An Interview with P.S. Glyckherr

I am an old mother and now grandmother who has been writing down my “simple thoughts” about anything and everything for most of my life. From high school English class through college, I started having this wild idea that I could actually be relevant at some point in my life if I kept writing. But, I’ve found it to be a great way to unwind, pay tribute, or just record history. File cabinets full of “thoughts” might be shared one day.

Forty-some years ago now, I started submitting a few of these thoughts to various publishers and actually received a few positive responses. Sometimes I published under pseudonyms because I really didn’t think anyone would read what I had to say. When I received my first check, I thought, “Wow, this is pretty cool!” and for a minute, I considered framing that check instead of cashing it. Anthologies, magazines, and newsletters…then greeting cards and one tiny poetry book came to life. Then I jumped into writing song lyrics and collaborated with a seasoned professional who once wrote for Patsy Cline. That was so much fun that I started writing more song lyrics and even won an award from a Nashville song contest.

Early on, my professional career took me into the nonprofit world, and a part of my responsibilities always included the “art of writing” – program materials, contractual agreements, and a lot of “ghostwriting”! Only recently did I decide to publish personally in my own name again, and now I’m working on two additional books. I guess it’s always been about the fun for me and especially hoping to make a difference to someone out there. I’m sure I’ll be writing down my thoughts until I can’t hold a pen or use a computer any longer.

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

The book title happened to be the title of my first and last poems, and it actually made sense to me because it’s how I feel about my own life. I believe, and Jesus knows.

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

My book cover was just precious to me as it signified life’s journey…launching that boat and hoping to go in the best direction God intended for me. The white butterfly is about my late grandson’s influence on my life, and he is still always with me.

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

My high school English teachers really had an influence on me. They saw something in my writing assignments that I didn’t realize myself. I once wrote a short story about my dog Beauregard for a creative writing assignment, and the teacher asked me to read it to the class because she said it made her laugh. Though it was a little embarrassing for me to stand up and read to the entire class, I don’t think the teacher laughed much – so it was quite an accomplishment for sure.

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

I worked as a nonprofit professional for a well-known orchestra and also for a renowned education organization and loved being a part of two wonderful organizations that brought so much joy and success to people, both here and around the world.

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

Being an active lover of music since the age of five, my book would need a soundtrack to include a wide variety of sounds…definitely some Christmas classics as well as the best-of-the-70s-era artists and bands that I still listen to today. I still adore “Tapestry Revisited – a Tribute to Carole King”…and if you haven’t heard it, it is well worth the listen!

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

I think God has a purpose for each one of us. Everything we do and each experience we have teaches us something that we can hopefully use to help us achieve that purpose. We don’t always make the right choices, but somehow God’s grace can help turn us around to move in the right direction again.

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

I’m currently working on a children’s book based on my late grandson’s lake adventures and another poetry book that hopefully will inspire some readers.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

I so much enjoyed working with the kind people at Atmosphere. Good “partners” are often hard to find, and the Atmosphere group was certainly uplifting and supportive throughout the process. I would recommend this publisher!

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