An Interview with Laura Petrisin

I’m a retired teacher living in the mountains of North Carolina where I write and illustrate children’s books. I’m a member of SCBWI and Storyteller Academy. My debut picture book Get Real, Lucille, published by Monarch Press will be coming out July 1, 2025. I’ve illustrated numerous picture books by other authors such as Pearl Girl by Stephen Rabley, published by Penguin, There’s A Dog On My Head by Patricia Pollock and The Songbird and the Flower by Chip Brogden

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

I don’t know if any particular person or thing made me want to write. I think the urge to write is intrinsic. There were people who helped me along the way though. Arree Chung, children’s book writer and founder of Storyteller Academy, taught me the structure of writing. Marcie Colleen, author of the Super Happy Party Bear series, encouraged me to use my voice through dialogue and to have fun. Writing is continually learning and honing my craft.

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

I’ve been a teacher for many years. I taught elementary school grades and later taught as a GED instructor at a drug rehab center. One thing people may not know about me is that I’ve written and recorded songs. I often move between the different arts of painting, writing and music.

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

The title of my book was not hard to find. It’s a story about an acorn and a button who find friendship and adventure

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

It felt like the consummation of a lot of hard work writing and illustrating. The characters of Acorn and Button had long been in my mind and heart. They finally came to life, ready to launch into the world and meet readers.

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

The soundtracks would be songs about friendship :

“You’ve Got A Friend In Me” – Randy Newman

“Count On Me” – Bruno Mars

“One Friend” – Dan Seals

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

One thing I hope that readers take away is the power of faith and hope. I hope readers will see the bigger picture to life and that there are some things worth fighting for. Friendship being one of them. My perfect reader is someone who can identify with Acorn’s humility and appreciation for simple things and with Button’s courage and loyalty in defending friends.

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

The most rewarding part of publishing my book was seeing the final product. The quality of the illustrations and page layout are good. That’s a satisfying feeling.

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

I just finished a picture book, Get Real, Lucille. It’s published by Monarch Press and will be coming out July 1, 2025. I’m currently working on another picture book, Will and Buzz. It’s about two brothers who are opposites and how they manage conflicts in order to get along. I’m also working on a middle-grade mystery, Sarah and the Black Cat.

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