Could You Tell Us About Yourself ?
I grew up in a small town in the rural Willamette Valley of Oregon. The kind with no stoplights. I’ve lived in 6 states since, but there’s still no place like Oregon. In college I studied art, because I love beauty, but I ended up earning my BS in Psychology and later a JD in Tax Law. Later, I trained as a life coach and studied design.
What made you write your book (s) ?
After being blindsided by the realities of becoming a Mom with a 9-5 job, I began researching and writing solutions.
The intention behind this book is to help young women lead their best lives by discussing the things that most of us are not taught in life, but should be, before marrying and having children.
Our job as mothers is to optimize all aspects of the environment in which our children live and grow. Beyond providing for their basic physical needs, this includes shielding them from all forms of toxins, as well as supporting their emotional, mental, creative and spiritual being.
To do this, we need to be present for our children. I don’t know any Mom who wants to be away from her baby 10 hours a day, and leave them in the care of a stranger, whose only interest in her child is her money. So start now, and you won’t ever have to.
One of the catalysts for this book was something that happened one morning before leaving for another long work day. The nanny came in and my 1 year old daughter lit up, stretched out her arms to her and said, “Mama!” The stabbing sensation in my chest was what it feels like to hire a stranger to come into my home to take care of my child, and find out that she was no longer the stranger, I was. If I could bottle that heartbreaking feeling and share it with all future mothers, the world would change overnight.
What if moms got together and raised our children to create the world we wish for them, instead of molding them to perpetuate the world we’ve got?
If we teach our children to use love instead of fear as a compass throughout their lives, it will be the quietest, most powerful revolution in human history. When we grow the health, heart and minds of our children, we show reverence for the future of the Earth and humanity.
“Fear is faith in evil instead of good.” Florence Scovel Shinn
My purpose is to turn hindsight into foresight for other women. We don’t have to choose between paying the bills and raising our children.
What is the first book you remember reading ?
The first book I read myself was that Dick and Jane book. My Grandma taught me to read when I was two, and she had all those old classics because she had been a teacher.
What’s your favourite book ?
Ooooh, such an unfair question. There are so many I love for very different reasons. For a number of years I read everything by Jane Austen. More recently I began reading Roald Dahl’s stories like Going Solo and Henry Sugar.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
For me it’s structural organization. I am very organized in my actual writing, notes, and process, however my writing style can best be described as…a waterfall. So I end up with tons of material and then I have to put in in some sort of logical order. It’s also difficult when I have to hire others, such as I did when creating the digital version. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I did the print book layout myself. The digital, I know, can never look quite as good because of its limitations and lack of control.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I only need to be interested in what I’m writing about, then it flows out like I’m Harriette the Spy with a notebook.
What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?
I’m a big fan of tea, coffee and peppermint gum.
What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I did a lot of research into psychology and childhood studies, as well as financial statistics. I did it simultaneously while writing the book, because it seemed more efficient to look into things as they came up, so the focus was narrow enough to fit well with my writing.
What part of the book was the most fun to write?
The kid quotes were really fun. I had about 130 pages of material to draw from, and I liked going through them all and remembering the years of hilarious comments. I included them because not only will they make readers laugh, but they give future moms a peek into the mind of a small child.
How did you come up with the title for your book (s) ?
It was tough. There is so much I talk about in the book, it’s a huge subject. I came up with dozens of names but didn’t like any of them. In the end, it was named through a synchronicity I experienced while making the leap from idea to writing. I had been telling myself for months to start writing, but life was keeping me very busy at the time. One day I discovered Gerber Daisies at a nursery and instantly loved how bright and sunny they were with those electric colors. When I went home I picked up the book I’d been reading, and the very first sentence talked about Gerber Daisies. A few days later, I drove by a new business at the edge of town and it had a huge sign that read, “Gerber Automotive”. I looked up the meaning of Gerber Daisies and found that throughout history they had represented the joy and love of childhood. I took it as a sign that I should start writing, and I did.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
I would love for young women who are in college or just starting out to read my book, because they are the ones who will get the most good out of it, and experience the best results. A lot of what got me writing in the first place was my astonishment at all things that nobody ever told me when I was young, that I had to find out the hard way. This is the book I wish I could have read when I was 21.
However, I didn’t want to leave out current moms, since I was one when I began the journal that led to the book. There are definitely things that will help moms who feel stuck. I know, because I did them and they helped me be a better and more financially secure mom. As the old proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
How long did it take for you to write a book ?
I began journaling when my daughter was born, so I had a lot of material when I finally wrote the book. It took me a year to write, organize, edit, layout and publish.
What do you hope your readers take away from your book (s) ?
I hope they will use it to create their best and happiest lives by reconnecting to who they really are. I hope they will reach financial independence at a young age to the extent that when they start a family, they can experience the joy of raising their own children. With the love, attention and care given to those kids, they will go through life perpetually connected to their authentic selves. Imagine the world they will one day create.
How did you feel when you first published your book (s) ? Scared ? Excited ? Nervous ?
Yes, all of the above! I was excited to finish and publish something so important to me that I spent years creating, but also nervous to put myself out there.
Where can people who are interested in your book, buy your book ?
Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Kobo, Scribd. I have links on my website
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?
I’m in the process of putting together some material for future-mom 1:1 coaching
After writing your book (s) what is your advice to people who want to become writers?
Just do one step at a time. I jumped in without knowing everything that was in store for me in the publishing process, and learned as I went. Looking back, that was the best way, because it prevents overwhelm, and analysis paralysis.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
My book only came out this month, so honestly I don’t have many reviews yet! I had a couple good editorial reviews, and I think one nice reader review. I know that every single book out there has gotten bad reviews, even best sellers, so I expect the same. I’m hoping readers will find it helpful, inspiring, positive and motivating.
Maisie Young Media Links
The Book Corner Chronicles 