I’ve been thinking recently that I’m not very good at writing a story about something unconnected to my life. Some writers are wonderful at writing fantasy stories about other worlds and characters they create. Each of my stories have a connection to my childhood, my family, or my friends. They are never written in an autobiographical way – just always anchored to something I’ve experienced. My first story, Clara Finds Her Roots, blends my personal search for my Irish roots with my Granddaughter Clara’s curiosity about her Irish middle name. My second story, Cross My Heart, tells the story of a quilted bear given to a young girl who gives it to her friend and then regrets her decision. I actually received a beautiful rag doll made by my Grandma Daisy and gave it to my best friend in elementary school. My third story, Chasing Tornadoes, is based on my experiences growing up with a dad who envisioned himself a storm chaser. The idea for my fourth story, Mr. and Mrs. Cranky Pants, a story about cranky neighbors and their cranky cat, came from a couple of experiences with neighbors as a child. My fifth story, The Little Tree, about a little girl dealing with the realities of having two homes after her parents divorce, is loosely based on the experiences of my husband and his daughter.
Some day I hope to become a published author and have the experience of sharing my stories with students and teachers. Maybe I’ll have the opportunity to share the “roots” of my stories and inspire children to write the stories of their lives!
Lou and David Sears 