Martina M Lanier
It’s Always Personal
Tell your readers a little about
yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc.
Let them get to know the personal you.
My name is Martina. I grew up
in Cleveland, Ohio. I am currently residing in Mentor, Ohio. I have three
daughters, and I am done. I also own an online boutique called Reigny Days
Fashion, and I homeschool my daughters. I grew up with four siblings, all of
whom are now a business partner and owner of her own jewelry company called
Randa Panda Co. An artist who has her paintings in hospitals and art galleries
all over her name is Erykah Townsend (www.milkcrate.studio) and a brother who
is a great photographer and a sister who is a paraprofessional. So we all just
had different personalities growing up that tied into who we are today.
What inspired you to author
your book?
Therapy. I have always loved
to write; however, I never knew what exactly I wanted to write. When I started
therapy, I learned how my trauma never had to define me, so I started writing
these children’s books to talk to children and tell them the things I wish
someone told me.
Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?
My three daughters. The
characters for this series are actually built from them; names and all.
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Who has been the most significant influence on you personally and as a writer?
My daughters. Being a parent
is not easy, and sometimes I struggle with understanding myself and them. But
they have taught me so much, and vice versa. As a writer, it has to be Peggy
Parish and Herman Parish; I loved the Amelia Bedelia series, and besides Dr.
Suess, these are the books I always remembered from my childhood.
What were your struggles or
obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?
The biggest struggles were
just putting my words correctly to get my point across, especially for the age
group. I used at least four editors per book; then I had beta readers as well.
Tell your readers about your
book.
It’s Always Personal, is a
lighthearted book about every parents/caregivers worse nightmare - child sexual
abuse. This book was created as a way for parents to educate their children in
a way that our children understand. Every nine minutes, a child is sexually
abused; my book talks to our children, it teaches them how to find their voice,
it tells them that no matter what, someone will listen. I provide interactive
and educational ways. I tell them about how nobody should touch their body, and
then I show them all the places on their body where someone needs permission
which ends up being EVERYWHERE. But they get to see that. I teach them about
bad secrets, what emergencies are, I give them phone numbers, and best of all,
I talk about the parent/caregiver and child creating a code word in case
something does happen. Who is your target audience, and why? My target audience
is juvenile children. The reason being is because we need to reach them as soon
as they are able to understand, although it’s never too late to have the talk, it’s also never too early.
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What do you consider your greatest success?
I have two stepchildren who have produced some really cool kids, but I can't take a lot of credit for that. It's mostly good luck on my part. And now my wife, Lynn, and I have 8 grandchildren who are the delights of our lives. Oh, and there's also Waylon, our French bulldog. Lynn takes care of me and keeps me straight, and she also puts up with my writing, which is no mean feat in itself. And she loves me.
If you were going to give one
reason for anyone looking at your book to read, why should they buy it?
You should buy this to save
one child every nine minutes. What do you consider your greatest success in
life? My greatest success THUS far would be my resilience, and statistics say I’ll
never be what I am on my way to being. I’m just getting started.
What one unique thing sets you
apart from other writers in your genre?
Great question. All of the
writers bring something special to the table. I’m sure we are all using our
life stories or things we have seen for inspiration. I have a lot to talk
about, so I have a lot to come. I think the one thing that will set me apart is
my determination to never stop trying.
How do you overcome writer’s
block?
I take a break. I allow myself
to feel the block, and then I decide that I’m tired of the feeling, and then I
reread what I’ve written and give myself a daily writing goal.
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What one piece of advice do
you have for new authors.
Be true to yourself and your
voice. You bring something special to the table; let no one take your voice off
the table.
Tell your readers anything
else you want to share.
I have a lot in store. This “Hey
Buuuuddddyyy” series is all about our children and the emotions they go through
and helps them to work through them. It can even be helpful for adults. I truly
hope you enjoy this book and others by me. Just search Martina M Lanier via
amazon or google. You can also reach me at Writerskornered@gmail.com.
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