A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
My picture book biography of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford, LIKE A MOTHER BEAR (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster 2027) was recently announced in Publishers Weekly and Publishers Marketplace. This book is very close to my heart and when it was acquired by editor Feather Flores, I was over the moon!
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I have been writing for children for over 30 years, about as long as I have been an educator. There have been many chapters to my writing life, including working with critique partners, being a part of SCBWI, taking workshops at the Writing Barn and Highlights, and completing my MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts. My agent Lori Steel of Red Fox Literary has been key in helping me to present my best work and stay focused on my goals. She believed in LIKE A MOTHER BEAR from the moment I signed with her. I was part of the inaugural season of Courage to Create, and that was very exciting. The CtC community keeps me grounded and it has given me perspective and the tools to deal with the ups and downs of the publishing world.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
I love that there are CtC members who are experts in ways that I am not, so I can learn from them about various aspects of the publishing/writing world. I also have more of a long view of my own publishing journey thanks to CtC, which has helped me both enjoy the good moments and deal with the disappointments and challenges. Being part of a great community of writers had provided me with a lot of information and insights from people ahead of me in their journeys.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
My Big Why has to do with what I call “ordinary magic” — celebrating small moments, quiet yet powerful changemakers, and unsung heroes. My big why also has to do with my hardworking family members/ancestors. I honor their labor and journeys by doing my best work and being my bravest self. Finally, I still work with young children every day; being with them feeds both my writerly inspiration and fills me with respect for the dignity and worth of every child.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
Focusing on goals and not milestones was a big help to me. I’m a dedicated 5 a.m. writer, and each day I focus on moving my project forward. I have multiple projects going at a time, and when I hit a wall, I shift my energy to another project to refresh and invigorate myself.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
There is only one you, with your set of experiences, your family history, and your way of looking at the world. Hold onto that as you craft your stories and encounter obstacles. Don’t forget to rest, refresh, and lean on friends.
Mary E. Cronin writes fiction and poetry from her home on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, where
she is an elementary school Literacy Coach. She spent her early years in the Bronx, NY, where
she fell in love with reading, writing, and libraries. Mary’s poems have appeared in numerous
children’s anthologies and in The New York Times. Her picture book biography of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford, Like a Mother Bear, illustrated by J Yang, will be published by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster in 2027. She is represented by Lori Steel of Red Fox Literary. You can find her at www.maryecronin.com.
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