Why did you want to become a published children's author?

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!