Tatum wrote & illustrated the poem
PIXIE RINGS
Gnome & UnGnome Facts About Tatum:
My life is surrounded by children, animals, and frankly, chaos. Oftentimes the lines blur, and inspiration strikes. If a story or character sounds too familiar to you, read on. You may get a glimpse into my crazy everyday life and those around me. I enjoy writing in multiple genres and illustrating my own Picture Books.
The majority of my day is full of energy, teaching pre-schoolers the beauty of kindness, patience, and the strength that their words can hold when used for good. In my spare time, you’ll find me with a warm cup of coffee and a book, in the kitchen, cooking or baking for my family, or leading a group of spunky rambunctious Girl Scouts.
My writing journey includes working on craft through SCBWI, the Writer’s Loft, and Storyteller Academy, but honestly, my critique partners deserve most of the credit.
Absol’s Q&A with Tatum:
Hello, Tatum! Thanks for being our LEGEND of the WEEK!
If you could be any magical or legendary creature, who or what would you be?
How can you answer that? Of course a fairy! Who wouldn’t want to fly with fairy dust, paint butterfly wings, eat pastries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and touch the greenest softest moss in the world? But, then there are the unicorns and mermaids, yeah – I’m going to need to get back to you on this one…
Oh yeah, you forgot to mention Gnomes. JK. Am I? Can you tell us a little about how you came to be a part of Gnomes & UnGnomes? How did you hear about the Loft and this project?
I became a member of the Writers’ Loft when I didn’t have a Picture Book critique group. I quickly found a community full of uplifting writers, both encouraging and honest. I crossed my fingers when the opportunity was mentioned for Gnomes &/or UnGnomes and seriously can’t wait to hold a copy in my hands.
How did you come to choose Pixie rings to write & illustrate?
Fairies hold a special place in my household. We have fairies in our house plants and fairy villages in our outdoor garden. The magic of the woods abutt our property and we often find ourselves drifting into them in hopes to catch a glimpse of their land. According to my children’s friends, ”They have the best tooth fairy than anyone else at school!” So I was thrilled when my poem was selected for this Anthology.
What writing advice has resonated with you?
“The writing journey is not a fast one.” It is a craft that can provide not only joy, and satisfaction, but also deep frustration and loneliness. Remember to enjoy the journey, and lean on the community you will eventually stumble upon. You will most likely learn more about yourself through the process than the actual sale. So enjoy the process, and don’t get hung up on the end outcome.
That’s pretty great advice. Thanks for your time, Tatum!
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