Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Carrie Lowrance and I have lived in Illinois for 18 years. My parents owned a restaurant along a main highway so I didn’t have friends to regularly pal around with. Not like in a small town anyway. As a child I spent most of my time writing and listening to music. I also had a chance in junior high to write for a local newspaper. As I got older, I wanted to get into Journalism. I went to college for a Journalism degree but had to drop out due to a strong struggle in math. However, I did enjoy my classes and writing for the local newspaper at the time.
From there life took me down various paths. I eventually got my Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. It wasn’t until January 1, 2014 that I decided to take my writing seriously. I saw a segment on the CBS Morning show about how author Jasinda Wilder got her start on Smashwords. I decided that day that in a year I would publish my first book.
I made my goal in a year and three months. My first book, Lithium Dreams And Melancholy Sunrise was published in March. I followed it up with a second book of poetry, The Safety Of Objects, in May. My third book, a children’s book, called Don’t Eat Your Boogers (You’ll Turn Green) was published in November.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is Don’t Eat Your Boogers (You’ll Turn Green). Working in a daycare, I always here all kinds of things and get lots of ideas for books. About four years ago I was in the two year old room one day. My co-teacher and I looked over to see one of our kids picking their nose and eating it. Firmly, but gently, she told him “Don’t eat your boogers. That’s gross.” Immediately, you’ll turn green popped into my head. That night I sat down and wrote the first draft. Then I kind of let it sit for a very long time. It wasn’t until I submitted it for a grade in a freelance writing class that I got some very good feedback.
I polished it up a little and took it in to read to the kids. They absolutely loved it. From there, I started researching how to self-publish a children’s book. The lady that does my file formatting introduced me to an illustrator friend of hers and the rest was history. About three months later I published Don’t Eat Your Boogers (You’ll Turn Green).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a big fan of Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts. I aspire to reach their level of writing, ability to be prolific and income. As for poetry I like Edgar Alan Poe, Robert Frost, William Butler Yeats, etc. Some of my favorite children’s books are If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, Bah Koo, the Llama Llama series, The Pigeon series and The Tortoise And The Hare. I also enjoy books on business, work and finance to help me improve and be my best self. Authors that I enjoy in that category are Jon Acuff, Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller and Timothy Ferris.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently torn between my first suspense/thriller and my first love story. I have a few pages written for each , I’m just waiting to see where each will take me and which one I want to stick with. This doesn’t mean that the other is a bad idea. One genre may just flow better over the other at the moment.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying to figure that out. Marketing is a tough horse to mount for a new author-especially an indie. For me anyway. But I’m always on the lookout for different websites to submit to. I will say that publishing my e-books through Smashwords has been a plus.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors would be not to let fear paralyze you. If you want to write a book, do it. Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from pursuing your dream. We all worry about is my book good enough? Will people like it? What if it sells? What if it doesn’t sell? How do I promote it? I think that can drive you crazy to the point of distraction. As one of my favorite authors, Jon Acuff puts it, fear is schizophrenic. It will tell you to either do it all at once or not do anything.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Once again, one of my favorite quotes from Jon Acuff. Quit asking fear for permission to do that thing you know you are supposed to do with your life. I absolutely love it.
What are you reading now?
Long Time Coming by Edie Claire. She is a new author to me so I am excited to read her work.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My plans for next year are to write and publish my first novel. I also want to write and publish another children’s book.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
START by Jon Acuff
The Tortoise And The Hare by Aesop
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Author Websites and Profiles
Carrie Lowrance Website
Carrie Lowrance Amazon Profile
Carrie Lowrance Author Profile on Smashwords
Carrie Lowrance’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile