Who are you?
I’m Monica McGurk – a mom of three kids, wife of 25 years, and serial dog mom. I have worked outside the home the majority of my adult life as a passionate advocate for the innovation and security of our global food system. My superpower is developing and mentoring others. Writing is my other passion and “side gig!”
What do you write?
I used to write a lot of business / professional pieces. Now I channel my energies into fiction, primarily in the Young Adult genre, though most of my readership skews adult. My work includes a Paranormal Romance 3-book series under the title The Archangel Prophecies (think Dan Brown x Twilight with angels instead of vampires) and The Norwood Nanny Chronicles (think Mary Poppins x James Bond x Harry Potter). The second book in this series, The Handler, is forthcoming on March 26th.
Where do you write?
Everywhere! I have an office under the eaves in my Chicagoland home, but I travel a lot. So you might find me writing on a sunny porch or kitchen table anywhere in the world, as well as on planes.
When do you write?
As a CEO, I have a pretty big job so I have come to terms with being flexible in my personal writing time. I tend to do big chunks in the very early morning hours over weekends and while on vacations. My kids are still young adults/teens, so they tend to sleep in quite late, leaving me -- an early riser – some quiet morning time to myself.
Why do you write?
Over a decade ago, I experienced what I lovingly call my “mini-midlife crisis.” I had an extreme case of burnout and realized while I was all in as a mom, wife and partner at the Firm at which I worked, I had squeezed all the other joy out of my life. I was not “refilling my own tank,” if you will. I picked up writing to tap a new creative outlet and re-energize myself. It was something I could do no matter where I was in the world, which made it a very practical decision at the time.
That decision has paid off – writing gives me a boost that makes me better at all aspects of my life and it gives me a lot of pleasure to explore new ideas, connect the storytelling dots, and express myself in a completely different way. I have met a ton of interesting people doing book research – people like casino executives, experts in espsionage, and of course other writers! I have visited some amazing places I might not have otherwise experienced. And I have discovered other causes about which I am now passionate – such as the fight against the trafficking of children.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I overcome writer’s block in two ways.
- “Go see” expeditions. I find there is nothing better than going out into the world, notebook and phone in hand, to capture inspiration. The little scribbles and pictures can become jumping off points.
- Just doing it. Sometimes it is a matter of inertia and making myself sit down and write is the right thing to do. It may all end up on the proverbial cutting room floor but for me, momentum helps a lot. Even it if is writing something completely unrelated to the work at hand, it can get me in the groove. I usually have multiple projects in various stages of work so can jump from project to project if it helps me get traction.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I love to travel with my family and friends. I appreciate exploring restaurants and different culinary traditions, as well as cooking at home. I spark to mentoring and connecting others to help them advance their own development and find their passions. And I dig sinking my teeth into really gnarly social and business problems!
My thanks to Monica McGurk for today's interview.