Featured Interview With Lira Brannon
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was an Air Force brat. I lived on the West Coast, Germany, Turkey, France, then Nebraska, and now Texas. Of all the places, I like Texas best–it’s warm. Even when it’s cold, when compared to Nebraska, it’s warm.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was fascinated with books from the moment I could read. I wasn’t a particularly early reader, but once I started I never stopped. I started writing at a very young age. My great-grandmother talk me to type on her old mechanical typewriter when I was nine. After that words just seemed to flow from brain to fingers without thought. I took a brief time off to go to school and show Morgan horses, now I’m back at it.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t have a favorite author. Most times I find an author I like, read EVERYTHING they wrote, then move on. I read all genres. I love everything from a great picture book (like Candace Fleming’s Oh No!) to Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Series.
People inspire me to write. They are so interesting. No one person reacts the same way to a situation. Athletes of all types are fascinating to me, but especially those who have overcome physical limitations to excel.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
A Different Kind of Cheerleader is one of those inspirations from the above question. The grit and determination of para-athletes is amazing so I wrote this inspirational young adult novel with them in mind.
Tansy is 13 years old, angry at life and God for sticking her in a wheelchair for the rest of her life when all she wanted was to cheer. The book follows her struggle to find the strength to realize her dreams.
The book literally flew out of my head. I think it took a month to write. The edits on the other hand, those took a while. Just when I thought everything was perfect, the editor would come back with more. Fortunately I had the pleasure of working with several great editors. My publisher, Evelyn Byrne with White Bird Publications, strove for excellence and was very meticulous about everything so the book turned out better than I could have dreamed.
A Different Kind of Cheerleader is the first in a series featuring teenaged para-athletes.
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