Who are you?
My name is Meredith Seacrest Leach. I am the Executive Director of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring pediatric patients through entertainment and education. I am based in Nashville, TN, where I live with my husband, Jimmy, and daughter, Flora.
What do you write?
I discovered my love for creative writing back in grade school. I always enjoyed imagining stories and putting pen to paper. It’s surreal to become a first-time author alongside my best friend and brother, Ryan. We wanted the theme of our book to be both inspirational and aspirational – I hope it’s the kind of story that kids and parents alike will reach for before bedtime again and again.
Where do you write?
I enjoy a calm, quiet environment with my laptop and an old-school thesaurus. A cup of coffee, a lit candle, and some soft music in the background is also a great way to set the writing mood! Comfort is key.
When do you write?
My brother and I had a sense for page count and word limit, but we started by just writing and writing! From there we worked with our team to pare down length and refine flow. We welcomed deadlines – it’s easy to get lost in the process, so having a time frame and goal posts helped keep the momentum going. It’s important to stay on schedule for many reasons, but knowing the text had to be more or less set in order for our illustrator Bonnie to dive in was encouraging, too.
Why do you write?
My brother and I care a lot about children and about creating a safe, loving, and supportive environment that encourages positivity and breeds hope. For this picture book, we were inspired by our own childhood, which was spent playing a lot of pretend. There is a magic and a power in believing in your dreams.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I like to step away from writing, take a walk to clear my head, and then try again.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I adore spending time with my 5-year-old daughter who is the ultimate make-believer! Flora has the wildest imagination and she helped inspire many themes in the book.
My thanks to Meredith Seacrest Leach for today's interview.