine Central: Spotlight on Children's Book Author Meaghan Fisher

Interview:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing poetry and short stories when I was ten, by the time I was eleven in the summer, I wrote my first novel for fun.

Throughout the years I continued to write things now and then and had lots of poetry published from college on and won some poetry awards. I loved to write.

My favorite thing in college was to write papers! I thought I was just a serious student. However, when I was in Reno, NV tagging along on my husband’s business trip, I was at the hotel with nothing to do and for years I had bounced around thoughts of a children’s book about a little bunny. While at the hotel waiting for my husband, I wrote the book I had thought about.

Later that night when my husband came back to the hotel, I told him the crazy thing I just did, writing a children’s book, and he asked to see it. It took him a while to convince me to let him look at it but he did.

I sat on the edge of the hotel bed the whole time as he read it, biting my nails, which I don’t normally do. Then he looked up at me and in an instant my life changed forever…

He said to me,” Meaghan this is what you were meant to do. This is your path from God, you’re a writer!”

My husband never speaks of God, so I was shocked. At that moment I knew my life would never be the same.

When I got back home, a few days later I ran into my past English Teacher, Linda Gallagher. I hadn’t seen her in years and she asked me what I was up to. She could tell I was holding something back when we were talking. She said, “That’s all good, now tell me what you have really have been up to!”

After all those years, she still knew me so well.

So, I told Linda about the silly thing I had done, writing a children’s book; and she insisted on seeing it.

It took me two weeks to hand it over and I was terrified of what she would say.

A week later, she invited me over to her house and gave it back to me all marked up with red ink! I felt like I was in school again and about to admit defeat when she looked at me and said, “this is just the beginning and your first draft. You need to get this Published!”

That confirmed it for me, I was meant to be a writer!

How long does it take you to write a book?

Since I have been writing since I was ten years old it doesn’t take me long to write a children’s book. I am very lucky.

I always tell people, “practice makes perfect” so for me, it normally takes me about thirty minutes to write a children’s book; and another thirty minutes of editing.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

It’s normally crazy. I write in-between events. I am booked five days a week and I’m traveling all the time and all over the U, and some out of the country events at times.

I have two children under five so it’s very hard to fit things in. I am normally writing in bed on my laptop when at home, in the morning or night, when I have a spare moment, which isn’t much.

Mostly, I get my main writing done at hotels on the road in between book signings and presentations on my little breaks or just late at night.

Actually, I just wrote this past July in Baltimore, MD my second Owlie Book, called, “Owlie Learns to Read” while touring. And I am still finishing the Tyler the Fish Series. I’m sure it will be finished in another hotel on the road. It’s nice to write while I’m touring because there are less distractions.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I really don’t have one. I do feel that I write best when I am in the mood to write.

How do your books get published?

Right now, I am traditionally published via Gypsy Publications and happy with them. Some of my books are in hardback but all are available in paperback form. Right now I am working on publishing them as well via e-book with my publisher.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I wrote my first book which was a novel for teenagers/young adults when I was eleven years old. It’s never been published.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to walk and get exercise. Though, I don’t have spare time hardly due to my work which really is 24-, and then I have my two kids. All of that keeps me so busy. It’s hard to do anything extra.

What does your family think of your writing?

My husband and kids are wonderfully supportive and love my books and stories. My husband, Tim Rowe is actually my Illustrator now for the past year and will be for the next three books coming soon.

My daughter is always waiting for new stories from me and she can’t wait to see them come to life when a new book of mine comes out. She may be five, but she is very much involved in the book publishing process for she’s our perfect tester! I run all the pictures and stories including new art, by her lots and lots of times and so does my husband. We see love to see her reaction. She can’t wait to see anything new! That way, we find what kids like and respond to well and what they don’t, and what we should take out or change. It’s the perfect family team!

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I am wonderfully amazed about the great responds from parents, educators, and children that I get from all over the world. Whether it’s fan mail (via standard mail) or on Facebook, Twitter, or a message on my fan pages, I am so pleased to see them. I also love it when the parents send me their children’s book reports that their child have written regarding my book/s. It’s so wonderful!

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written a few hundred to be honest but only ten so far have been published and I have written one full novel when I was young that wasn’t published, though I never tried to get that one published yet.

