Jessica Mathisen

Meet Featured Author Jessica Mathisen!

Join us for a Meet the Author Event on Saturday, May 19 at 1:00pm.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a former elementary school teacher turned church administrative assistant. Athens has been my home for about 10 years now, and I love it! My husband Rory and I have been married for almost three years, have a sweet puppy, and are in the process of becoming foster parents. 

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

I work full time. :) I love to read, obviously, and I also just enjoy being at home with my husband. As a social person it is also really fun for me to get to hang out with friends by getting lunch together and catching up. 

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

Since I was a child, I have always known that I wanted to write. The dream got put on the backburner a little bit during my teen years, but I’ve always been an avid journaler. The written word is much more comfortable for me and I’ve always enjoyed being able to put my thoughts on paper.

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My husband might be a better person to ask this question to; I’m not sure I’m aware of my quirks! I don’t think there is anything too strange or out of the ordinary that I do while writing. :)

5. Do you have an upcoming book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes! My book is called Already Chosen and was just released on May 1. It is about my journey to discovering true contentment and allowing God to teach me that He would always be enough for me. Growing up in the South and also as a Christian, I felt like those two subcultures valued marriage and made it an expectation and desire of my heart that would have to be fulfilled in order for me to be happy. When I didn’t receive that desire in a “timely manner,” it made it difficult for me to find happiness because I started to wonder if something was wrong with me. Even when the dream finally did come true, I found that all of my problems were not solved overnight. This book is my journey of learning that joy is a choice and contentment is possible even in the midst of deep longing. 

6. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Well, since it is a memoir, it is all about my life! 

7. What was your favorite part to write and why?

It was really fun for me to go back and write about our love story. It made me so grateful for him and was fun to relive. 

8. Who is an author that you look up to today?

I absolutely love Beth Moore. Her writing and Bible studies have been deeply impactful for me. 

9. What is your favorite genre of book to read?

Memoirs are my favorite these days! Reading someone else’s story brings me a sense of gratitude and helps me to understand how every person’s unique story has value. 

10. What is your favorite book?

My favorite book is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is a modern retelling of the biblical book of Hosea. I have probably read it about five times and own two copies, one of which is falling apart. 

11. Who is an author that has inspired you or influenced you growing up?

I read and reread Ella Enchanted when I was younger. While I am not a fiction writer, I devoured historical fiction as a child. I also loved the Little House on the Prairie series and the American Girl series. It was always fun to imagine that I lived in another place or time period.

12. Who is an author that has inspired you more recently?

Annie F. Downs’ work has inspired me to take chances in my writing and to pursue it with all that I am. She is from the same town I grew up in and also went to UGA. Not only do I share some life experiences with her, I feel like she has been a trailblazer for younger authors who want to share their story in an honest way with others. Her writing has a “me, too” voice that helps you know that you are not alone. 

13. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Just do it. I know it sounds trite and a bit terrifying, but it is worth it to take the leap and just put yourself out there. It’s ok to start something from nothing and just get your feet wet. The practice of writing does not have to be painful! For me, I journal a few times a week, and that counts as writing to me! It’s a way that I process everything before I process in front of others through my public writing. If you want to write, just write. Learn from other authors and take notes, but use your gifts and talents to inspire, encourage, and lead others.

14. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?  

Thank you! It is an honor to serve you and I don’t take it lightly. It was always my dream to write, and with the ease of technology, that dream became a reality. Learning from you and hearing your stories inspires me to keep going and become better at what I do in order to serve you better, too. 

Marsha K. Nowakowski

Meet Featured Author Marsha K. Nowakowski!

Join us for a Meet the Author Story Time on Saturday, May 12 at 1:00pm.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a wife, a dedicated mother to three children, and a “grammie” to my grandchildren. 

I have spent forty years in the healthcare industry, primarily as a cardiac nurse. My inspiration for writing Matt and Mattie’s Adventures developed from her own observations that patients who recovered more quickly exhibited healthy habits and good attitudes toward life.  

As a mother and grammie, I recognized the need for books teaching healthy habits to help young ones develop into successful people who always do their best.  Matt and Mattie’s Adventures makes everyday habits fun, balanced, and adventuresome for toddlers. 

My own adventures include travel, horseback riding, and reading. I also enjoy golf, baseball games, and sailing with my husband. Every day is an adventure!

