WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE

TODAY’S GUEST

Hello dear blog followers…no, it is not Saturday even though you are receiving this Will Write for Cookies post…that’s because when WordPress gets wonky…and the blogger’s eyes don’t work correctly, strange things happen. But I know you will be thrilled to have this post a little early…and you can tuck it aside until Saturday if you want to.

I love when dear friends share their writing journey…and it’s especially rewarding when the creator is someone I mentored. A couple of years ago, Justin Colon organized a fabulous mentorship opportunity for un-agented and pre-published writers. I was lucky enough to be one of the mentors…and today’s guest was one of my mentees! The manuscript that caught my eye, MOON TREE, is already a book and we featured it here in 2022 for a Book Birthday post. And now, happily, this fabulous writer…and incredibly awesome human…is back with another beautiful book, M IS FOR MASON JAR, which launches in a few days, on August 12th…and I’m so thrilled she’s agreed to answer our Will Write for Cookies questions and share a favorite cookie recipe.

ME: Welcome, Carolyn! It’s so lovely to have you here! I know you have a lot to share, so let’s get started!
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

CAROLYN: Thank you so much for having me on your blog Vivian.

Books were a huge part of my childhood, so it’s hard to choose just a few. I can’t say that I “followed” authors much. I just loved books—especially animal stories. I had quite an extended collection of Little Golden Books, and when I was older, I read all the Black Stallion and Lassie books. I did enjoy mystery series like The Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew, but animals always drew me in. I often checked out nonfiction books about butterflies or dog breeds from the library. The selection of nonfiction books for kids wasn’t as great back then, but I was a curious child, so I really didn’t care!

ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?

CAROLYN: Oh, there are so many things I wish I had known. I had been told—or warned—that writing for children was hard, but I believed that I had an edge after writing for the adult market for 20 years. I was so wrong! Even though I was a solid writer, I had to re-learn how to write for this specific audience. It’s very different, and there are no shortcuts. I had to start from scratch along with everyone else. And even with my prior experience, it took about 10 years to break in. I had to be patient. But that’s another thing I had to learn—the hard way. Patience is necessary for every part of publishing process. Everything takes time—getting an agent, selling a book, waiting for contracts, getting sales, etc. I just had to learn to enjoy the journey.

ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?

CAROLYN: My favorite place to write is on the front porch of a cabin nestled in the mountains. But unfortunately, I don’t own a cabin. I rent one every now and then to escape for a weekend. That’s when I’m most productive. When I can’t get away, I sit on my back porch (I DO live in the mountains!) and enjoy the sounds of nature while I type away on the computer. I used to prefer to write longhand, but after struggling with tendonitis for too many years, I have to use a laptop.

ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?

CAROLYN: My best writing happens when I set aside intentional time to write. I have discovered that my mind is clearer in the mornings. By the afternoon, fatigue is setting in and I struggle to write. But I still have to. Be intentional (or it simply won’t get done!) Setting that schedule is difficult since most of my other commitments (like my job) tend to require morning hours. I simply do my best and try to reserve some weekend hours to explore ideas and creativity. When I have time in the evenings, I focus on research or revision. 

ME: Why do you write for children?

CAROLYN: As a naturally curious child, I loved exploring the world through books. My hope is that I will create books that inspire that curiosity in kids today. I want to help them discover fun and exciting things that get them excited about reading. That’s why I also write hi-lo books for educational publishers and volunteer on the board of directors for a literacy camp in my community. If I can help kids discover a love for reading by providing a book on a topic they enjoy, then all my efforts are worth it.

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.

CAROLYN: I know it’s hard, but don’t try to imitate some else’s work or success. Every person’s journey is unique—every writer, every reader, every child. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for someone else. That’s okay. Find what makes you as a writer unique. What piece of you do you bring to a reader that no one else can bring? Then write what you love—in a way that’s totally you! Don’t try to be someone else. There’s a reader out there who is waiting for that unique book that only you can write!

Thank you so much Vivian! It’s always a joy to chat with you.

ME: It’s we who are thanking you, dear Carolyn, for sharing so much of your writing journey.
And I know you aren’t done yet because you have a fabulous recipe to share.

CAROLYN:
I got this recipe from a fellow homesteader and podcaster, Melissa K. Norris (it’s posted on her website, so it’s totally okay to share!). It’s a 100+ year old family recipe passed down from her great grandmother. They are my go-to favorite at Christmas time! 

OLD-FASHIONED MOLASSES SUGAR COOKIES

INGREDIENTS: 

• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar + an extra 1/4 cup to roll the cookies in
• 1/4 cup of dark molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In a large bowl, beat together the butter (at room temperature) and 1 cup of sugar until creamy. Add molasses and egg, beating until well-blended. 
3. In a medium bowl, blend flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg. Add molasses and mix well.
4. Cover and chill for at least 20 minutes.
5. Form dough into 1 inch balls (I use a melon scooper). Roll each in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. 
6. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until cookies have set. Allow 1 minute to cool on sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 
7. ENJOY! YUM! 

Yes indeed! YUM! Thank you so much, Carolyn.
To learn more about Carolyn and her books and to connect with her:

Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
Children’s Author and Content Producer
Asheville, North Carolina
www.carolynbfraiser.com
Check out my books for children and teens:
MOON TREE (Reycraft Books, September 2022) 
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM: MOONS (BrightPoint Press, August 2022)
ANIMAL MIGRATIONS: BAT MIGRATION (North Star Editions, August 2023)

M IS FOR MASON JAR (Familius Publishing, August 2025)
Dear friends, thank you for spending your precious time with us…and I hope you will check out Carolyn’s newest book…let’s do our part in helping the book get into the hands of the children who need to read it. You can:
Buy the book
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (share this post on your social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies of the book for their shelves

As always, I hope you all stay safe and healthy and positive…the world needs our positive energy, for sure.