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Laura Stegman - Children's Author and Volunteer

  • Writer: litkidsmagazine
    litkidsmagazine
  • 4 days ago
  • 4 min read

Laura Segal Stegman is the author of Summer of L.U.C.K., Ready or Not, and The Chambered Nautilus, a middle-grade trilogy from Young Dragons Press, all with Readers' Favorite Five Star reviews. She has been a presenter/panelist at literary events including NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), Orange County Children’s Book Festival, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) SoCal Harvest Day, San Diego Writers Festival, and LitFest in the Dena. She also does school visits and such events as the STEM Teacher Summit and serves as a judge for writing competitions sponsored by Society of Young Inklings, among others. As a long-time publicity consultant, she created PR Tips for Authors, which has been presented by The Writing Barn, SCBWI, and elsewhere. Non-fiction writing credits include work in Los Angeles Times and School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox, among others. www.LauraStegman.com


1. Are there venues or resources that allow kids to publish work, like chapter books, art, poems, etc.?

I’m a proud volunteer for Young Inklings, an amazing non-profit which describes itself as equipping, “the next generation of storytellers with the community and creative tools they need to thrive.” Young Inklings’ services are varied and include an every-other-year writing competition of short stories and poems for 3rd to 12th graders. Every writer who enters receives feedback, a win-win all around! Winning pieces are published in an anthology. Details HERE: www.younginklings.org/inklingsbookcontest/


2. Why did you begin writing? Was it because of a person or something else?

I was a big reader as a kid with a great love for middle grade fiction, which is why I write in that genre. Books about self-acceptance, perseverance, dealing with life’s unfairness, and the power of friendship, which are the themes in my books, were those that inspired me as a kid. I hope that kids reading Summer of L.U.C.K., Ready or Not, and The Chambered Nautilus will learn, as I did from what I read back then, that whatever troubles they're experiencing, other kids have those troubles too, that they're not alone, and that help is possible. 


Here is more about the trilogy: Summer of L.U.C.K. introduces Darby, Naz & Justin, 3 struggling kids who find their way to self-acceptance with the help of Leroy Usher, a ghost who haunts a magical carnival. Ready or Not spins more adventures with the friends and Mr. Usher, but it spotlights Justin, who faces a tricky choice: stand up to bigotry or let fear hold him back. In The Chambered Nautilus, the friends draw apart. But when the popular new Chambered Nautilus ride breaks, shutting the carnival down, Mr. Usher issues a desperate plea: they must reunite. He's always been there for them. Can they do the same for him?


3. What do you like to do to inspire yourself when you have a block?

I work on a digital jigsaw puzzle (also a great tool for procrastinating!). Or wait for a day or two, then return to writing. Or, I keep a notebook or computer file of thoughts and ideas, which is what I have done when I’m starting a new book and can’t quite get a sense of the characters. Sometimes I brainstorm with a writer friend or critique partner. Plus, I read – middle-grade and adult fiction – all the time. I never know which helps, so I try them all.


4. What or who was your biggest inspiration to enter your field?

What inspired me to write Summer of L.U.C.K. was The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton, one of my all-time favorite middle grade books. Like L.U.C.K., it's sprinkled with magical elements, and one of its main characters is an 11-year-old girl searching for self-acceptance. So when I thought about trying to write a novel, I knew right away it would be a middle grade story, one that I hoped would mean as much to kids today as The Diamond in the Window still means to me.


5. Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?

I like to listen to classical music when I write, especially works by Beethoven, Mozart, and anything from the Baroque period. 


6. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

The best piece of writing advice I've ever seen came from an author on social media who said, "There is no age limit to my dreams. Write on." In other words, keep going. Keep at it. Those words continue to inspire me every day.


7. Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?

I prefer both printed books and e-books (especially when I travel). Audiobooks don’t work for me because my mind wanders and I lose track of what’s going on in the story. Still, I think it’s great that there are so many book formats – something for everyone’s preference!


8. If you had to describe yourself in just three words, what would those be?

Determined, friendly, inquisitive


9. Do you write on the computer or freehand?

When I first started Summer of L.U.C.K., which was to become my debut novel and the first book in my middle-grade trilogy, I liked writing on a legal-size notepad. Because it was my first work of fiction, using a pen kept me very close to the story. When I had more experience as a novelist, I switched to writing on the computer. It’s so much easier to make corrections that way!


Laura, thank you for sharing your story with our aspiring writers and book lovers. Please follow Laura on social media and check out her inspiring middle grade novel, Summer of L.U.C.K., in our Bookshop! Keep shining!





 
 
 

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