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

I have not given up my full time career as a cardiac nurse at Emory University Hospital. I love my Nursing career, coworkers, patients and Emory University Hospital but as I approach age 65,  I am looking forward to retirement. My husband and I love to travel and visit our children and grandchildren in Philadelphia and Denver. With a large extended family, we all like to travel the world and do so often together making our adventures of culture and history fun and exciting.   

My husband and I look forward to our next adventure in the life of retirement. We are excited to be building a retirement cottage in our own little slice of heaven which happens to be in Montana near Glacier National Park. I really am a country girl at heart who loves the outdoors, animals, and, in particular, horses. I’ve owned and trained several horses, but currently enjoy trail riding with my friends. Because my husband and I have resided in the beautiful state of Georgia for the last 34 years, living in a golf course community with tennis, I have taken part in our country club living over the last 30 years but look forward to a slower, more serene pace of living in Montana,  which I often refer to as the last best place on earth! 

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

Although always a creative child with a vivid imagination, I found myself throughout my nursing career creating projects, flyers, and support information for our patients and staff. After becoming a grandmother, nearing retirement, and taking care of other’s hearts for 35+ years, I decided to follow my own heart. I envisioned doing something that would make a difference and contribute positively to our world. Teaching health and wellness most of my life, it made sense then to follow what I knew best. So my journey to creating the Matt and Mattie’s Adventures series and Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! started approximately 3 years ago. My belief is that our future lies in creating healthy children with good attitudes to create a healthy world. In reality, the message of diversity, positive attitudes in learning hard lessons and developing habits through good choices can apply to everyone, not just toddlers. My healthcare background provided me the vision that good attitudes will lead to healthy, lifelong habits, thus helping young ones learn confidence and independence. 

4. Do you have an upcoming book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Since my book Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! just came out in January, I find myself immersed in social media, readings, and book tours.  I have many ideas for future books promoting healthy choices that will always cover ten toddler tips about learning life’s adventures. The next book I am working on is called Matt, Mattie, and Murdock the Horse. Because of my own love of horses, I would like to write ten safety tips for toddlers visiting a barn and seeing big horses for the first time. Murdock will be a sad, lonely soul looking for his lost barn when Matt and Mattie come upon him. They become fast friends, find Murdock’s home and soon Murdock is the comic relief in teaching them about safety tips in the barn.   

5. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

The educational portion of Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! is based on facts and observations as a Mom, Grandma, and Nurse. The characters of Matt and Mattie are cute, unique, creative feet characters who represent ten activities of daily living symbolic to ten toes. Just as our toes help our bodies balance, learning the ten life skills will help your child create balance in their own life. Toddlers will learn independence and confidence in a fun, interactive way.

6. What was your favorite part to write and why?

My favorite part of Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! occurs on the very first page which starts with the toddler’s morning and introduces the idea of having a good attitude each day. I was inspired by my experience as a cardiac nurse and mother, knowing that a positive attitude is key to leading a healthy, productive life. Quality choices define the outcome of our health. Having a good attitude and always doing your best by putting your best foot forward is not a one-time choice made in the moment. It’s a behavior cultivated over many attempts, many days in those formative years through healthy habits. Toddlers have a lot of learning to do and I wanted to write a book of encouragement that makes all the difficult lessons seem easier with rhymes and fun activities. I impress upon young readers important life skills, such as eating nourishing meals and brushing your teeth, through endearing characters, enjoyable illustrations, and easily understood lines.  All pages in the book introduce toddlers to routines that could be considered difficult and instead become fun-filled learning activities. 

7. Who is an author that has inspired you or influenced you growing up?

As a young child I enjoyed all the fantasy and enchantment found in Christmas books, but as I became a teenager I enjoyed solving the mysteries found in the Nancy Drew series.

8. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”    -Toni Morrison 

Writing requires a lot of creativity, time, and energy. Even though Matt and Mattie are friends in the book, my husband and I call them “our twins.” They are with us always! 

Life is short, so follow your dreams. For me, I waited until my own children were grown and my primary career is now coming into retirement years. Your dreams can come true but it will require patience, rewrites, reworks, and a good publishing team. The title of my book was the single most difficult decision for me. Trying to capture everything your book represents in a creative way can be long and the most thought provoking exercise. 

