We were lucky to catch up with Erin Teagan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Erin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My life really changed when I got assigned to job shadow a woman scientist in high school. Up until that point, my greatest challenges were math and science. I was a creative person. I liked reading and writing and thought I had no place in science. But that day, I was introduced to a side of science I had never seen before. I saw that working in the lab was an active job, mixing solutions, working with equipment, running experiments. I realized it was a lot about asking questions and solving problems and that there was room on the team for a creative person like me. And so, I shocked everyone in my life and, although I never stopped writing, decided to go into science. Now, through my writing, my mission is to show kids that science is for everyone. Creative kids and math whizzes. We need all different thinkers in science, and I hope that when kids read my books, they will find where they might fit in science too.

Erin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an author and scientist who writes books for kids with a science focus. I worked in drug research and development for nearly a decade while simultaneously pursuing my career in writing. I wrote in the early mornings before work and after ten years and hundreds of rejections, I finally sold my first book, The Friendship Experiment, my debut novel. Since then, I’ve published seven books for kids, including two series for American Girl.

Although I’m working as an author full time right now, I am still immersed in the world of science. Research is a big part of both being an author and a scientist. As a writer, I have the freedom to learn more about the kind of science that really fascinates me and then include it in my books. And, book research has brought me on a lot of adventures like touring the largest maneuverable telescope in the world, going to Space Camp with a bunch of astronauts, getting attacked by yellow flies in the Great Dismal Swamp, and working as a wildlife ranger in Australia taking care of koalas and wallabies and wombats.

My writing career is so tied to my science career, I could not have one without the other.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a children’s book author, the most rewarding part of the job is hearing from readers. Whether it’s at a book signing or a school visit, there is nothing like meeting a reader who connected with one of my books or saw themselves in one of my characters.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Earlier in my career, I wish I had known how important it is to have a community. Being an author requires a lot of perseverance and just like any other industry, you’ll experience wins and losses. Finding a critique group or joining a large writing organization like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a great way to meet fellow creatives. Having a community of people who understand the journey can make all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.erinteagan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekteagan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.teagan.5
• Twitter: https://x.com/ErinKTeagan