Laura Ann Larson
"I am an elementary school counselor and children's book author. My job as a school counselor inspired me to created books for children that focused on mindfulness and calming tools while also weaving in inspiration from nature and the outdoors. I have two children of my own, a therapy dog, and love to explore and travel with my husband."
Tell us about the featured book. What is it about, and why did you choose to write it?
This book is meant to be a guide to help children and readers practice the mindfulness tool of guided imagery. It takes readers through various experiences and settings that they could imagine in their brain to bring a sense of calm and peace when the world seems to be buzzing too much in their mind. I wrote this book during Covid when I noticed a lot of anxiety increasing in my role as an elementary school counselor. It was also during a time of a lot of civil unrest in the community and brought a lot of worries to kids’ minds that they would bring to me. A tool that I found myself using with children a lot was helping them find their happy place that they could escape to in their mind. When the world seemed like too much and it felt too scary that they could shut their eyes and use their senses to travel to a happy memory or a place in their imagination that gave them peace and calm.
Tell us a little about your writing process. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
For this book in particular, I felt like the process and content came so naturally for me as it truly was what I would guide kids through on a weekly basis as I help them to regulate their big and confusing thoughts and emotions. That experience gave me the confidence to put it into a book form to be used as a tool for children and adults all over. I think the most difficult part for me during this process was trying to convey a developmentally friendly and appropriate way of letting kids know that it’s OK and normal that they worry about things like Covid, racism, divorce, bullying, etc. My illustrator and I worked to create an image that perfectly demonstrated how many of these worries and others can bounce around in all of our brains.
Are there any writers or authors who have influenced your writing? If not, who are some of your favorite writers?
Some of my favorite writers are Brené Brown, Yung Pueblo, Susan Verde, Shel Silverstein and Beatrix Potter.
Has a library or librarian impacted your life or your writing life?
None in particular, but I have fond memories of going to various libraries with my little book bag when I was younger and getting lost in the picture books and loading up my bag with ones to take home that I would stick my nose in for hours.
Currently, working in a school, I see how hard our librarian/media specialist works to bring new, fun and creative titles to students and help them develop a passion for reading. It’s pretty fun to watch her do her magic!
When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy being outside in nature, hiking with friends or by myself, hanging out with my family and two dogs, reading, and learning Spanish.
Favorite place to visit in Minnesota?
We love hiking around all of Minnesota’s beautiful state parks!
Where can readers find you online?
Facebook: @Laura-Larson-Author