It is exhilarating to create something you believe will make a difference to others while also providing joy. In this case Toddler Tootsies provide a difference in how we look at health, happiness, and choices while giving the joy of learning through reading and interacting with the characters.  

As a writer you are vulnerable to criticism and rejections, so you should never give up and develop a thick skin. Remember as Toni Morrison so eloquently stated: write your own story and if has not been written yet, then you must write it!

9. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?  

I think two things set Toddler Tootsies Take On The Day! apart from other children’s books: The book is about them, the toddler. They recognize each of the ten activities of daily living because this is their day, every day. The book is about them! They can relate to the characters Matt and Mattie, seeing themselves in the book while having fun with some of the choices offered. It becomes an unconscious, fun learning experience for toddlers to learn life skills that follow along with quotes from long ago. Ben Franklin said: “It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.” Or from Aristotle: “Excellence is not an act but a habit.” Matt and Mattie help toddlers learn independence and confidence within their own daily activities. 

I look forward to meeting you May 12th at The Story Shop! 

Alice Mohor

Meet Featured Author Alice Mohor!

Join us for a Meet the Author Story Time on Saturday, April 21 at 1:00pm.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a retired elementary P. E. teacher, and I first wrote rhyming poetry for my elementary P. E. students.

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

I like to visit with my family and with my friends. I also like to read and discuss books with a group of friends. 

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

When I wanted to share something that I had written.

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I often get an idea for a poem when I am trying to fall asleep. I keep a lighted pen and paper pads on my bedside table and often fall asleep while writing.

5. Do you have an upcoming book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes, I just published a second book of poetry, Shared Days, about two people learning how to love each other while living together.

6. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

All of my poetry is based on my experience or understanding of real events.

7. What was your favorite part to write and why?

My favorite poems are about the ordinary days in life that feel special when we remember them.

8. Who is an author that you look up to today?

Mary Oliver

9. What is your favorite genre of book to read?

I like to read books about real things.

10. What is your favorite book?

The Thesaurus.

11. Who is an author that has inspired you or influenced you growing up?

Mother Goose, Dr. Seuss, Robert Frost, Stephen Vincent Benet, and Edgar Allan Poe.

12. Who is an author that has inspired you more recently?

Edna St. Vincent Millay.

13. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Yes, try to write something every day.  Practice will make you better.

14. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?  

Yes, if you will keep reading, I will keep writing.

Alison Broderick

Meet Featured Author Alison Broderick!

Join us for a Meet the Author Story Time on Saturday, March 24 at 1:00pm.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of being a children's author. I am a Georgia native who grew up in the Snellville area. I went to Shiloh High School, and when I was a senior (age 17), my English teacher asked us to create a poem based on the writings of award-winning writer Shel Silverstein. That is when I penned my first book, Samuel Stanley Scotty Snight. My family encouraged me time and again to get the book published, but I never received acceptance from any of the larger publishing companies. I thought my dream was unrealistic and considered it a nice fantasy, at the very least. You can imagine my sheer excitement when Willow Moon Publishing contacted me in 2017, at the age of 37, wanting to publish my book.

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

I work in the mental health field as a marketing and alumni professional, so I help support individuals after they've completed residential treatment at our facility. We offer treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, trauma, chronic pain, and mood and anxiety disorders. It is so rewarding to see those who were once struggling become healthy, productive members of society. I am also a Barre3 instructor at a Barre3 studio near my home in East Cobb/Marietta. And, I love spending time with my family - husband, two boys and Golden Retriever, Duke.

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

Honestly, I think I came to this realization during the first five seconds post-womb. :-)

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I would definitely say I have a touch of ADD, so sitting still is difficult for me. Oftentimes when I experience a writer's block, I have to take a break - maybe walk the dog, do laundry or visit with a friend - to break the block.

5. Do you have an upcoming book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

I am writing a series about personal hygiene. My next book is currently in the works - it's about a little girl who refuses to wash her hands.

6. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Imagination and real life (experiences with my own children)

7. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

There are no chapters; it's a picture book. My favorite spread is when Sammy sits on the school bus next to a girl he thinks is neat, but his breath is so stinky that she quickly changes seats. Mina's illustrations really made my story come to life!

8. Who is an author that you look up to today?

I believe it will always be Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss). He helped pave the way for children's books writers like myself. And in some odd way, I find comfort in knowing that he was rejected 27 times before his first book was published.

