An Interview with Constance Douglas, author of Choose Your Road to Happiness

Constance was born in San Pedro California and is a dual citizen of both the USA and Canada. She spent half her life living in California and Arizona, and the other half in Alberta, Canada.

Constance has worked, studied, and earned certifications and recognition as author of three books, and is also an artist, muralist with an AA in Environmental Design, illustrator, Intuitive Counselor and certified MBSR Mindfulness Teacher, a published poet, and an avid participant in poetry readings. Her current passion is in being a puppeteer performer for children.

Constance remains a Continuing Education Student at the University of Lethbridge. Her interests include performing arts, philosophy, psychology, creative writing, voice, language arts, and indigenous studies. She believes in learning, growing, and expanding her knowledge and awareness from the lessons and experiences life offers, and the shared wisdom of others.

She is a member of the Association for Library Service to Children ALSC, the Canadian Children’s Book Center CCBC, and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, SCBWI.

You can buy Choose Your Road to Happiness here.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

It moved through me like a freight train. I could not ignore the words that woke me in the night.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have worked 20 years as a muralist in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona. I have worked as an Activity Director for Wyndham Resorts, a puppeteer performer for children, and a writer and reader of live poetry readings.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Choose Your Road to Happiness with Shnoogy and Kruddy is exactly that—a glimpse into the self-awareness that we all have the ability to navigate challenges in life by which actions and responses we CHOOSE to follow and do.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Shnoogtastic!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Shnoogy Rap!

Kindness Rocks!

Happy or Sad You’re Free to Choose

Be Your Extraordinary

Things Do Get Tough, But They Never Last!

The Greatest Light We Cannot See Lives Inside of You and Me!

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope my reader leaves my book feeling like they are not alone.

As one reader put it: “It is great to see a book that helps us to understand that we are not what happens to us, but how we respond. It demonstrates how we can identify where our thoughts and feeling come from and how to navigate them. It is empowering! I wish I had this book growing up!”

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

The immediate feedback I received from children and adults alike.

People from 5-95 have shared with me that they finally feel heard, that someone understands what they themselves couldn’t put into words or acknowledge.

“It is empowering to gather the insight that what we feel does not have the last word, and does not control us, we have a choice!”

To understand we are not alone in our fears, conflicts, joys, and conquests…

Shnoogy and Kruddy are a human factor that connects everyone to us…

Once we know this, life just gets better!

Feelings happen! What we choose to do with them is up to us!

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I am studying children’s performance in university and sharing this message above with children in the schools, hospitals or anywhere there are little ears open to listen.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.