Author Brianne Gibson Interview

booktalkwithbookis
Aug 12
4 min read

What three words are used to describe your writing?

Imaginative, engaging, lighthearted (this was the hardest question--I think this is what I hope describes my writing!)

Can you tell us about your writing background and experience?

I’ve always loved writing! As a kid, I liked to come up with stories and write little tales. Even though writing was my passion, I took a bit of a detour in college. I studied Geography, German, and GIS…basically anything but writing!

Despite that, I still felt like writing was in my blood. In my first job after college, my boss picked up on that and had me work closely with the office’s technical writer. From there, my responsibilities included a LOT of technical writing and editing.

After a while, I needed a change. I left that job, moved to Florida, and started freelancing writing. I worked with all kinds of clients across different industries, and often from my laptop on the beach! The whole experience of freelancing helped me improve my writing and expand my skillset.

Over the years, I’ve started personal writing projects here and there, but this year I finally followed through. I published a silly picture book called "If Toots Could Talk," and I finished the first draft of a middle grade fantasy novel. Now I just hope to keep that momentum going!

Where did you get the idea for your children's book, If Toots Could Talk?

One day, I was talking to my son, who was four at the time. I don’t remember what the conversation was about, but all of a sudden, he tooted. He looked me straight in the eye, and said, “My toot agrees with me.” Then he walked off. I knew right then that I needed to write a silly children’s book, and the title “If Toots Could Talk” came immediately to mind. Hopefully, this story doesn’t embarrass him when he’s older!

How did it feel when you found out your book is available in multiple Utah libraries?

I felt, and still feel, so grateful and flattered! There are so many children’s books to choose from, and the fact that someone not only requested "If Toots Could Talk" for their library, but that the library fulfilled that request, feels incredible. Because I'm nosy, sometimes I check the library catalogs, and it's almost always checked out. I always feel a wave of gratitude every time I see that little "checked out" status!

The illustrations in If Toots Could Talk are adorable! What was it like working with an illustrator?

Working with an illustrator, especially someone as talented as Jared Salmond, was incredible! I know there are a lot of indie picture book authors who do their own illustrations, which I think is amazing. However, I do NOT have any kind of illustration skills. I found Jared’s portfolio through a Utah business group, loved his style, and immediately reached out. His process was clear-cut and straightforward, which made working with him so easy. I sent him the text for “If Toots Could Talk,” and he was able to bring the silliness to life in ways I couldn’t have even imagined. In picture books, the text is only a small part of the story, but it’s the illustrations that really add the magic!

You're also working on an upcoming middle grade fantasy book! Is there anything you can tell us about it?

I am! I've only finished the first round of edits, so I'm sure it will go through a lot of changes before it's complete. For now, I like to say it's a middle grade fantasy with Land of Stories vibes, an Inkheart-type magic system, Narnia-esque world portals, and themes of self-confidence, identity, adventure, and friendship. Sometimes I think that description makes it sound cooler than it actually is though!

How long have you been working on the middle grade fantasy book?

I've been working on it sporadically for years. I had a goal to finish a first draft of a book (any book) before I was 30. That was in 2021. I finished the first draft, but then didn't touch it for years. Last year, I finally decided to dive back into it. It's transformed into a completely different story. New characters, new plot, but with a similar vibe and magic system. I love where the story is now, and even though it's a slow process, I'm steadily moving forward with this project.

What tips do you have for balancing a busy life with trying to write?

I think my biggest tips would be to give yourself grace and be flexible. I would love to write every day, but sometimes I just don't have it in me. As a mom to young kids, life can be chaotic and unpredictable. It makes having a dedicated time to write difficult. And that's okay! Write when you can, take a break when you need it, and know that you're still a writer even if you haven't written anything in a while.

What are the best resources you've found for writing / publishing?

I have a few resources I've found helpful! There is a lot of good information about the self-publishing process in the 20BooksTo50k Facebook group. I usually search for specific topics because all the information can be overwhelming. I also love Brandon Sanderson's lectures on writing. The indie author community has been helpful in finding resources, as well!

The author's website can be found here

The author can be found on Instagram @BrianneGibsonWrites

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