A Dream Come True for this First Time Author

Jennifer Gladen has written for most of her life. Her first children's picture book, A Star in the Night, will be coming out this summer by Guardian Angel Publishing. Jennifer is also working on another book which comes close to her heart, a story about a little girl waiting for a liver transplant.

Do you consider yourself to be a born writer?

Yes! Even as a child, I could always be found writing something. I wrote stories and poems for my teachers. I wrote in my journal every day. In short, it´s always been a part of my life. Growing up, I was a quiet little girl. Writing was my way of communicating with the world.

Did you always want to be a writer?

I sure did! It wasn´t until I took a few courses at the Institute of Children´s Literature that I realized this was something I really could do. I´m grateful that I chose to follow my dream. If I didn´t, I´d be missing out on the greatest career in the world!

Tell us about your children's books.

My first children´s book, A Star in the Night, will be published by Guardian Angel Publishing sometime this summer. It is a Christmas themed e-book about a boy, Andy, going home on Christmas Eve. Andy, accompanied by a shimmering star, encounters three experiences, which change his view of Christmas forever.

Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your works?

Yes. My official website is http://www.jennifergladen.com/.

You can also find me on my blogs: http://jgladen.blogspot.com/ and

http://jengladensmusingswordpress.com/.

What are you working on now?

My current project is a picture book about a little girl, Olivia, who needs a liver transplant and her brave journey to get it. While many children are wondering if they´ll learn to ride a bike, Olivia is wondering when that life-saving transplant will happen. We see the struggles and complex feelings in which she deals with daily.

http://jengladensmusingswordpress.com/.

This book was inspired by my own daughter who needed a liver transplant. When I looked for good books to read to her, I saw nothing which could help a child of her age cope with this situation. "There should be a book about this," I complained to my husband. Voila´ – Olivia was born.

What advice would you offer aspiring writers?



My advice to aspiring writers is to stick with it. Be persistent in your dream. Don´t give up in the face of rejections. Just pick up your manuscripts, dust it off, revise (yes – for the umpteenth time) and send it out elsewhere.

This is your dream and your goal. The only one who can assure your success is you.

-Interview by Mayra Calvani, http://www.mayrassecretbookcase.com/