9. What is your favorite genre of book to read?

Personally, I love reading biographies.

10. What is your favorite book?

Favorite Children's Book: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Favorite Adult Book: Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza

11. Who is an author that has inspired you or influenced you growing up?

Shel Silverstein - as a kid, I loved Where the Sidewalk Ends. His style of writing was my inspiration for Samuel Stanley Scotty Snight.

12. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Don't give up. When I used to hear this as a kid and even into my 20s, I would brush it off or maybe even roll my eyes if no one was looking. But really, just don't give up. I was 17 when I wrote my book, and I was 37 when it was accepted. Perseverance, patience and a lot of prayer. If you believe it will happen, it will happen.

Lawrence "Chip" Quammen

Meet Featured Indie Author Lawrence "Chip" Quammen!

Join us for a Meet the Author Event on Saturday, March 17 at 1:00pm.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My wife, Dr. Robecca Quammen, and I reside in Monroe, Georgia and Montverde, Florida. I started my medical career as the first PA in Walton County in 1974 when I joined Dr. Howard Barton in his practice in Social Circle, Georgia. After several years of practice in Walton County I took a position with Georgia Baptist Medical Center, Atlanta, as a medical provider with the Life Flight Helicopter program. I later became director of the program. Over the next several years I spent most of my time in emergency medicine and occupational medicine. After 23 years in practice I retired to join my wife in the medical information systems and management consultancy she founded and continued to serve in that capacity for another 18 years. We purchased a home in Monroe 2 years ago to be closer to our granddaughters.

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

I am a dedicated leisure reader and also enjoy music, art, and motorcycle riding. In addition, I serve weekly as a volunteer with The Good News Club, a faith-based after school program for elementary school children.  I also serve weekly as a volunteer for Team Up Mentoring, a faith-based organization that serves children, youth, and young adults ages 3 to 21 who have a history of adverse childhood events and trauma. I serve with Team Up as a mentor and recently accepted a position as chairman of their Board of Directors. I am a strong advocate of reading programs for all children.

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

As much as I love to read, I never considered writing a book until 4 years ago. I was working on an extended consulting engagement for a hospital system in East Texas and was having supper one summer evening in a local restaurant when a great idea occurred to me. My great idea was based on the tradition my father established early in my childhood of writing short stories during his time away at work for his children. My father’s job required that he travel weekly to locations in Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama. During those nights in motel rooms across the south he would jot down short stories about the antics of three mice who happened to be sisters. On arriving home each Friday evening he would have a new story to tell his children. My idea was to use the three sisters my father created as the principal characters in a book dedicated to my granddaughters in honor of my father. Since the original stories only lived for a short time on assorted scraps of paper and restaurant napkins, my task was to write all new adventures with lots of new characters. As the writing progressed, one book became a trilogy. 

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I’m not sure it is interesting or unique but I do all my writing long hand on a legal pad before transferring it to an online format.

5. Do you have an upcoming book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes, the book described above is named Evergreen and it is the first book of a trilogy named “The Adventures of Pouxie, Mouxie and Chrissie.”

6. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Pouxie, Mouxie and Chrissie, three sisters who are the principal characters, came from my father’s imagination. Otherwise, all the other characters, all of the adventures, the book title, and the related trilogy are entirely the product of my imagination.

7. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I will be reading from chapter 12, “Papa Takes a Walk,” during the Meet the Author Event.  I enjoyed writing this chapter because it was the first time since starting the book that I was able to use the sisters number one antagonist, “Sweetpea,” in a fast moving story line that involved the sisters, their parents and the amazing trio, the Crow Brothers: Archie, Festus, and Sam.

8. Who is an author that you look up to today?

For overall excellence as a writer and master of his craft: Stephen King.

9. What is your favorite genre of book to read?

My tastes vary widely. Of course there are the children’s classics. I also enjoy mystery, suspense, action stories, horror, and comedy.

10. What is your favorite book?

A very hard question to answer. If I have to pick just one I will pick The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway.  Simple but profound.

11. Is there any particular authors or books that influenced you growing up?

C.S. Lewis for the Chronicles of Narnia series, Lewis Carroll for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, J.R.R. Tolkien for The Hobbit, Rudyard Kipling for The Jungle Book, and E.B. White for Charlotte’s Web, to name a few. 

