In Pursuit of Passion and Pizzazz! Wanting to be an author.

a guest post from author Shelley Larkin

In today’s guest post, Shelley Larkin offers what may be the best advice any writer can get. After you’ve read it, be sure to enter the Giveaway, too.

I often think about my Journalism teacher, Mrs. Milo, that taught Principals of Journalism in my senior year of high school. I loved the class; the other students and her ability to instill in us the desire to tell a story – to tell the story with passion – to tell the truth and to get our facts straight.

It was during that time that I was bitten with the possibility that perhaps someday I would say or write something that someone would want to hear.

I did not become a journalist; however, I did play the role of one once in a school play. I was terrified being on stage and that was the end of my career (as a journalist, ha ha), but I have always loved to write. Short stories, poems, letters to my family. Journal entries about my day and my observations of others and how their actions impacted me along the journey of life.

I never thought to share those things – they were my musings, and I was taught to keep them to myself.

Women were not encouraged to pursue being a writer, an artist, or a philosopher when I was growing up. Instead, we were encouraged to get married, have children, and focus on our family which back then left little to no time for anything else.

I continued to write and kept my secret passion to myself. I continued to tuck away my snippets. I continued to love on my family and from time to time, usually on a rainy day, I would pull out my works and humor my fantasies on the off chance that maybe someday I would become a published author.

Life goes on, priorities change but never should you tell yourself that you’re not good enough. Never tell yourself that you have nothing to say. You do and I want to listen just like I am grateful that people want to listen to me.

Larry the Lizard has always dreamed of snow. The only problem is, he lives in Australia. Find out what happens when a lizard gets a very silly idea… and it finally comes true. Join Larry and his friends as they skid, skate, slide and have an adventure in this wonderful ride.

**Buy the Book:**
Magic Everywhere ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Target
add to Goodreads

Meet the Authors

Michael John Sullivan is the co-creator of The Lizard Who Loves a Blizzard, Nick Knitley and The SockKids. He is also co-developing three other animation series, including the Dr. Neverme and Dinomike projects. Sullivan has written several children’s books, including a Digimon series book with HarperCollins Publishing. In addition, Michael has written five novels, receiving awards and best-selling status.His first book, Necessary Heartbreak, was published by Simon & Schuster and was named by the prestigious Library Journal as one of the best books in 2010. Sullivan previously advocated for the homeless, drawing off of his own experience of riding the New York City trains at night for one winter. He has written articles about the plight for CNN.com, The Washington Post website, The Huffington Post, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Patch.com. Before he took up living among his animated characters, Michael worked for ESPN, Rival.com, Scout.com, and the Sporting News, covering high school and college basketball. He is a former board member of the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless.

Shelley Larkin is the co-creator of The Lizard Who Loves a Blizzard, Nick Knitley and The SockKids, and is co-developing other animation series with Michael, including the Dr. Neverme and Dinomike projects. Shelley is involved in all aspects of the animation ventures, including marketing and promotions, and merchandising of books, videos and other products.One of Shelley’s passions is the Destination Imagination (DI) worldwide learning program for kids K-12, where she served as Director in the greater Sacramento area. Focused on creative problem-solving techniques, hundreds of thousands of children are served by the program each year, supported by thousands of volunteers. Shelley was presented with the DI Spirit of Discovery Award in recognition of her outstanding commitment and devotion to the global program. Michael and Shelley’s initial collaboration was co-authoring a children’s short story, “The Sock Kids Stand Up Against Bullying”, a nationally distributed book developed in concert with Destination Imagination. This story creates awareness of an important life lesson for children, and shows how The SockKids can deliver these messages through animation and books.

connect with the authors: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodread

~You can share this post on social media or receive updates on new posts by clicking one of the buttons below~