MONICA LASARRE

Inspired by a love for the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books, I started writing my first book in elementary school. It was a life story I wrote in diary format, but my life had barely just begun so I quickly ran out of material and abandoned the project. Besides excelling in writing as a student, I set aside my writing dreams for many decades. I found myself enjoying a career as a laboratory scientist in the field of blood transfusion medicine for many years instead.

 

In an unusual turn of events, I relocated from Denver, Colorado to the mountains and a little cabin beside a stream halfway up Pikes Peak (the mountain that provided the inspiration for “purple mountain majesties” in the song America the Beautiful). Stepping out of the laboratory world, I was amazed to feel my fingers start twitching to hold a pen again and I launched a career as a full-time ghostwriter. My children think it is very unique and not at all spooky that I am a “ghost”. As a ghost, I write books for other people and allow them to use my words to make their writing/publishing dreams a reality, a gift I enjoy giving over and over again.

 

A love of travel, history, culture and watching my children grow up combine to supply lovely inspiration for writing stories for children. Through writing, I have learned that sometimes amazing things come as part of a journey and that those amazing things are often just as valuable as the excellent goals you are working towards. Jasper Penzey, International Boy Detective, is my first published series of fiction books for middle readers and writing the story of his journey has been a beautiful journey of my own.

 

I live with my charming husband and two humorous children in Manitou Springs, Colorado, in a home filled with love, laughter and books, books, books. Two energetic dogs and a cranky cat keep me company while I write and my only regret in life is that I drink too much coffee (chocolate covered espresso beans qualify as coffee). I adore mountain air, sunshine, vegetables, falling asleep to the sound of the creek running beside my house and reading to my children.

 

But enough about me! I feel incredibly blessed to have the support of an awesome publisher, the talented and passionate Dr. Kitty Bickford of Chalfant Eckert Publishing, a team of excited and creative beta readers, and the support of many friends who are writers and appreciate the power of words. Without these individuals backing up my publishing goals, I'd be sitting by my beautiful creek twiddling my thumbs and still wishing I could be a published author. "Everything is awesome when you're part of a team!"