Meet Stacy McAnulty of Piedmont/Triad

Hi Stacy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’m a former mechanical engineer turned children’s book author. I struggled to read as a child but was good at math, so engineering seemed like a good fit. And it was! I’m a problem solver, a skill you need in engineering and writing. Fast forward to when I became a mom. I read several articles that said if you want smart and empathetic children, read to them. So that’s what I did. I read to my kids and fell in love with books—specifically kids’ books. I decided I would try to write for kids. It took thirteen years from the ‘moment’ I chose to be an author to when my first book was published.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
From the outside, it looks like I’m an “overnight success.” In 2016, I went from one published book to six. Yes, I had five books published in one year—two picture books and three chapter books. But people don’t realize I started writing in 2001. I collected hundreds of rejections from agents and editors. I struggled to find my voice and my niche. People I’m close to suggested I give up. They’d say, “You tried, and that’s more than most people do.” But I knew I wanted to be an author. I knew I had stories to share. Luckily, my kids and husband believed in me too.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My first goal when writing a book is to entertain. If a kid is bored, they’ll shut the cover, and it may be a while before they pick up another book. Once I have an exciting way to talk about a subject–be it fiction or nonfiction–then I can use the book to inspire. I want the reader to look at the world around them and to ask questions. I’m very fortunate. I’ve written thirty-one books, and I visit thousands of readers each year. I get to explore the universe with kids every day. (To see all my books visit www.stacymcanulty.com)

Any big plans?
I love being a kid lit author and hope never to retire. It’s the best job in the world, and it fulfills me. Though, in the future, I’d like to try a few different things in the publishing world. I have an idea for a graphic novel that I’m excited about. And since I’m not an illustrator, I plan to collaborate with my daughter, a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in studio and statistics. I also want to pen a young adult novel. I have ideas. I need more time to work on all the projects that excite me.