12. Who is an author that has inspired you?

Edgar Allan Poe, for an absolutely incredible imagination.

13. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Read, Read, Read; don’t limit your imagination, and don’t be afraid to step out of the box.

14. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?

Read, Read, Read; feed your imagination daily from a variety of sources, and don’t be afraid to step out of the box.

Alana Dorrell

Meet Featured Indie Author Alana Dorrell!

Join us for a Meet the Author Story Time on Saturday, February 24 at 1:00pm.

The author asks to bring a grandparent to this special story time!

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in Florida with my two sisters, Amy and Allison.  We lived with our mom and grandparents on their farm in the Redlands, FL while our mom went to school and worked after she and our father were divorced.  I was a tomboy growing up on the farm riding horses and playing outside most of the time with the neighborhood kids and my sisters.  I went to the University of Florida and earned my degree in Education.  In college I was chosen, along with nine other students, to teach at Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona, Spain.  I taught Kindergarten for a summer to children who were from all over the world.  After college I had the travel bug and decided to become a flight attendant, as my two aunts and mother had been when they were in their twenties.  I still work as a flight attendant today for the same great company that my grandfather and uncle worked for.

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

I fly during the week and I’ve recently been working on a goal setting curriculum for women entrepreneurs. I travel for fun a few times a year with my love, John and our families. We enjoy being at home cooking and entertaining with friends and family.  We have a ten-year-old rescue lab named Jackson who is the love of our lives.

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

In college.  The idea for my book was part of a class project and I remember working on it and wanting it to be perfect.  I felt so strongly about how I wanted people to feel after they read it, and I knew when I was finished that the message was great and the subtle humor was exactly what I wanted to come through. It was a pretty basic story and I have always wanted to turn it into what it finally is today. I still have the original book that I wrote, illustrated badly, and bound myself when I was twenty-one.

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

When I write, I try to write for both adults and children.  In Grandpa? I Wanted to Ask... I want children to laugh, and show them another way to “see” Grandpa. For adults, I hope that I can spark some of their own innocent, warm memories of being a child and inspire them to share their stories with their children.

5. Do you have an upcoming book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes, I hope to write several books in the series titled “Wondrous Days of the 3A’s”.  I’m currently working on the second book about Grandma.  Readers will get to know her and start to see more of Alana’s two sisters, Amy and Allie, and their friends.  The message of the series is paying attention to the people in our lives and the importance of investing time in relationships.  

6. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

The main characters in my book are real and the scenes are based on my childhood experiences and how I felt about my grandfather. We were lucky enough to grow up on a farm playing outside all of the time with our friends making up games, building forts, or just going for a long rides on our horses.

7. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I love the ending of my book when little Alana comes to a sweet realization about her Grandpa.  I wanted to tie everything together and stay true to the message of the story, which is paying attention.

8. Who is an author that you look up to today?

Harper Lee.  I think her style of writing is so heartfelt and honest from the perspective of Scout.  She brings in the truth of love and innocence with her details in descriptions.

9. What is your favorite genre of book to read?

Historic Fiction.  I love being pulled into characters’ lives while they navigate through the times they live in.  I like to know how they felt and how they were affected by the events that surrounded them.

10. What is your favorite book?

Right now, it’s To Kill a Mockingbird.  I’m currently reading Go Set a Watchman to find out what happens to Scout!

11. Is there any particular authors or books that influenced you growing up?

I read a lot of Marguerite Henry’s books about horses which was my entire life when I was a little girl.  Anything that was about them made me happy.  I used to go out with a book and just lie on my pony’s back and read for hours.

12. Who is an author that has inspired you?

Dr. Seuss.  I love the messages in his books that are both smart and humorous.

13. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Write about you.  What you know, who you love, and what fills you with happiness.  When I sit down to write and I create an atmosphere that is conducive to putting my mind in a calm and happy place.  I’ve finally learned to just write and not edit until I’m done.  If I can’t figure out how to get my message across I just stop.  I don’t force it and typically a day or two later it comes to me.  Sometimes I’ll be at work and the idea hits me out of the blue.  I write it down immediately so I can work on it later.

14. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?

There are many types of families.  Ours is ours.  And when we take the time to pay attention, interact, and invest our time with them we learn, as we get older, that nothing that happens in the world will make us feel better than them.