Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2020, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know Dr. Theanne Griffith and can offer her your support.
Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Brave, stubborn, curious, kind, and funny.
I love laughing and making people laugh. There is a lot of sadness in the world. I try to combat that or at least balance it out with a little humor. I learned when I was younger that I could make environments and situations more enjoyable if people were laughing. So I learned to be funny. I also learned that if I can crack a joke and make people feel good, it feeds back and also cheers me up.
Explain your writing procedure, such as how you come up with ideas, carve out time to write (or, if you can write anywhere at any time during the day), deal with writer’s block, or anything particular or peculiar.
I am a full-time scientist, so my writing practice may not look like that of others. When I write, it has to start in the morning. If I haven’t written anything before noon, I am unlikely to make progress on the page that day. I usually like to get started at 9 a.m. and write for at least three hours but sometimes can squeeze in an extra hour or so. I am usually able to write just about anywhere. I’ve written in the lab while doing an experiment, in my office, in my bed, even in my car! The only thing I need to write well is silence. I don’t even listen to music. On the other hand, I can edit and revise at any time. If I don’t have time to write during the day or am having a tough time getting words out, I will usually shift my attention to editing at night, especially if I am actively working on a project. When I am in between projects, I love daydreaming about new ideas. I think the importance of staring into space and getting lost in thought is overlooked as a critical part of the creative process. I’ve definitely come up with some good ideas by simply zoning out for a bit!
Balance is the key to successful living. How do you balance the act of writing with other priorities, such as your job, family or fun activities, and self-care?
I am quite an organized person, mainly because I hate feeling stressed. Some people work well under pressure. Not me! I find the best way to balance all my obligations is to tackle them by deadlines. Everything goes into my calendar, and I work on things as they come. When I have a book deadline, I know how long it will take me to finish a draft and usually allocate more than enough time in my schedule to finish on time. That way, if things come up or I have a couple of bad writing days, I am still on schedule. The same applies to my work as a scientist. I also try to be very efficient. I tend not to take a lot of breaks during the workday and will usually work while I eat lunch. I prefer to power through and get as much done as possible. Some days that’s a lot. Some days less so. But I enjoy staying busy. That being said, I rarely work on weekends. I am the mother to two young daughters, ages three and one and a half. Weekends are dedicated to family time, which for me is a form of self-care and keeps me grounded. It’s rare that I let something interfere with that.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
My current series, The Magnificent Makers, is a science-themed chapter book series targeted toward children ages 7-10. Kids in this age range love adventure and excitement and face-paced stories. They also enjoy silly humor, which I also make room for in my stories. Importantly, kids at this age are really excited about learning. It a wonderful age range to write science books for because they are so excited to learn new things, especially when they are presented in a fun and engaging manner.
Tell us about your book.
My chapter book series, The Magnificent Makers, follows best friends Violet and Pablo on out-of-this-world adventures in a magical laboratory called the Maker Maze. In each book, Violet and Pablo head to the Maker Maze to embark on a science challenge, guided by the eccentric scientist, Dr. Crisp. Each challenge consists of three levels, and Violet and Pablo need to complete them in less than one hundred twenty Maker Minutes if they want to return to the maze for more science fun. Needless to say, it’s always a race to the finish! Each book in the series covers a different science topic and also ties in real-life lessons, such as managing emotions, working as a team, and appreciating differences. Finally, each book includes two easy, at-home science activities for kids to do with their friends and family!
The Magnificent Makers Chapter Book Series
Author: Theanne Griffith
Illustrator: Reggie Brown
Publisher: Random House BYR
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Dr. Theanne Griffith is a neuroscientist and children’s book author. Since she was a little girl, she’s loved both storytelling and science. Her books blend these two passions, taking young readers on out of this world science adventures they’ll never forget. Her debut chapter book series, The Magnificent Makers, was recently published by Random House Children’s Books. Theanne received her BA in neuroscience and Spanish from Smith College and earned her doctorate in neuroscience from Northwestern University. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of California Davis in the Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology.
Connect with Dr. Theanne Griffith
