We recently connected with Loryn Brantz and have shared our conversation below.

Loryn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. ther times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

I’m not sure if I really believe in the concept of “failure.” Something is only a failure if that’s the way you perceive it. However, I’ve certainly had many setbacks along the way. “Failure” has a negative connotation, but all it means is that you tried something and it didn’t work, and that’s just part of the process. It’s how you learn and grow and get closer to whatever version of “success” you’re looking for. I put “success” in quotes too, because that’s also highly subjective! That said, for me personally, I can’t tell you how many books I’ve had rejected before reaching my version of “success” in getting published. I actually have a folder filled with them. For my first book, to me, the more rejections I got, the more it meant I was getting closer to my goal. I knew things were turning around when I started getting personalized rejections instead of form rejections, and I was so excited! This was over a decade ago, but to this day, I still get my share of rejections. The most recent book I sold to a publisher, which will be my 13th book (!), was rejected across the board twice before it finally got picked up. I took the feedback from the rejections, reworked it, and tried again! So much of “success” is just the ability to keep trying, keep going, and believing in your own work.

Loryn, 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’m an author, artist, poet, and director. I’m also the creator of two best-selling board book series, Feminist Baby and It Had To Be You (Love Poems Your Baby Can See), and a two-time Emmy Award winner for my work on Sesame Street. I’m currently a consulting creative director for the beloved children’s education program, Ms. Rachel. My debut poetry collection, Poems of Parenting, will be available this April and you can preorder it anywhere books are sold now!

I started writing and drawing before I can even remember my mission has always been to make the world a better place through my art, even if just a little — but hopefully, a lot. I live in New York City with her husband, architect Jake J. Brotter, and children, Dalia and Ronen.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission has always been and will always be to make the world a better place through whatever gifts or talents I have. I really believe that art and writing can change a person’s life, if not just for a moment of happiness or feeling less alone, and what is life but a bunch of moments strung together?

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

There are a few aspects I could point to but I will say my absolute favroite part is the act of creating. Being in the zone drawing or writing, it’s like a meditation where you’re fully present. I just love it, it’s the best feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lorynbrantz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorynbrantz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorynBrantzBooks

Image Credits

All the author pics are by Brittany Bartley