We recently connected with Dorina Lazo Gilmore-young and have shared our conversation below.

Dorina , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Honestly, every project feels meaningful in its own way. One of my recent projects that was especially meaningful was a book I published called Breathing Through Grief. In this devotional journal, I share encouragement for people who are walking through loss. After the death of my husband, I longed for something to help me navigate the grief with my three young daughters. This is the book I wish I had as a young widow.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I fell in love with words when I was a little girl. My mama used to read books to me before bed and recite poetry. The words of Robert Frost and Langston Hughes danced in my head each night as I drifted off to sleep. In first grade, I tried my hand at creative writing. I imagined all sorts of wild tales about bears traveling the world and unicorns who fell in love. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Kosinski, nurtured my creativity and declared I would be a writer one day. She was right.

Right out of college, I started out in daily journalism. My love for storytelling took root as I covered stories in California’s Central Valley on everything from salsa dancing to skateboarding to Pulitzer prize-winning poets to jazz artists. I published my first children’s book, Children of the San Joaquin Valley, in 2005, followed by A Stone in the Soup: A Hmong Girl’s Journey to the United States. My third children’s book, Cora Cooks Pancit, was awarded the Asian American Librarian Association’s Picture Book of the Year. This story tells about a Filipino-American girl who learns the recipe to her family’s favorite noodle dish and uncovers some family history in the process. My two new picture books, Chasing God’s Glory and Kailani’s Gift, were published in 2023 and 2024 with Waterbrook Multnomah/Penguin Random House.

Now I continue to tell stories through writing over at (in)courage, Proverbs 31, and on my Substack. I share encouragement and my day-to-day life on Instagram and Facebook. My first non-fiction book, Walk, Run, Soar (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group), is a devotional journal for runners and walkers! I wrote Breathing Through Grief to help you navigate grief. This is an interactive journal with devotionals, scripture, journal prompts, and prayer. I have published more than 20 books for all ages. vI fell in love with words when I was a little girl. My mama used to read books to me before bed and recite poetry. The words of Robert Frost and Langston Hughes danced in my head each night as I drifted off to sleep.

In first grade, I tried my hand at creative writing. I imagined all sorts of wild tales about bears traveling the world and unicorns who fell in love. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Kosinski, nurtured my creativity and declared I would be a writer one day. She was right.

Right out of college, I started out in daily journalism. My love for storytelling took root as I covered stories in California’s Central Valley on everything from salsa dancing to skateboarding to Pulitzer prize-winning poets to jazz artists.

I published my first children’s book, Children of the San Joaquin Valley, in 2005, followed by A Stone in the Soup: A Hmong Girl’s Journey to the United States. My third children’s book, Cora Cooks Pancit, was awarded the Asian American Librarian Association’s Picture Book of the Year. This story tells about a Filipino-American girl who learns the recipe to her family’s favorite noodle dish and uncovers some family history in the process. My two new picture books, Chasing God’s Glory and Kailani’s Gift, were published in 2023 and 2024 with Waterbrook Multnomah/Penguin Random House.

Now I continue to tell stories through writing over at (in)courage, Proverbs 31, and on my Substack. I share encouragement and my day-to-day life on Instagram and Facebook. If you’d like to stay in touch more personally, please subscribe to my Glorygram, which includes an inspiring story from my week and recommendations for things like podcasts, books, recipes, and goods.

My first non-fiction book, Walk, Run, Soar (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group), is a devotional journal for runners and walkers! I wrote Breathing Through Grief to help you navigate grief. This is an interactive journal with devotionals, scripture, journal prompts, and prayer.

I also love to serve writers, communicators, women leaders and young people. I’m the president of the Redbud Writers Guild and teach journalism/coach writers at Fresno Christian High School. I believe God called us to flourish in community and these are a few of the spaces I have the privilege of pouring into and learning from others. I also host the Global Glory Chasers podcast.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

It’s important that people continue to buy local and share about books that influence them. Through social media and sites like Goodreads, every one of us has the power to promote and support creatives, which helps the creative ecosystem to flourish.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My first children’s book was published and then I tried for 10 years to publish the sequel to that book. I tried to submit my next book in many spaces. I received positive feedback but people told me the book was too niche and wouldn’t sell. In 2025, I met my editor from Waterbrook Multnomah Kids. She has a passion for multicultural kids books and helped me get Kailani’s Gift to publication. This is a kids book about persevering to learn something new and share our talents with others. My own resilience grew over this long time of waiting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.DorinaGilmore.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorinagilmore/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DorinaLazoGilmore
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorinagilmore/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dorinagilmore
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/DorinaGilmore\
• Yelp: @DorinaG

Image Credits

Allison Vasquez
Rachel Shamberg