Well...the first thing I have to say about that question is this:  I'm unable to speak for every published children's author, so I can only talk about the things that interest me!

When I'm not writing, answering phones or emails, here's a list of the things that grab my attention because I consider myself to be a writer by day and a Muay Thai Martial Artist by night...LOL!  And now, on to that list (not in alphabetical or necessarily in order of importance because each one is important and has its own merits):
1) Practicing at the Muay Thai martial arts club where I'm involved in Muay Thai, Thai Boxing, Kickboxing, and weightlifting; all of these help me to keep my health and wellness up by making great strength and conditioning goals for all levels - from the physical, emotional, mental and of course, including the spiritual level;
2)  I love to watch funny or inspiring movies with my  Mom during any holiday;
3)  Writing gratitude lists every day - at least five to seven things that I am truly grateful for; an attitude of gratitude goes a very long way!;
4)  I really enjoy taking long walks or drives with my Dad.  Sometimes, we meet new people in community when we go to play darts or when I play 8-ball or 9-ball billiards; all are great interactive games;
5)  I continue my personal development training in various areas - which may involve taking frequent trips to my local library so that I can gather up books on any particular interest because I truly enjoy learning all kinds of things in life!;
6)  Getting artistically creative through relaxing with an art called diamond 3D paintings, which are very sparkly and beautiful, having all kinds of designs available;
7)  And I love playing Lakota Native Flute, the harmonica, and native hand-frame drum, especially while being at the Sacred Fire.  :) :)

This is only a small list of extracurricular activities aside from writing.  And every other children's author, I'm fairly certain, would have their own things to delightfully absorb their attention when not crafting some entertaining story.

Writing is such a beautiful, therapeutic art and its so creative as well as adventurous!
When a writer writes, he or she is what I call being 'in the zone'.  It's like the flood gates open and the adventure doesn't stop; it keeps going.  Writers who write daily love this discipline and will sometimes become a published book author.  That's what happened to me because I enjoy the pleasure, the art of writing, and having my readers enjoy what I write.
Story time is a real delight for me.  Why?? Well, everybody loves a great story, right?  So, grab your favourite book buddy to read to you. 
When you aren't able to watch television at all, do you read books?  That's right: I said 'books' (plural).  In my estimation, books were always a form of T.V. and education, and they still are.  When you read books, it makes you smarter.  You go on a magical vacation when you read and also an adventure is inside the book; it feels like riding in a hot air balloon that's going around the world.
My suggestion:  Don't make reading a chore.  Make it a wonderful, skillful mind-set to master for your enjoyment!!

Get ready for Book 2 in the Logan adventure series, called The Big Surprise.

I'm excited and looking forward to the design and layout proofs, expected to be received within the next couple weeks!  So, it's well underway and closer to the print and distribution process, including work that'll be done on a new teaser trailer.   

Book 2 is another of Logan's 'adventures' at Grandma and Grandpa's house on the farm, with more sentimental and educational values for children around the world - which is the prime reason I'm passing on what I have learned from my own grandparents in the past - because of my own love for children and their future.  They carry on what they've learned into the next generation! 

​So, Book 2 extends the 'magic' through an inter-generational heirloom that Logan has loved for many years.
 

Oh yes...writers' block!  I certainly have experienced it, but first - perhaps I should explain exactly what that is (to me).  Writers' block is a term that means a mental or thinking 'block' created by none other than fear that comes from a number of things:  it could be a mental type of decay caused by limiting beliefs or the fear associated with them.
At one time, I used to have a terrible time with this very tangible thing.  My thinking used to include stuff like:  I'm not that good or good enough to be a writer so what chances do I have?  Or, who would want to read what I write?  (Yes, I know...it was a harsh beating up on myself as a result of poor self-esteem at that time or taking everything personally due to repeatedly hearing from three individual teachers that I'd "never amount to anything!" So much for their 'thinking'.)

In the movie called Throw Mama from the Train, the actor Billy Crystal said, "A writer writes - always!"  That quote inspired me to ask my mother, "How does one become a writer?"   She smiled and replied, "They write, of course!"  
Always the questioning one, I asked her again:  "But HOW do I write, Mom?"
Patiently, she said: "Well, it all begins by picking up a clean piece of white, lined paper and your pen...and you begin to write whatever it is you want to say.  I have a very good idea for you that involves us taking a little trip to a nearby spiritual shop in another city.  I think you'll really like it - I know that it helped me a lot when I was having difficulty with the same thing".

A couple days later, we went for that drive and ended up in the shop my mother had mentioned.  There, she directed me to a beautiful book called The Artist's Way by author Julia Cameron.  Not only that book, but also a companion journal.  I never knew exactly what it was but if it had helped my Mom, I was pretty sure it would help me!  She said to me, "Lance - you'll enjoy this journaling process; it will get you to write every day with contracting yourself to do it - it's an amazing journey!"  

Pretty soon, my pen began flowing, my 'programmed' beliefs (from others) began to leave and, with supportive help, I engaged in empowering myself rather than judging harshly.  The end result?  I snapped out of the foggy mental state that my mind had been in, and the positive flood gates opened up.  So, it's too bad for those whose beliefs include what I am, or am not capable of - who asked for their input, anyway?  Not me - the now-published author of my first children's book, this website blog or prose/poetry, and in the manuscript evaluation stage of Book 2 with my publishing partner!  :) 

That's a great question!  Sure, I'd be happy to tell everyone.  The name 'Logan' is one I've always liked, ever since I heard it on an old '90's television show called "Bay Watch" where Logan was a lifeguard.  Being an avid swimmer back then myself, I related to the character profile and thought it was a neat-sounding name.  Plus, I thought at that time that if I ever had a son of my own, it would be a great name for him (provided my wife liked it, of course!)  Names are very important because they all have a definite meaning and a vibrational frequency of energy to them.

That name 'Logan' also has five letters in it, just like my own first name.  So, I adopted 'Logan' to replace my first name because of loving it that much.  And, that's pretty much the explanation!

It's much the same with other character names too.  For instance, with the exception of my actual paternal grandparents' names being Rosemary and Jack (in Book 1), 'Logan's' parental names are based on ones that I've had some personal experience with - in terms of either working with a person of that name and/or having some kind of friendly relationship with them.  

It was my dream to become a writer for children as well as a published author, first as a goal of mine to achieve in less than one year as a result of personal development training and then, secondly, because as a child, my Mom had purchased tickets to go see Robert Munsch at a local venue.  As many of you know, Robert is a very well-known and successful children's author himself.  He was having a storytelling show and after it, there was a book-signing.  This is where I first met Mr. Munsch, whose stories had entertained me and intrigued me with inspirational joy and the possibilities of becoming an author myself.

I had already asked my mother, "How do you become a writer?"  Her response was, "Just start writing!"

Many years later, I got to meet up with Mr. Munsch again, only this time in a local coffee shop.  The encounter was not planned; it was simply to grab a coffee and go.  However, seeing that the shop was crowded, Mr. Munsch invited me to sit down with him, and we began chatting.  He knew that I hadn't been aware of who he was, but after talking for a few minutes, I asked him, "What inspired you to become a children's author?"  He gave me a few pointers about "putting miles on your pencil because the creativity and writing doesn't stop when you're living your adventures!"

The discussion gave me the correct navigational tools to begin thinking about just where writing could lead me.  And so...here we are today, with my first children's book published and within the time frame of that one-year goal.  Ta-da!