I am also working on 2 novels and hope to write more. I still continue to write a few children’s books a year too, it’s my true passion!

As for a Favorite, I wouldn’t really say I had a favorite really. I love them all for different reasons. They all were written at special times in my life. I really love Pip the Possum which is coming soon. It’s one of my true loves for its so sweet and I love the moral lessons in it, the others I have to say that I cherish most of all are the books about my children, which are, I Love Ladybugs, If I Could Pull the Moon from the Sky, and The Strawberry Festival. I am sure I will write more about my children in the future to come. And one I really love that isn’t published yet, Sent from Above. This children’s book is about my daughter when she was born.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Hum… I always tell people that practice makes perfect, I really believe in that saying. The more you read and write the more ideas you will get and the better a writer you will become. It all begins with one word at a time. Take your time with it and keep going and never give up. Take a break once in a while when needed, but always come back to it! Writing is like a good friend...with time, your friendship with it grows stronger.

So keep reading and writing!!

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Yes, I hear from fans a lot. From the US to foreign countries all over the world. It’s pretty awesome and a wonderful thing.

I hear from parents of the children who buy my books about how wonderful my books are and how their child loves my book. I hear from educators a lot about my books as well. They say to me a lot, how they love my moral lessons in my books and how well the kids interact, and like my book/s. It’s just wonderful to hear!

In addition, if I have been at a conference, book signing, or school author’s visit; I get lots of fan mail from the teachers of the school, staff, and the students afterwards. It’s really great and lovely to hear from them and so positive!

I also have lots of pictures from kids of some characters in my books that they drew, book reports from children about my book/s, and nice cards. They’re all very special to me. I have some hanging up in my den and some on my fridge. They make me smile every time I pass them.

Do you like to create books for adults?

Yes, I am currently writing one right now but it’s still in the early stages. It’s a thriller about woman trying to get her life back together after a bad relationship.

What do you think makes a good story?

Lots of heart and soul put into it, a great plot, and a little mystery!

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a Child Psychologist. Working with children has always been a passion! I have always wanted to help and teach children. This way, through my writing; I still get to do that, which I think is the most exciting thing in the world!

Here is my Bio and Info:

Meaghan Fisher is a Children’s Author who has over ten years experience working with children as a former Nanny. She has a BS in Psychology and a Minor in Women’s Studies and lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. Her hope is to inspire children through the moral lessons in her books.

Meaghan’s Awards:

Creative Child Magazine 2015 Book of the Year:

If I Could Pull the Moon from the Sky

Creative Child Magazine 2015 Preferred Choice:

Giuseppe’s Famous Pizza Pies and Sadie the Skunk

Creative Child Magazine 2015 Seal of Excellence:

Owlie Learns to Fly and I Love Ladybugs

Creative Child Magazine Editors Choice:

Owlie Learns to Fly and Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie

Readers Favorite 2015:

Lars the Monkey Flies a WACO Airplane: Silver

Readers Favorite 2014:

Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie: Silver

Mousekabitz: Bronze

Creative Child Magazine 2014 Preferred Choice:

Mousekabitz and Lars the Monkey

Creative Child Magazine 2014 Seal of Excellence:

Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie

Literary Classics Seal of Approval:

Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie

Mom’s Choice Silver:

Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie

REBA Award:

Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie

Santa’s Choice Award:

Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie and Mousekabitz

Books:

Sadie the Skunk, Lars the Monkey Flies a WACO Airplane, I Love Ladybugs, Giuseppe’s Famous Pizza Pie’s, Mousekabitz, Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie, Tyler the Fish and Marty the Sturgeon, If I Could Pull the Moon from the Sky, & Owlie Learns to Fly! Coming Soon: The Strawberry Festival.

Buy Books @: Barnes and Nobles, Books A Million, www.amazon.com/author.meaghanfisher, and www.gypsypublications.com.

Find more information about Meaghan Fisher at www.meaghanfisher.com and Meaghan’s Fan and Events Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/meaghanfanpage, Twitter: https://twitter.com/fisher_meaghan

Award Winning Children’s Author Meaghan Fisher:

www.meaghanfisher.com

www.facebook.com/meaghanfanpage

www.twitter.com/fisher_meaghan

Buy Books @