We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marianne Richmond a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marianne, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my memoir called IF YOU WERE MY DAUGHTER which will release on March 18, 2025. I’m a longtime children’s author and this is my first work of non-fiction so it was a unique challenge to figure out my theme, story arc, chapters, as well as where to begin and end. It is one of the biggest creative challenges I have taken on and it’s taken me nearly 12 years to complete! My memoir is the story behind all my children’s books, the why behind my life’s work.
Marianne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a longtime children’s author and artist, and I recently I got my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. What unites my work is my passion for storytelling. When I was in my 20’s, I underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, the cause of numerous epileptic seizures I experienced growing up. During my recovery, I started painting thank you cards for my well wishers. This creative diversion soon blossomed into a small business creating and selling my cards. Along the way, I decided to write and self publish my first book. One book became two and two become more than 60 and nine million copies sold. What sets my work apart is my knack for putting into words and art the emotions of life in a way that deeply resonates with children and families. Next month I will release my first work of non-fiction in the form of a memoir, the longest story I’ve told at 90,000 words and they “why” behind all my kids books. My mission is to help you connect with your own heart and with those you love. My decision to become a part-time therapist was to help people navigate their own personal stories in a way that helps them become their bravest, brightest self.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
To be a creator is to practice resilience daily. We are the idea generators and makers, fueled by our own inspiration that hopefully connects with others, too. I’ve had projects succeed and I’ve had projects fail. I have received accolades and criticism. To keep finding the motivation to continue creating and sharing despite the roadblocks is the definition of resilience. I released a book in 2020 that I was sure was going to be a great seller. It wasn’t. And I wasn’t sure exactly why as MUCH time had been put into the project with multiple approvals along the way. It simply didn’t work. It would be so easy to give up and second-guess myself, but I have learned to better accept the mysteries of the creative life and to keep on keeping on.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part is the opportunity I get for my stories to become a part of people’s lives in meaningful ways. I’ve had people tattoo one of my book title’s, Be Brave Little One, on their arms in memory of a special child. I’ve had families recite the words of my books to one another as their special “language of connection.” And I’ve had my books serve as a birthday reading tradition. One of my most impactful moments as an author was a woman coming up to me at a school literary event to tell me that my book, If I Could Keep You Little, was the last book she read with her son before he passed away due to a congenital heart defect. I always say my joy is “when my stories become a part of yours” and I’ve been able to witness this very thing many, many times!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariannerichmond.com
- Instagram: @mariannerichmondwriter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richmond.marianne/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-richmond/
